The Almanac

Today is Saturday, Oct. 27, the 300th day of 2001 with 65 to follow.

The moon is waxing, moving toward its full phase.

The morning stars are Venus, Jupiter and Saturn.

The evening stars are Mercury and Mars.

Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus in 1466; English explorer Captain James Cook in 1728; Italian violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini in 1782; Isaac Singer, developer of the first practical home sewing machine, in 1811; Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States, in 1858; etiquette arbiter Emily Post in 1872; longtime "Tonight Show" producer/director Fred De Cordova in 1910; Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in 1914; actresses Nanette Fabray in 1920 (age 81) and Ruby Dee in 1924 (age 77); pop artist Roy Lichtenstein in 1923; former Secretary of State Warren Christopher in 1925 (age 76); comedian John Cleese in 1939 (age 62); filmmaker Ivan Reitman in 1949 (age 52); actors Carrie Snodgress in 1945 (age 56), Roberto Benigni ("Life Is Beautiful") in 1952 (age 49), and Robert Picardo ("Star Trek: Voyager") in 1953 (age 48); singer Simon LeBon in 1958 (age 43); and Marla Maples, the second ex-Mrs. Donald Trump, in 1963 (age 38).

On this date in history:

In 1787, a New York newspaper published the first of 77 essays explaining the new Constitution and urging its ratification. The essays, by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, were later published as "The Federalist Papers."

In 1795, a treaty with Spain settled Florida's northern boundary and gave navigation rights on the Mississippi River to the United States.

In 1954, the "Walt Disney" show premiered on television.

In 1981, the National Labor Relations Board withdrew recognition of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization for an illegal strike by its members.

In 1990, the Senate gave final congressional approval to budget that would cut about $500 billion over five years.

Also in 1990, CBS founder William S. Paley died at age 89. And rhumba king Xavier Cugat died at age 90.

In 1991, Poland held its first fully free parliamentary elections.

In 1992, Israeli tanks rolled into Lebanon as air force jets staged renewed raids in an effort to crush Muslim fundamentalist guerrillas.

In 1993, President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented Congress with the administration's new plan for health-care reform at a ceremony at the Capitol.

Also in 1993, Southern California was hit by dozens of brush fires -- the worst in six years. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands of people were forced to flee the flames.

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch, one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded, began its four-day siege of Central America, causing at least 10,000 deaths.

A thought for the day: President Theodore Roosevelt said, "The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours if that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight."