WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2011

Today is Wednesday, August 3, the 215th day of 2011. There are 150 days left in the year.

1492 ― Columbus sets sail from Palos, Spain for ``Indies"

1882 ― Congress passes first law restricting immigration

1914 ― Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France in WW I

1954 ― First VTOL (Vertical Take-off & Land) flown

1958 ― USS Nautilus begins first crossing of Arctic Ocean under icecap

1974 ― Guitarist Jeff Baxter quits Steely Dan and joins Doobie Brothers

1975 ― 500 drown when two river boats collide and sink in China's West River

1983 ― John Sain of South Bend, Ind., builds 3.91-meter house of cards

1989 ― Rickey Henderson sets AL mark of 50 steals in nine seasons

1990 ― Radio Kuwait goes off the air, due to the Iraqi invasion