Today in HistoryToday is Tuesday, December 19, the 353rd day of 2006. There are 12 days left in the year.

ON THIS DAT>

In 1972, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, winding up the Apollo programme of manned lunar landings.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!” — The closing line of “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens (1812-1870).