The Almanac

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Today is Sunday, Jan. 22, the 22nd day of 2006 with 343 to follow.

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

Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include Russian Czar Ivan III, known as Ivan the Great, in 1440; English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon in 1561; French physicist Andre Ampere in 1775; British poet Lord George Byron in 1788; D.W. Griffith, legendary silent film director ("Birth of a Nation"), in 1875; U.N. Secretary-General U Thant in 1909; actresses Ann Sothern in 1909 and Piper Laurie in 1932 (age 74); actor Bill Bixby in 1934; soul singer Sam Cooke in 1935; author Joseph Wambaugh in 1937 (age 69); actor John Hurt in 1940 (age 66); Journey lead singer Steve Perry in 1950 (age 56); and actors Linda Blair in 1959 (age 47); Olivia D'Abo in 1967 (age 39) and Balthazar Getty in 1975 (age 31).

On this date in history:

In 1771, Spain ceded the Falkland Islands to Britain.

In 1901, Queen Victoria of Britain died at age 82 after a reign of 64 years.

In 1943, U.S. and Australian troops took New Guinea in the first land victory over the Japanese in World War II.

In 1944, U.S. troops invaded Italy, landing at Anzio beach in a move to outflank German defensive positions.

In 1973, in the Roe vs. Wade decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws restricting abortions during the first six months of pregnancy.

In 1985, a cold wave damaged 90 percent of the Florida citrus crop.

In 1987, Glen Tremml, 27, pedaled the ultralight aircraft Eagle over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for a human-powered flight record of 37.2 miles.

In 1991, Iraq launched the third and bloodiest Scud missile attack against Israel, injuring 98 people.

In 1995, two Palestinians killed 18 Israeli soldiers, a civilian and themselves in a bombing outside a military camp in central Israel.

In 1996, Costas Simitis was chosen to be the new prime minister of Greece. His predecessor, Andreas Papandreou, had stepped down due to ill health.

In 1998, accused bomber Ted Kaczynski pleaded guilty to all counts against him in California and New Jersey. He was sentenced to life in prison on May 4.

In 2002, K-Mart, the nation's third-largest discount retailer but in a decline and with disappointing holiday sales, filed for bankruptcy.

In 2003, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to be the first secretary of Homeland Security by a 94-0 vote.

Also in 2003, snowboard pioneer Craig Kelly died in a British Columbia avalanche.

In 2004, allegations that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had accepted bribes damaged his credibility, a new poll showed. But, Sharon brushed aside the allegations and a source said no indictment was expected.

Also in 2004, Enron's former chief accounting officer pleaded innocent to charges of securities fraud and conspiracy.

In 2005, raging winter storms in the United States brought portions of the Midwest and Northeast to a frozen standstill.

Also in 2005, the Indian navy in New Delhi reported finding a tsunami victim 25 days after he had been sucked into the sea and tossed onto a small island where he survived on coconuts.

A thought for the day: Linus Pauling said, "The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas."