Andrews McMeel Almanac for December 4, 2024 – Andrews McMeel Almanac

Today is the 339th day of 2024 and the 74th day of fall.

PRESENT HISTORY: In 1639, Jeremiah Horrocks observed the first recorded transit of Venus, which occurs when Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth.

The first issue of the Los Angeles Times appeared in 1881.

In 1945, the Senate officially approved United States participation in the United Nations by a vote of 65-7.

In 1991, Pan American World Airways (commonly known as Pan Am) went bankrupt and ceased operations.

In 1992, President George HW Bush ordered 28,000 US troops to Somalia.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), essayist/historian; Samuel Butler (1835–1902), author; Lillian Russell (1861–1922), actress; Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), poet; Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish dictator; Wink Martindale (1933-), game show host; Jeff Bridges (1949-), actor; Marisa Tomei (1964-), actress; Fred Armisen (1966-), actor/comedian; Jay-Z (1969-), rapper/entrepreneur; Tyra Banks (1973-), model/TV personality; Joe Thomas (1984-), football player.

TODAY’S FACT: The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, was evacuated in January 1991 due to increasing violence in the Somali Civil War. The new company was founded in October 2019.

TODAY’S SPORT: In 1997, Golden State Warriors star Latrell Sprewell was suspended for one year by the NBA after he choked the team’s coach, PJ Carlesimo, during a practice on December 1, 1997.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Artists can have better access to reality; they can see patterns, details, and connections that other people, distracted by the fuzziness of life, may miss. Simply sharing that truth can be a very powerful thing.” – Jay-Z, “Decoded”

TODAY’S NUMBER: 2,454 – Days American journalist Terry Anderson was held hostage in Lebanon. Anderson was kidnapped on March 16, 1985 and was the last American hostage released on that day in 1991.

TODAY’S MOON: Between the new moon (November 30) and the first quarter moon (December 8).