This day in history

[November 18, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Nov. 18, the 322nd day of 2010. There are 43 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Nov. 18, 1928, Walt Disney's first sound-synchronized animated cartoon, "Steamboat Willie" starring Mickey Mouse, premiered in New York.

On this date:

In 1810, American botanist Asa Gray was born in Sauquoit, N.Y.

In 1860, Polish statesman and concert pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born.

In 1883, the United States and Canada adopted a system of standard time zones.

In 1886, the 21st president of the United States, Chester A. Arthur, died in New York.

In 1910, British suffragists clashed with police outside Parliament on what became known as "Black Friday."

In 1936, Germany and Italy recognized the Spanish government of Francisco Franco.

In 1958, the cargo freighter SS Carl D. Bradley sank during a storm in Lake Michigan, claiming 33 of the 35 lives on board.

In 1966, U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with the rule against eating meat on Fridays outside of Lent.

In 1978, U.S. Rep. Leo J. Ryan, D-Calif., and four others were killed in Jonestown, Guyana, by members of the Peoples Temple; the killings were followed by a night of mass murder and suicide by more than 900 cult members.

In 1985, the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes," created by Bill Watterson, was first published. (The strip ran for 10 years.)

Ten years ago: George W. Bush's campaign fiercely attacked the hand-recounting of votes in Florida's presidential election, depicting a process riddled with human error and Democratic bias; Al Gore's lawyers defended the effort in papers filed with the state Supreme Court. Actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were married in an extravagant wedding at The Plaza hotel in New York City.

Five years ago: The Republican-controlled House spurned a call for an immediate pullout of troops from Iraq in a 403-3 vote hastily arranged by the GOP that Democrats denounced as politically motivated. Suicide bombers killed more than 50 worshippers at a pair of Shiite mosques in Iraq. Eight months after Robert Blake was acquitted at a criminal trial of murdering his wife, a civil jury decided the actor was behind the slaying and ordered him to pay Bonny Lee Bakley's children $30 million. Tropical Storm Gamma formed off the coast of Central America.

One year ago: President Barack Obama visited the Great Wall of China, which he described as "magical," before heading to Seoul, South Korea, for the final stop of his eight-day Asia tour. Two days before turning 92, West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd became the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history, at 56 years, 320 days.

Today's birthdays: Actress Brenda Vaccaro is 71. Author-poet Margaret Atwood is 71. Actress Linda Evans is 68. Actress Susan Sullivan is 68. Country singer Jacky Ward is 64. Actor Jameson Parker is 63. Actress-singer Andrea Marcovicci is 62. Rock musician Herman Rarebell is 61. Singer Graham Parker is 60. Actor Delroy Lindo is 58. Comedian Kevin Nealon is 57. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon is 54. Actor Oscar Nunez is 52. Actress Elizabeth Perkins is 50. Singer Kim Wilde is 50. Rock musician Kirk Hammett (Metallica) is 48. Rock singer Tim DeLaughter (dee-LAW'-ter) is 45. Actor Romany Malco is 42. Actor Owen Wilson is 42. Singer Duncan Sheik is 41. Actor Mike Epps is 40. Actress Peta Wilson is 40. Actress Chloe Sevigny (SEH'-ven-ee) is 36. Country singer Jessi Alexander is 34. Actor Steven Pasquale is 34. Rapper Fabolous is 31. Actor Nate Parker is 31. Rapper Mike Jones is 30. Actor Damon Wayans Jr. is 28. Actor Nathan Kress is 18.

Thought for today: "Your way of giving is more important than what you give." -- Vietnamese proverb

[Associated Press]

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