The almanac

Today is Monday, Aug. 10, the 222nd day of 2009 with 143 to follow.

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

Those born on this day are under the sign of Leo. They include Edmund Jennings Randolph, the first U.S. attorney general, in 1753; Herbert Hoover, 31st president of the United States, in 1874; actor Jack Haley (the Tin Woodsman in "The Wizard of Oz") in 1898; actresses Norma Shearer in 1902 and Rhonda Fleming in 1923 (age 86); guitar maker Leo Fender in 1909; singers Jimmy Dean and Eddie Fisher both in 1928 (age 81); rock musician Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull in 1947 (age 62); and actors Rosanna Arquette in 1959 (age 50) and Antonio Banderas in 1960 (age 49).

On this date in history:

In 1776, a committee of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson suggested the United States adopt "E pluribus unum" -- "Out of many, one" -- as the motto for its Great Seal.

In 1821, Missouri entered the United States as the 24th state and the first located entirely west of the Mississippi River.

In 1977, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz was arrested and charged with being the "Son of Sam," the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than a year, killing six young people and wounding seven others.

In 1984, Nevada's chief U.S. district judge, Harry Claiborne, was convicted on tax evasion charges. It was the first conviction of a sitting federal judge.

In 1990, District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry was convicted on one misdemeanor cocaine possession charge and acquitted on another. The jury deadlocked on the 12 other counts and a mistrial was declared.

In 1991, China agreed in principle to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the U.S. Supreme Court's 107th justice and second female member.

In 1994, lawyers for U.S. President Bill Clinton sought the dismissal, for the duration of his presidency, of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by a former Arkansas state worker.

In 1996, Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole selected former congressman, Cabinet secretary and NFL quarterback Jack Kemp as his running mate.

In 1999, a white supremacist gunman wounded five people, including three children, when he opened fire in the lobby of a Los Angeles Jewish community center. Police said Buford Furrow Jr. killed a letter carrier as he fled, surrendering the next day in Las Vegas.

In 2001, about 250 people were killed in a train wreck in Albania, caused by a mine set on the tracks by rebels.

In 2003, more than 80 prisoners tunneled their way out of Brazil's Joao Pessoa prison, one of the nation's top security facilities.

In 2004, U.S. Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., a former CIA clandestine operative, was nominated by U.S. President George Bush to head the spy agency.

In 2005, U.S. President George Bush signed a 6-year, $286.4 billion transportation bill to build highways, bridges and other public works. The measure also contained a reported $24 billion in "pork barrel" projects.

Also in 2005, the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said he supports pre-screening airline passengers and providing them with special identification cards.

In 2006, Britain and the United States strengthened security after foiling an alleged plot to blow up airplanes flying between the two countries with liquid explosives. Police said as many as 10 aircraft had been targeted. U.S. officials banned the transportation of liquids and gel in carry-on luggage.

In 2007, the U.S. Federal Reserve put a reported $72 billion into the American financial system over two days to steady the volatile markets that fell in response to losses in the U.S. mortgage market.

Also in 2007, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution unanimously expanding the United Nation's role in Iraq, focused on helping promote reconciliation and safety of citizens.

In 2008, though Russia said it didn't plan to invade Georgia, its troops entered Georgia territory and took control briefly of a military base. The independence battle over South Ossetia appeared to be escalating despite talks of a cease-fire. The United States is among several major nations and NATO strongly urging an end to the hostilities which had claimed an unofficial toll of about 1,500 people with many thousands more chased from their homes.

Also in 2008, soul music icon Isaac Hayes, an Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer, composer and producer, died at his home in Shelby County, Tenn. He was 65.

And, at least 31 miners working in an allegedly illegal gold mine were reported killed in a landslide in the West African state of Burkina Faso. The BBC said an estimated 200,000 people were believed working in such mines, often in dangerous conditions.

A thought for the day: Leonard Nimoy, as Mr. Spock in the space drama "Star Trek," said to a captured enemy commander, "Military secrets are the most fleeting of all."