SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2009

Today is Saturday, December 19, the 353rd day of 2009. There are 12 days left in the year.

1686 _ Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Defoe)

1776 _ Thomas Paine published his first ``American Crisis" essay, in which he wrote, ``These are the times that try men's souls"

1843 _ Charles Dickens publishes ``A Christmas Carol" in England

1932 _ British Broadcasting Corp begins transmitting overseas

1941 _ Hitler takes complete command of German Army

1946 _ War breaks out in Indochina as Ho Chi Minh attacks French in Hanoi

1950 _ Tibet's Dalai Lama flees Chinese invasion

1958 _ First radio broadcast from space (recorded Christmas message by President Eisenhower: ``To all mankind, America's wish for Peace on Earth & Good Will to Men Everywhere")

1978 _ Indira Gandhi ambushed in India

1995 _ Queen Elizabeth asks Prince Charles and Diana to divorce