History 8/11

Today is Sunday, Aug. 11, the 223rd day of 2002. There are 142 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 11, 1909, the SOS distress signal was first used by an American ship, the Arapahoe, off Cape Hatteras, N.C.

On this date:

In 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at the island prison Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.

In 1942, during World War II, Vichy government official Pierre Laval publicly declared that "the hour of liberation for France is the hour when Germany wins the war."

In 1954, a formal peace took hold in Indochina, ending more than seven years of fighting between the French and Communist Vietminh.

In 1956, abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident in East Hampton, N.Y.

In 1962, the Soviet Union launched cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev on a 94-hour flight.

In 1965, rioting and looting that claimed 34 lives broke out in the Watts section of Los Angeles.

In 1978, chiefs of state and foreign dignitaries arrived in Vatican City for the funeral of Pope Paul VI.

In 1993, President Clinton named Army General John Shalikashvili to be the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, succeeding Gen. Colin Powell.

Ten years ago: In Washington, negotiators for the United States, Canada and Mexico continued to work out final details of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Mall of America, the biggest shopping mall in the United States, opened in Bloomington, Minn.

Five years ago: President Clinton made the first use of the historic line-item veto approved by Congress, rejecting three items in spending and tax bills.

One year ago: In his weekly radio address, President Bush said his decision to restrict but not forbid federal financing of embryonic stem cell research placed him at the crossroads between protecting and enhancing human life.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Jean Parker is 90. Former TV talk show host Mike Douglas is 77. Actress Arlene Dahl is 74. The Rev. Jerry Falwell is 69. Actress Anna Massey is 65. Rock musician Jim Kale (Guess Who) is 59. Country singer John Conlee is 56. Singer Eric Carmen is 53. Wrestler-actor Hulk Hogan is 49. Singer Joe Jackson is 48. Actor Miguel A. Nunez Jr. is 38. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 35. Rock guitarist Charlie Sexton is 34. Rhythm-and-blues musician Chris Dave (Mint Condition) is 34. Hip-hop artist Ali Shaheed Muhammad is 32. Actor Will Friedle is 26. Rapper Chris Kelly (Kris Kross) is 24. Singer J-Boog (B2K) is 17.

Thought for Today: "The best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds." -- Edgar A. Guest, American author, journalist and poet (1881-1959).