Today is Tuesday, February 19, the 50th day of 2008. There are 316 days left in the year.
0356 _ Emperor Constantinus II shuts all heathen temples
1861 _ Russian Tsar Alexander II abolishes serfdom
1881 _ Kansas becomes first state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages
1941 _ Nazis raid Koco Amsterdam and round up 429 young Jews for deportation
1942 _ FDR orders detention and internment of all west-coast Japanese-Americans
1944 _ 823 British bombers attack Berlin
1952 _ French offensive at Hanoi
1974 _ First American Music Award
1986 _ USSR launches Mir space station into Earth orbit
1995 _ Linford Christie runs world record 200 meter indoor (20.25 seconds)