Today is Thursday, September 8, the 251st day of 2011. There are 114 days left in the year.
1380 ― Russians defeat Tatars at Kulikovo, beginning decline of Tatars
1522 ― Spanish navigator Juan de Elcano returns to Spain, completes first circumnavigation of globe, expedition begins under Ferdinand Magellan
1664 ― Dutch surrender New Amsterdam (N.Y.) to 300 English soldiers
1930 ― First appearance of the comic strip ``Blondie"
1943 ― Italy surrenders to the allies in WW II
1945 ― U.S. invades Japanese-held Korea
1951 ― Japan signs treaty of peace with 48 countries (S.F.)
1952 ― Ernest Hemingway's ``Old Man & the Sea" published
1954 ― Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) formed to stop communist spread in the region
1974 ― President Gerald Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon of all federal crimes