OCTOBER 25TH

Today is Saturday, Oct. 25, the 299th day of 2008.
There are 67 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

• On Oct. 25, 1854, the "Charge of the Light Brigade" took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men, facing hopeless odds, charged the Russian army and suffered heavy losses.

On this date:

• In 1400, author Geoffrey Chaucer died in London.
• In 1760, Britain's King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II.
• In 1918, the Canadian steamship Princess Sophia foundered off the coast of Alaska; some 350 people perished.
• In 1939, the drama "The Time of Your Life," by William Saroyan, opened in New York.
• In 1951, peace talks aimed at ending the Korean War resumed in Panmunjom after 63 days.
• In 1957, mob boss Albert Anastasia of "Murder Inc." notoriety was shot to death in a barber shop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York.
• In 1962, U.S. ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson presented photographic evidence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba to the U.N. Security Council.
• In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan.
• In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there.
• In 2002, U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., was killed in a plane crash in northern Minnesota along with his wife, daughter and five others, 1 1/2 weeks before the election.

Ten years ago:

• Vice President Al Gore participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial dedicated to victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

Five years ago:

• Thousands of anti-war protesters rallied in the nation's capital and delivered a scathing critique of President Bush and his Iraq policy.
• The Florida Marlins won the World Series in Game 6 against the New York Yankees, 2-0.
• Trainer Richard Mandella won a record four races at the Breeders' Cup.

One year ago:

• President Bush visited Southern California, telling residents weary from five days of wildfires: "We're not going to forget you in Washington, D.C."
• The Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 at Fenway to take a 2-0 World Series lead.

Today's Birthdays:

• Former baseball player Bobby Thomson is 85.
• Former American League president Dr. Bobby Brown is 84.
• Actress Jeanne Cooper is 80.
• Actress Marion Ross is 80.
• Country singer Jeanne Black is 71.
• Author Anne Tyler is 67.
• Rock singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 64.
• Singer Taffy Danoff (Starland Vocal Band) is 64.
• Rock musician Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest) is 61.
• Actor Brian Kerwin is 59.
• Movie director Julian Schnabel is 57.
• Rock musician Matthias Jabs is 52.
• Actress Nancy Cartwright ("The Simpsons") is 51.
• Country singer Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) is 50.
• Rock musician Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 46.
• Actress Tracy Nelson is 45.
• Actor Michael Boatman is 44.
• Actor Kevin Michael Richardson is 44.
• Singer Speech is 40.
• Actor Adam Goldberg is 38.
• Actor-singer Adam Pascal is 38.
• Rock musician Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies) is 38.
• Country singer Chely Wright is 38.
• Violinist Midori is 37.
• Actor Craig Robinson is 37.
• Actor Michael Weston is 35.
• Actor Mehcad Brooks ("Desperate Housewives") is 28.
• Actor Ben Gould is 28.
• Rhythm-and-blues singer Young Rome is 27.
• Pop singer Katy Perry is 24.
• Singer Ciara is 23.
• Actress Conchita Campbell ("The 4400") is 13.

Thought for Today:

"It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in."
Lord Chesterfield, English author and statesman (1694-1773).

"Let's all be careful out there!"