TODAY IN HISTORY-FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Today is the 42nd day of 2011. There are 323 days left in the year.

Today in History: Highlight in History:  On Feb. 11, 1990, South African black activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity.   AP Photo
On this date in: 1847 Inventor Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. 1858 A French girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary near Lourdes. 1929 Italy recognized the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City. 1937 A sit-down strike against General Motors ended with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union. 1945 President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin wrapped up a conference at Yalta in the Crimea by signing a series of agreements on the governance of post-World War II Europe. AP Photo 1975 Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to head a major party in Britain when she was elected leader of opposition Conservative Party. 1979 Followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized power in Iran, nine days after the religious leader returned to his home country following 15 years of exile. AP correspondent Tom Kent reports from Tehran 1989 Rev. Barbara C. Harris became the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church in a ceremony held in Boston. 2006 Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded a companion during a quail hunt in Texas. 2006 Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates, struck a $6.8 billion deal to take over operations at six U.S. ports. (The deal was later blocked.) 2008 The Defense Department charged Khalid Sheikh Mohammed with murder and war crimes in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks. 2009 Democrat John Dingell of Michigan became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 53 years of service. 2009 President Robert Mugabe swore in longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe's prime minister.		Today's Birthdays: Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin turns 47 years old today. AP Photo/Jon C. Hancock Name Profession Age Conrad Janis Actor ("Mork and Mindy") 83 Tina Louise Actress ("Gilligan's Island") 77 Burt Reynolds Actor 75 Gerry Goffin Songwriter 72 Sergio Mendes Bandleader 70 Jeb Bush Former governor of Florida, brother of former President George W. Bush 58 Carey Lowell Actress ("Law and Order") 50 Sheryl Crow Rock singer, musician 49 Jennifer Aniston Actress ("Friends") 42 Damian Lewis Actor ("Band of Brothers") 40 Brandy R&B singer, actress 32 Matthew Lawrence Actor 31 Kelly Rowland R&B singer (Destiny's Child) 30 Actor Taylor Lautner ("Twilight" movies) turns 19 years old today. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Thought for Today: "Life does not count by years. Some suffer a lifetime in a day, and so grow old between the rising and the setting of the sun." — Augusta Jane Evans, American novelist (1835-1909).