Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/25408
PEANUTS® By Charles Schultz Friday, February 18, 2011 – Daily News – 3B Today in History By The Associated Press DILBERT® By Scott Adams Today is Friday, Feb. 18, the 49th day of 2011. There are 316 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 18, 1911, the world’s first officially-sanctioned airmail flights were completed as Fred Wiseman, carrying three letters, arrived in Santa Rosa, Calif., in his biplane a day after leaving Petaluma (engine trouble having forced an overnight stop) while in India, French pilot Henri Pequet carried some 6,500 letters and postcards from Allahabad (AH’-lah-hah-BAHD’) to Naini (NAN’-ee) in 13 minutes. On this date: In 1546, Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, died in Eisleben. In 1564, artist Michelangelo died in Rome. In 1735, the first opera presented in America, ‘‘Flora, or Hob in the Well,’’ was performed in present-day Charleston, S.C. In 1861, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as provisional pres- ident of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Ala. In 1885, Mark Twain’s ‘‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’’ GARFIELD® By Jim Davis was published in the U.S. for the first time. In 1930, photographic evidence of Pluto (now designat- ed a ‘‘dwarf planet’’) was discovered by Clyde W. Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz. In 1960, the 8th Winter Olympic Games were formally opened in Squaw Valley, Calif., by Vice President Richard M. Nixon. SHOE By Chris Cassatt and Gary Brookins BLONDIE® By Dean Young and Stan Drake In 1970, the ‘‘Chicago Seven’’ defendants were found not guilty of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic nation- al convention; five were convicted of violating the Anti-Riot Act of 1968 (those convictions were later reversed). In 1977, the space shuttle Enterprise, sitting atop a Boe- ing 747, went on its maiden ‘‘flight’’ above the Mojave (moh- HAH’-vee) Desert. In 1984, Italy and the Vatican signed an accord under which Roman Catholicism ceased to be the state religion of Italy. Ten years ago: Auto racing star Dale Earnhardt Sr. died from injuries suffered in a crash at the Daytona 500; he was 49. Death also claimed baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Math- ews at age 69, broadcaster Roger Caras at age 72, ‘‘Cheap- er by the Dozen’’ co-author Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. at age 89 and painter Balthus at age 92. Veteran FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested, accused of spying for Russia. (Hansen later pleaded guilty to espionage and attempted espionage and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.) Five years ago: American Shani Davis won the men’s 1,000- meter speedskating in Turin, becoming the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history. A Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament was sworn in. Mil- itants in Nigeria seized nine foreign oil workers, including three Americans (all were released unharmed). One year ago: In Austin, Texas, software engineer A. Joseph Stack III crashed his single-engine plane into a building con- taining IRS offices, killing one person besides himself. Today’s Birthdays: Former Cosmopolitan editor Helen BEETLE BAILEY® By Mort Walker HAGAR the Horrible® By Chris Browne Gurley Brown is 89. Actor George Kennedy is 86. Former Sen. John Warner, R-Va., is 84. Author Toni Morrison is 80. Movie director Milos (MEE’-lohsh) Forman is 79. Singer Yoko Ono is 78. Singer-songwriter Bobby Hart is 72. Singer Irma Thomas is 70. Singer Herman Santiago (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers) is 70. Singer Dennis DeYoung is 64. Actress Sinead Cusack is 63. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 61. Singer Juice Newton is 59. Singer Randy Crawford is 59. Rock musi- cian Robbie Bachman is 58. Rock musician Larry Rust (Iron Butterfly) is 58. Actor John Travolta is 57. Game show host Vanna White is 54. Actress Greta Scacchi (SKAH’-kee) is 51. Actor Matt Dillon is 47. Rapper Dr. Dre is 46. Actress Molly Ringwald is 43. Actress Sarah Brown is 36. Actor Kristof- fer Polaha is 34. Singer-musician Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) is 34. Actor Tyrone Burton is 32. Rock-singer musician Regi- na Spektor is 31. Actor Shane Lyons is 23. Actress Maiara Walsh is 23. Thought for Today: ‘‘Temperament is temper that is too old to spank.’’ — Charlotte Greenwood, American actress- comedian (1893-1978). RUBES® By Leigh Rubin ZITS BY JERRY SCOTT & JIM BORGMAN FRANK & ERNEST® By Bob Thaves ALLEY OOP