THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008

Today is Thursday, October 2, the 276th day of 2008. There are 90 days left in the year.

1187 _ Sultan Saladin captures Jerusalem from the Crusaders

1608 _ Hans Lippershey offers Dutch government a new invention, the telescope

1870 _ Italy annexes Rome and Papal States; Rome made Italian capital

1936 _ First alcohol power plant established, Atchison, Kans.

1942 _ ``Queen Mary" slices cruiser ``Curacao" in half, killing 338

1950 _ The comic strip ``Peanuts" first appears in nine newspapers

1967 _ Grateful Dead members arrested by narcotic agents

1984 _ Richard Miller, becomes first (former) FBI agent, charged with espionage

1986 _ Sikhs attempt to assassinate Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi

1990 _ Radio Berlin International's final transmission (links to Deutsche Welles of West Germany); final song is ``The End" by the Doors