Today is Wednesday, October 29, the 303rd day of 2008. There are 63 days left in the year.
539 B.C. _ Babylon falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia
1787 _ The opera ``Don Giovanni" is produced (Prague)
1863 _ International Commission of the Red Cross founded
1923 _ Turkey proclaimed a republic (National Day)
1929 _ ``Black Tuesday" stock market crashes trigger ``Great Depression"
1942 _ 16,000 Jews killed in Pinsk Russia
1945 _ First ball point pen goes on sale, 57 years after it was patented
1960 _ Muhammad Ali's (Cassius Clay's) first professional fight, beats Tunney Hunsaker in 6th round
1966 _ National Organization of Women founded
1988 _ China announces a herbal male contraceptive