Spotlight
It's the birthday of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, born three centuries ago today. A stalwart of the American Revolution, Franklin was one of those who drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. He started the country's first circulating library, helped to found the academy that would become the University of Pennsylvania, invented bifocals and the Franklin stove, and proved that lightning is an electrical discharge. For many years he published Poor Richard's Almanack, and wrote what is still considered to be one of the finest autobiographies ever.

Quote
"Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." – Benjamin Franklin

Word of the day
chandler: someone who makes or sells candles; Franklin's father was a chandler. (© )

Today's News

• Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: is sworn in as Africa's first female elected national leader (story)
• Broncos vs. Steelers: improbable AFC championship competitors (story)
• Golden Globes: Brokeback Mountain leads with four awards (story)

Today's History

• Hawaii: Queen Liliuokalani was deposed by US sugar planters (1893)
• Virgin Islands: were bought by the US from Denmark for $25 million (1917)
• Desert Storm: US operation was launched to remove the Iraqi army from Kuwait (1991)

Today's Birthdays

• Popeye: scrappy spinach-eating cartoon sailor (77)
• James Earl Jones: voice of Darth Vader and CNN (75)
• Muhammad Ali: "the Greatest" heavyweight boxing champ (64)
• Andy Kaufman: anti-humor comedian (1949-1984); Jim Carrey: manic comic actor who played Andy Kaufman (44)