Today is Monday, July 12, the 193rd day of 2010. There are 172 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On July 12, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill passed by Congress authorizing the Medal of Honor.

On this date

In 1543, England’s King Henry VIII married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.

In 1812, United States forces led by Gen. William Hull entered Canada during the War of 1812 against Britain. (However, Hull retreated shortly thereafter to Detroit.)

In 1909, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing for a federal income tax, and submitted it to the states. (It was declared ratified in Feb. 1913.)

In 1948, the Democratic national convention, which nominated President Harry S. Truman for a second term of office, opened in Philadelphia.

In 1960, the Etch A Sketch Magic Screen drawing toy, invented by French electrician Andre Cassagnes, was first produced by the Ohio Art Co.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter defended Supreme Court limits on government payments for poor women’s abortions, saying, “There are many things in life that are not fair.”

In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale announced he’d chosen U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York to be his running mate; Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket.

In 1988, Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis tapped Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as his running mate.

In 1993, some 200 people were killed when an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck northern Japan and triggered a tsunami.

Five years ago

Mohammed Bouyeri, a Muslim extremist on trial in the slaying of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, unexpectedly confessed in court, saying he was driven by religious conviction. (Bouyeri was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.) Prince Albert II of Monaco acceded to the throne of a 700-year-old dynasty.

One year ago

Eun Hee Ji of South Korea made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, finishing off an even-par 71 to win the U.S. Women’s Open.

Today’s Birthdays

Pianist Van Cliburn is 76. Comedian Bill Cosby is 73. Singer-musician Christine McVie is 67. Actress Denise Nicholas is 66. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 62. Actor Jay Thomas is 62. Actress Cheryl Ladd is 59. Actor Jamey Sheridan is 59. Country singer Julie Miller is 54. Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 54. Actress Mel Harris is 54. Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 39. Country singer Shannon Lawson is 37. Actress Anna Friel is 34. Actor Topher Grace is 32. Actress Michelle Rodriguez is 32. Actor Erik Per Sullivan is 19.

Thought for Today

“The tragedy is not that things are broken. The tragedy is that they are not mended again.”

— Alan Paton, South African author (1903-88)