MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009

Today is Monday, March 9, the 68th day of 2009. There are 297 days left in the year.

1497 _ Nicolaus Copernicus first recorded astronomical observation,

1522 _ Marten Luther preaches his Invocavit

1562 _ Kissing in public banned in Naples (punishable by death)

1796 _ Napoleon Bonaparte marries Josephine de Beauharnais

1902 _ Composer Gustav Mahler marries Alma Schindler in Vienna

1918 _ Russian Bolshevik Party becomes the Communist Party

1945 _ Japanese proclaim the ``independence" of Indochina

1959 _ Barbie, the popular girls' doll, debuted, over 800 million sold

1961 _ First animal returned from space, dog named Blackie, aboard Sputnik 9

1963 _ Beatles began first British tour, supporting Tommy Roe & Chris Montez