THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010

Today is Thursday, February 18, the 49th day of 2010. There are 316 days left in the year.

3102 B.C. _ Origin of Kali Era (India)

1688 _ Quakers conduct first formal protest of slavery in Germantown, Pa.

1841 _ First continuous filibuster in U.S. Senate began, lasting until March 11

1901 _ H. Cecil Booth patented a dust removing suction cleaner

1902 _ The opera ``Le Jongleur (Hunchback) de Notre Dame" is produced (Monte Carlo)

1927 _ U.S. and Canada begin diplomatic relations

1932 _ Japan declares Manchuria Independent

1968 _ British adopt year-round daylight savings time

1970 _ U.S. President Nixon launches ``Nixon-doctrine"

1972 _ California Supreme Court abolishes death penalty