Saturday, January 02nd
The 002nd day of 2010.
There are 363 days left in the year.
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Today's Highlights in History
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On Jan. 2, 1905, Japanese Gen. Nogi received from Russian Gen. Stoessel at 9 o'clock P.M. a letter formally offering to surrender, ending the Russo-Japanese War. (Go to article.)
On Jan. 2, 1920, Isaac Asimov, the immensely popular science fiction writer, was born. Following his death on April 6, 1992, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. | Other Birthdays)
Editorial Cartoon of the Day
On January 2, 1864, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about the Civil War. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)
On this date in:
1492 The leader of the last Arab stronghold in Spain surrendered to Spanish forces loyal to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.
1788 Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1900 Secretary of State John Hay announced the Open Door Policy to prompt trade with China.
1935 Bruno Hauptmann went on trial in Flemington, N.J., on charges of kidnapping and murdering the infant son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (He was found guilty and executed.)
1942 The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.
1960 Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1965 The New York Jets signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.
1974 President Richard Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 mph.
1983 The musical play "Annie," based on the "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip, closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances.
1991 Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first African-American woman to head a city of Washington's size and prominence.
2006 A methane gas explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia trapped 13 miners underground for more than 40 hours; Randal McCloy Jr. was the only survivor.
2008 Oil prices soared to $100 a barrel for the first time.
2009 Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning won a record-tying third NFL Most Valuable Player award.
Current Birthdays
Kate Bosworth turns 27 years old today.
AP Photo/Dan Steinberg Actress Kate Bosworth turns 27 years old today.
70 Jim Bakker
Former TV evangelist
68 Dennis Hastert
Former House speaker
63 Jack Hanna
TV host
43 Tia Carrere
Actress
42 Cuba Gooding Jr.
Actor
41 Christy Turlington
Model
35 Doug Robb
Rock singer (Hoobastank)
35 Dax Shepard
Actor ("Punk'd")
34 Paz Vega
Actress
Historic Birthdays
Isaac Asimov
1/2/1920 - 4/6/1992
American science fiction author
(Go to obit.)
32 James Wolfe
1/2/1727 - 9/13/1759
English general who captured Quebec
67 Johann Daniel Titius
1/2/1729 - 12/11/1796
Prussian astronomer and physicist
66 Rudolf Clausius
1/2/1822 - 8/24/1888
German mathematical physicist
66 Justin Winsor
1/2/1831 - 10/22/1897
American librarian and historian
68 Ernst Barlach
1/2/1870 - 10/24/1938
German sculpture and playwright
58/59 Tex Rickard
1/2/1870/71 - 1/6/1929
American fight promoter and gambler
79 Albert Coombs Barnes
1/2/1872 - 7/24/1951
American inventor and art collector
24 Saint Theresa of Lisieux
1/2/1873 - 9/30/1897
French Carmelite nun
53 Count Folke Bernadotte
1/2/1895 - 9/17/1948
Swedish diplomat, humanitarian
75 Sally Rand
1/2/1904 - 8/31/1979
American actress and fan dancer
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SOURCE: The Associated Press
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