February 2

On this day in 1832, Congress officially created Groundhog Day after thousands of the nation's woodchucks converged on Washington in the "Million Rodent March."

On this day in 1848, the war between America and Mexico ended with a treaty that ceded all existing Taco Bell franchises to the U.S.

Today's Birthdays:

James Joyce (1882-1941): Irish poet and novelist, best known for "Finnegan's Wake and Bake" and "Portrait of the Artist Formerly Known as Prince as a Young Man."

Farrah Fawcett, 57: actress, starred in the popular 1970s show "Charlie's Sex Objects."

February 3

On this day in 1913, federal income tax was authorized with the passage of constitutional Amendment 1040-EZ.

On this day in 1930, William Howard Taft resigned as chief justice of the Supreme Court, saying he wanted to "spend more time with my barbecue grill."

Today's Birthdays:

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978): famed "Saturday Evening Post" artist, beat out Monet and Michelangelo for best painting ever of a boy getting a haircut while being licked by puppies.

Dave Davies, 57: musician with The Kinks, hits include "You Really Got Mini-Me" and "Catch Me Now I'm Falling and I Can't Get Up."

Morgan Fairchild, 54: actress, starred in the night-time soap opera "Dallas" and its X-rated spinoff "Phallus."

On this day in 1969, Yasser Arafat became head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization after declining a lucrative offer to serve as CEO of Funny Hats R Us.

On this day in 1789, George Washington became the nation's first president after earning four A's and one B from the electoral college.

On this day in 1974, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst and several rare felines were kidnapped by the Siamese Cat Liberation Army

Today's Birthdays:

Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974): legendary aviator, in 1927 became first pilot to fly solo over the Atlantic and boy were his arms tired.

Betty Friedan, 83: author and founder of NOW (National Orgasm for Women).

Dan Quayle, 57: former dunce vice president, finished 12th in the Western Indiana Class 4 debating championship (Lightweight Division) in 1968.

Alice Cooper, 56: rock singer, hit the charts with "I Like to Kill Babies and Eat Them With Caramel Sauce."

On this day in 1631, Rhode Island founder Roger Williams landed in Boston where he was met by a gold-blazered real estate agent from Century 17.

On this day in 1983, former Nazi Getapo official Klaus Barbie was brought to France to stand trial for suspected war crimes at Barbie's Malibu Dream House.

On this day in 1988, wrestler Andre the Giant beat Hulk Hogan after lifting him up by the nostrils, ripping off his face and punching his spleen.

Today's Birthdays:

Adlai Stevenson (1900-65): presidential candidatein 1952 and '56, wanted it badly but sadly voters weren't madly for Adlai.

Hammerin' Hank Aaron, 70: first baseball player to be named after a carpenter's tool.

Jennifer Jason Leigh, 42: actress, starred as an anemic psycho in "Single White Blood Cell."

February 6

On this day in 1788, Massachusetts ratified the U.S. Constitution after first confirming that it was not crafted by witches.

On this day in 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard temporarily disabled his lunar module by shanking a golf ball into its control panel.

Today's Birthdays:

Aaron Burr (1756-1836): former vice president best known for busting a fatal cap in Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's ass.

Babe Ruth (1895-1948): legendary baseball slugger, first man to hit 60 home runs and drink 60 kegs of beer in a single season.

Ronald Reagan, 93: former president-actor, starred in "The Road to Nicaragua" and "Bedtime for Contras."

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 85: alleged celebrity bitch slapper.

Natalie Cole, 54: singer, daughter of the legendary Nat "King" Cole and great granddaughter of Old King Cole, who hit #1 in 1899 with "Merry Old Soul."

On this day in 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as Army chief of staff in order to "spend more quality time" with his presidential campaign advisers and yes-men.

On this day in 1943, the government imposed shoe rationing, limiting each person to one pair of Chuck Taylor high-top sneakers and one pair of spiked heels.

Today's Birthdays:

Charles Dickens (1812-1870): author, best known for his novel about boozing in London and Paris, "Cocktail of Two Cities."

Eubie Blake (1883-1983): pianist-composer, best known for "I'm Just Wild About Hairy Chicks."

Chris Rock, 38: comedian, won Emmy for his TV special "Bring the Painkillers"

Ashton Kutcher, 26: actor, plays a dim-witted young John Quincy Adams in "That 1770s Show."

On this day in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated with the motto: "We don't need no stinking merit badges."

On this day in 1969, the final issue of the "Saturday Evening Post" prompted a new magazine devoted to analyzing its demise, the "Sunday Evening Post-Mortem."

On this day in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in England during a sold-out performance of "Guillotine Fever."

Today's Birthdays:

Jules Verne (1828-1905): author of the SciFi self-help classics "Astound the World in 80 Days" and "Journey to the Center of Your Inner Child."

James Dean (1931-1955): actor, starred in "Rebel Without a Positive Role Model."

Gary Coleman, 36: actor, played young Malcolm X in the sitcom "Militant Strokes."