NEA DATEBOOK

Today is the 341st day of 2021 and the 77th day of autumn.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2,403 American soldiers and civilians.

In 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the online filesharing service Napster.

In 2002, Iraq denied that it had weapons of mass destruction in a United Nations declaration.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Willa Cather (1873-1947), author; Eli Wallach (19152014), actor; Ted Knight (1923-1986), actor; Ellen Burstyn (1932- ), actress; Harry Chapin (1942-1981), singer-songwriter; Johnny Bench (1947- ), baseball player; Tom Waits (1949- ), singer-songwriter; Larry Bird (1956- ), basketball player; Jeffrey Wright (1965- ), actor; Patrice O’Neal (1969-2011), actor/comedian; Sara Bareilles (1979- ), singer-songwriter; Emily Browning (1988- ), actress; Nicholas Hoult (1989- ), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Senate voted for a war resolution 82-0. The House of Representatives approved the resolution 388-1.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 2007, home-run record holder Barry Bonds pleaded not guilty to lying to investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing — desire.” — Willa Cather, “The Song of the Lark”

TODAY’S NUMBER: 64 — servicemen lost by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the attack on Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941.

TODAY’S MOON: Between new moon (Dec. 4) and first quarter moon (Dec. 10).