TODAY’S HISTORY

1898: The U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor in Cuba, ultimately leading the United States to declare war on Spain. 1961: The U.S. figure skating team was killed in a plane crash in Belgium. 1972: Sound recordings made on or after this date were granted U.S. federal copyright protection. 2001: The first draft of the complete human genome was published in the scientific journal Nature. 2013: A meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast in Russia, injuring 1,500 people and damaging 7,200 buildings in six cities.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS:

Galileo Galilei (15641642), scientist; Susan B. Anthony (18201906), activist; Ernest Shackleton (18741922), explorer; Harold Arlen (1905-1986), composer; Jane Seymour (1951-), actress; Matt Groening (1954-), animator/ screenwriter; Chris Farley (1964-1997), actor/comedian; Jaromir Jagr (1972-), hockey player; Gary Clark Jr. (1984-), singer-songwriter; Amber Riley (1986-), singer/actress; Zachary Gordon (1998-), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: “The Simpsons,” created by Matt Groening and currently in its 34th season, is the longest-running American sitcom.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1998, after 19 losses, Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his first and only Daytona 500.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.” — Susan B. Anthony

TODAY’S NUMBER: 12,750 — total length, in miles, of sidewalks in New York City.

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Feb. 13) and new moon (Feb. 20).