Today is Saturday, Dec. 9, the 343rd day of 2017. There are 22 days left in the year.
Today in history
On Dec. 9, 1892, "Widowers' Houses," Bernard Shaw's first play, opened at the Royalty Theater in London.
Also on this date:
In 1935, the Downtown Athletic Club of New York honored college football player Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago with the DAC Trophy, which later became known as the Heisman Trophy.
In 1962, the Petrified Forest in Arizona was designated a national park.
In 1965, Nikolai V. Podgorny replaced Anastas I. Mikoyan as chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a job he would hold for almost 12 years. ... "A Charlie Brown Christmas," the first animated TV special featuring characters from the "Peanuts" comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, premiered on CBS.
In 1992, Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced their separation. (The couple's divorce became final in Aug. 1996.)
Fun fact
Americans spend more money on lottery tickets than on movies, video games, music, sports tickets and books combined.
They eat what?!
Bird's nest soup is a delicacy in Southeast Asia. This food is made from the nest of the swiftlet bird, which instead of collecting twigs for its bed, builds it out of its own gummy saliva, which goes hard when exposed to air. Usually, they are built high up on cliff faces, and harvesting them is a dangerous business as people die trying to get them each year.
Daily inspiration
"The days you are most uncomfortable are the days you learn the most about yourself."
- Mary L. Bean
Today's birthdays
Actor Kirk Douglas is 101. Actor-writer Buck Henry is 87. Actress Dame Judi Dench is 83. Actor Beau Bridges is 76. Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus is 75. World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kite is 68. Singer Joan Armatrading is 67. Actor Michael Dorn is 65. Actor John Malkovich is 64. Country singer Sylvia is 61. Singer Donny Osmond is 60. Rock musician Nick Seymour (Crowded House) is 59. Comedian Mario Cantone is 58. Actor David Anthony Higgins is 56. Actor Joe Lando is 56. Actress Felicity Huffman is 55. Crown Princess Masako of Japan is 54. Country musician Jerry Hughes (Yankee Grey) is 52. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is 51. Rock musician Brian Bell (Weezer) is 49. TV personality-businessperson Lori Greiner (TV: "Shark Tank") is 48. Actress Allison Smith is 48. Songwriter and former "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi is 47. Rock musician Tre Cool (Green Day) is 45. Actor-writer-director Mark Duplass is 41. Rock singer Imogen Heap is 40. Actor Jesse Metcalfe is 39. Actor Joshua Sasse is 30. Actress Ashleigh Brewer is 27. Olympic gold and silver medal gymnast McKayla Maroney is 22.
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The Edge is compiled by Dallas Callahan. She can be contacted at dcallahan@lmtribune.com.
