Today is Thursday, Feb. 25, the 56th day of 2010. There are 309 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On Feb. 25, 1940, a hockey game was televised for the first time, by New York City station W2XBS, as the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, at Madison Square Garden.

On this date

In 1836, inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver.

In 1901, United States Steel Corporation was incorporated by J.P. Morgan.

In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

In 1919, Oregon became the first state to tax gasoline, at 1 cent per gallon.

In 1948, Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia.

In 1950, “Your Show of Shows,” starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris, debuted on NBC-TV.

In 1964, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

In 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election; Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency.

Five years ago

Municipal employee and church leader Dennis Rader was arrested for the BTK (“bind, torture, kill”) serial slayings that had terrorized Wichita, Kan. (Rader later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 life prison terms.)

Today’s Birthdays

Country singer Ralph Stanley is 83. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 73. Actress Karen Grassle is 66. Humorist Jack Handey is 61. Actress Veronica Webb is 45. Actor Alexis Denisof is 44. Actress Tea Leoni is 44. Comedian Carrot Top is 43. Actress Lesley Boone is 42. Actor Sean Astin is 39. Singer Daniel Powter is 39. Latin singer Julio Iglesias Jr. is 37. Rhythm-and-blues singer Justin Jeffre is 37. Actor Anson Mount is 37. Comedian Chelsea Handler is 35. Actress Rashida Jones is 34. Actor Justin Berfield is 24. Actors Oliver and James Phelps (“Harry Potter” movies) are 24.

Thought for Today

“Open-mindedness is not the same as empty-mindedness. To hang out a sign saying, ‘Come right in; there is no one at home’ is not the equivalent of hospitality.”

— John Dewey, American philosopher and educator (1859-1952)