THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

Today is Thursday, December 8, the 342nd day of 2011. There are 23 days left in the year.

1813 ― Ludwig von Beethoven's 7th Symphony in A minor, premieres

1854 ― Pope Pius IX proclaims Immaculate Conception, makes Mary, free of Original Sin

1941 ― U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan, U.S. enters WWII

1949 ― Chinese Nationalist government moves from Chinese mainland to Formosa

1961 ― Wilt Chamberlain scores the second highest total in the NBA of 78

1962 ― 114-day newspaper strike begins in New York City

1966 ― U.S. and USSR sign treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons in outer space

1987 ― Occupied Palestinians start ``intifada" (uprising) against Israel

1991 ― Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine form Commonwealth of Independent States

1992 ― Galileo's nearest approach to Jupiter (303 km)