The Almanac

Today is Tuesday, July 13, the 195th day of 2004 with 171 to follow.

The moon is waning. The morning stars are Venus, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune. The evening stars are Mercury, Jupiter, Mars and Pluto.

Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer. They include Father Edward Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, in 1886; Dave Garroway, former host of TV's "Today Show," in 1913; former HUD Secretary and pro football star Jack Kemp in 1935 (age 69); actors Bob Crane in 1928, Patrick Stewart in 1940 (age 64) and Harrison Ford in 1942 (age 62); Rubik's Cube inventor Erno Rubik in 1944 (age 60); comedian Cheech Marin in 1946 (age 58); and country singer Louise Mandrell in 1954 (age 50).

On this date in history:

In 1859, Mexican revolutionary President Benito Juarez ordered property of the Roman Catholic Church confiscated throughout Mexico.

In 1863, opposition to the Federal Conscription Act led to riots in New York City. More than 1,000 people were killed.

In 1898, Guglielmo Marconi was awarded a patent for wireless telegraphy, the radio.

In 1960, Democrats nominated John F. Kennedy for president.

In 1977, a state of emergency was declared in New York City when the entire area suffered a 25-hour power blackout.

In 1985, more than 50 rock stars performed a total of 17 hours at televised "Live Aid" concerts in Philadelphia and London to raise money for African famine relief.

In 1990, the Senate gave final legislative approval to a bill that would forbid discrimination based on disability, including that caused by AIDS or alcoholism. President George H. Bush signed the measure into law July 26.

In 1992, the Democratic National Convention opened its national convention in New York. It would nominate Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and Tennessee Sen. Al Gore to head its ticket in November.

Also in 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became Israel's new prime minister, ending the hardline Likud Party's 15-year reign.

In 1994, a Defense Department report blamed human errors for the downing in April of two U.S. helicopters over Iraq by two U.S. fighter jets.

In 1995, the temperature in Chicago reached an all-time high of 106 degrees.

Also in 1998, Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto resigned, a victim of the country's economic woes.

In 1999, New Hampshire Sen. Robert Smith withdrew from the Republican presidential race and from the party as well, changing his party designation to Independent.

In 2000, former Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Bradley threw his support to Al Gore.

Also in 2000, the leader of Fiji's successful coup freed the former prime minister and 17 other hostages, thus ending a two-month crisis.

In 2002, The Bush administration said that fiscal 2002 would see s deficit of $165 billion despite the $127 billion surplus recorded for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2001.

In 2003, the new 25-member Iraqi council, representing all major religious and ethnic groups in the country, held its first meeting in a major step toward self-government.

Also in 2003, a senior U.S. official said North Korea apparently has begun reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods, suggesting the country plans to produce nuclear weapons.

A thought for the day: poet John Gay said,

"Life is a jest; and all things show it.

"I thought so once; but now I know it."