FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2008

Today is Friday, July 4, the 186th day of 2008. There are 180 days left in the year.

1054 _ Brightest known super-nova (Crab Nebula) starts shining (23 days)

1776 _ Declaration of Independence ― U.S. gains independence from Britain

1865 _ First edition of ``Alice in Wonderland" is published

1876 _ First public exhibition of electric light in San Francisco

1884 _ Statue of Liberty presented to U.S. in Paris

1942 _ First American bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe (WW II)

1946 _ Philippines gains independence from U.S.

1954 _ West Germany beats Hungary 3-2 for soccer's 5th World Cup in Bern

1987 _ Nazi Klaus Barbie, ``Butcher of Lyon" convicted by a French court

1988 _ U.S. navy shoots down Iranian civilian jetliner over Gulf, kills 290