Today is Friday, August 3, the 216th day of 2012. There are 150 days left in the year.
1492 ― Columbus sets sail from Palos, Spain for ``Indies"
1596 ― David Fabricius discovers light variation of Mira (first variable star)
1882 ― Congress passes first law restricting immigration
1914 ― Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France in WW I
1954 ― First VTOL (Vertical Take-Off & Land) flown
1963 ― Beatles final performance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool
1974 ― Guitarist Jeff Baxter quits Steely Dan and joins Doobie Brothers
1981 ― Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) begin their strike
1989 ― Rickey Henderson sets AL mark of 50 steals in nine seasons
1990― Radio Kuwait goes off the air, due to the Iraqi invasion