Today is <$>Thursday, February 7, the 38th day of 2002. There are 327 days left in the year.

On this date<$>

In 1812, author Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England.

In 1943, the US government announced that shoe rationing would go into effect, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person for the remainder of the year.

IIn 1971, women in Switzerland won the right to vote.

In 1986, Haitian President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier fled his country, ending 28 years of his family’s rule.

In 1999, Jordan’s King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah.

Thought for the Day

“Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason.” — Ashley Montagu, English anthropologist.