The Almanac

Today is Sunday, Nov. 3, the 307th day of 2002 with 58 to follow.

The moon is waning.

The morning stars are Mecury. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

The evening stars are Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include Texan Stephen Austin, who gave his name to the state capital, in 1793; poet William Cullen Bryant in 1794; Chicago Bears' great Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski in 1908; film actor Charles Bronson in 1922 (age 80); conductor/composer John Barry, entertainer Ken Berry and former Massachusetts Governor and 1986 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, D-Mass., all in 1933 (age 69); comedians Roseanne and Dennis Miller, and actress Kate Capshaw, all in 1953 (age 49); and actress Kathy Kinney ("The Drew Carey Show") in 1954 (age 48).

On this date in history:

In 1783, with American independence established, Congress ordered the Continential Army demobilized.

In 1928, Mickey Mouse appeared for the first time, with Walt Disney doing the squeaky voice of his soon-to-be-famous creation, in "Steamboat Willie," first fully synchronized sound cartoon ever produced.

In 1948, the Chicago Tribune printed the premature (and incorrect) headline, "Dewey defeats Truman."

In 1964, Lyndon Johnson was elected president with a margin larger than in any previous presidential election, defeating Republican Barry Goldwater.

In 1976, former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter was elected 39th president, defeating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford.

In 1984, the cremation of assassinated Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi drew world leaders to New Delhi.

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton, the governor of Arkansas, defeated incumbent Republican President George Bush.

In 1995, Typhoon Angela killed more than 700 people in the northern Philippines.

In 1997, opening statements were made in Denver in the Oklahoma City bombing trial of Terry Nichols, accused of collaborating with Timothy McVeigh in the bombing of the federal building which killed 168 people.

In 2001, anthrax spores were confirmed in India and Pakistan and on additional postal equipment in the United States as the FBI Saturday continued its so far futile search of the area in New Jersey it believes may be the source, following up thousands of tips from citizens.

A thought for the day: in his second inaugural address, President Clinton said, "Government is not the problem, and government is not the solution. We, the American people, we are the solution."