WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2008

Today is Wednesday, March 26, the 86th day of 2008. There are 280 days left in the year.

1780 _ First British Sunday newspaper appears (British Gazette & Sunday Monitor)

1812 _ Earthquake destroys 90 percent of Caracas; about 20,000 die

1824 _ First performance of Beethoven's ``Missa Solemnis"

1871 _ Paris Commune founded

1872 _ Thomas J. Martin patents fire extinguisher

1945 _ Japanese resistance ends on Iwo Jima

1958 _ 30th Academy Awards ― ``Bridge on the River Kwai", Alec Guinness & Joanne Woodward win

1970 _ 500th nuclear explosion announced by the U.S. since 1945

1979 _ Camp David peace treaty between Israel and Egypt

1982 _ Ground-breaking in Washington D.C. for Vietnam Veterans Memorial