Today is Monday, August 25, the 238th day of 2008. There are 128 days left in the year.
1609 _ Galileo demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers
1718 _ Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana; New Orleans, founded
1825 _ Uruguay declares independence from Brazil (National Day)
1830 _ Belgium revolts against Netherlands
1921 _ U.S. signs peace treaty with Germany
1940 _ First parachute wedding
1944 _ Paris liberated from Nazi occupation
1981 _ Mark Chapman, John Lennon's murderer, is sentenced to 20 years
1990 _ U.N. security council authorizes military action against Iraq
1991 _ Carl Lewis runs 100m in 9.86 seconds