OCTOBER 16TH

Today is Thursday, Oct. 16, the 290th day of 2008.
There are 76 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

• On Oct. 16, 1978, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to be the new pope; he took the name John Paul II.

On this date:

• In 1758, American lexicographer Noah Webster was born in Hartford, Conn.
• In 1793, during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded.
• In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a group of about 20 men in a failed raid on Harper's Ferry, Va.
• In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic, in Brooklyn, N.Y. (The clinic ended up being raided by police and Sanger was arrested.)
• In 1946, 10 Nazi war criminals condemned during the Nuremberg trials were hanged.
• In 1962, the Cuban missile crisis began as President Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of missile bases in Cuba.
• In 1964, China set off its first atomic bomb, codenamed "596," on the Lop Nur Test Ground.
• In 1968, American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving "black power" salutes during a victory ceremony after they'd won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race.
• In 1987, a 58 1/2-hour drama in Midland, Texas, ended happily as rescuers freed Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl trapped in an abandoned well.
• In 1991, a deadly shooting rampage took place in Killeen, Texas, as George Hennard opened fire at a Luby's Cafeteria, killing 23 people before taking his own life.

Ten years ago:

• Negotiators David Trimble and John Hume were named recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering the Northern Ireland peace accord.

Five years ago:

• The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at attracting more troops and money to help stabilize Iraq and speed its independence.
• Three American soldiers were killed during a clash at a Shiite Muslim cleric's headquarters in Karbala.
• Pope John Paul II celebrated his 25 years as pontiff before a huge crowd in Rome's St. Peter's Square.
• The New York Yankees won the American League Championship Series, defeating the Boston Red Sox 6-5 in Game 7.

One year ago:

• President Bush welcomed the Dalai Lama to the White House for a half-hour meeting.
• Libya won a seat on the U.N. Security Council.
• Actress Deborah Kerr died in Suffolk, England, at age 86.
• Barbara West Dainton, believed to be one of the last two survivors from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, died in Camborne, England, at age 96.

Today's Birthdays:

• Actress Angela Lansbury is 83.
• Author Gunter Grass is 81.
• Former presidential adviser Charles W. Colson is 77.
• Actor-producer Tony Anthony is 71.
• Actor Barry Corbin is 68.
• Rock musician C.F. Turner (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is 65.
• Actress Suzanne Somers is 62.
• Rock singer-musician Bob Weir is 61.
• Producer-director David Zucker is 61.
• Record company executive Jim Ed Norman is 60.
• Actor Daniel Gerroll is 57.
• Actor-director Tim Robbins is 50.
• Actor-musician Gary Kemp is 49.
• Singer-musician Bob Mould is 48.
• Actor Randy Vasquez is 47.
• Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 46.
• Actor Todd Stashwick is 40.
• Jazz musician Roy Hargrove is 39.
• Actress Terri J. Vaughn is 39.
• Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 39.
• Rapper B-Rock (B-Rock and the Bizz) is 37.
• Rock singer Chad Gray (Mudvayne) is 37.
• Actress Kellie Martin is 33.
• Singer John Mayer is 31.
• Actor Jeremy Jackson is 28.
• Actress Brea Grant (TV: "Heroes") is 27.

Thought for Today:

"To walk into history is to be free at once, to be at large among people."
Elizabeth Bowen, Irish-born author (1899-1973).

"Let's all be careful out there!"