Today in HistoryToday is Friday, December 8, the 342nd day of 2006. There are 23 days left in the year.ON THIS DATE<$>In 1941, the US and UK declared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Nazi Germany opened an extermination camp at Chelmno near Lodz in occupied Poland — the first camp designed specifically for the mass killing of human beings.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“The unknown is what it is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybody scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, all that. Unknown is what it is. Accept that it’s unknown and it’s plain sailing.” — John Lennon (1940-1980).