WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

Today is Wednesday, January 21, the 21st day of 2009. There are 344 days left in the year.

1077 _ German King Heinrich IV petitions Pope Gregory VII for forgiveness

1189 _ Philip II, Henry II and Richard Lion-Hearted initiate third Crusade

1324 _ Zen Buddhist religious debate between Tendai & Shingon

1799 _ Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccination is introduced

1846 _ First edition of Charles Dickens' ``Daily News"

1919 _ Sinn Fein proclaims parliament of Free Ireland

1966 _ Beatle George Harrison marries model Patti Boyd

1977 _ President Jimmy Carter pardons almost all Vietnam War draft evaders

1977 _ Italy legalizes abortion

1978 _ Bee Gees' ``Saturday Night Fever" album goes No. 1 for 24 weeks