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$336.4 million Powerball jackpot unclaimed
Today is Tuesday, Dec. 25, the 359th day of 2001, with six to follow.
This is Christmas Day.
The moon is waxing, moving toward its full phase.
The morning star is Jupiter.
The evening stars are Mars and Saturn.
Those born on this date are under the sign of Capricorn. They include British mathematician, physicist and astronomer Sir Isaac Newton in 1642; American Red Cross founder Clara Barton in 1821; French painter Maurice Utrillo in 1883; hotelier Conrad Hilton in 1887; English author Rebecca West in 1892; Robert "Believe It or Not" Ripley in 1893; actor Humphrey Bogart in 1899; jazz bandleader Cab Calloway in 1907; Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1918; TV writer Rod Serling in 1924; singers Jimmy Buffett in 1946 (age 55) and Barbara Mandrell in 1948 (age 53); actors Gary Sandy ("WKRP in Cincinnati") in 1945 (age 56) and Sissy Spacek in 1949 (age 52); singer Annie Lennox in 1954 (age 47); and comedian Norm McDonald in 1962 (age 39).
On this date in history:
In about 3 B.C., according to Christian belief, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Calendar miscalculations of the time make it impossible to be certain of the year.
In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned King William I of England.
In 1818, the first known Christmas carol was sung at Oberndorf, Austria. It was "Silent Night, Holy Night," composed by organist Franz Gruber and Father Joseph Mohr.
In 1941, British Hong Kong surrendered to advancing Japanese forces.
In 1985, Mexico City police discovered a major museum theft of pre-Columbian treasures.
In 1986, the hijackers of an Iraqi Airways Boeing 737 en route from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, exploded grenades, causing a fiery crash in Saudi Arabia. 67 of the 107 people aboard died.
In 1989, ex-Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife and second-in-command, Elena, were executed. The United States officially recognized the new Romanian government.
In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev was given direct control of the Soviet Cabinet and all government ministries in a major widening of his power.
In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the Soviet president. The next day, the Supreme Soviet voted to end the Soviet Union.
In 1996, "Tickle Me Elmo" was the hottest Christmas gift of the year.
In 1997, Jerry Seinfeld announced that his popular NBC-TV sitcom "Seinfeld" would cease production at the end of the season.
In 2000, President Clinton offered a Middle East peace plan that, among other things, included proposals for Israel to give up sovereignty over the Temple Mount and for Palestinians to surrender right of refugees to return to Israel.
A thought for the day: Thomas Tusser said,
"At Christmas play and make good cheer,
"For Christmas comes but once a year."
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| Additional Odd News Stories | |
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 13 (UPI) --
A funeral is being planned for songstress Whitney Houston in her hometown of Newark, N.J., later this week, sources close to her family told NBC New York.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (UPI) --
Ships supplying the U.S. base in Antarctica are relying on Russian icebreakers to provide shipping channels, with few available U.S. cutters, officials said.
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NEWPORT, R.I., Feb. 13 (UPI) --
Lottery officials said Monday the winning $336.4 million Powerball ticket was sold at a Rhode Island convenience store, but the winner had yet to come forward.
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SYDNEY, Feb. 13 (UPI) --
Researchers in Australia are developing a solar roof system that uses wasted energy to warm air and water.
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