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ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1620, the Pilgrims left the Mayflower and went on shore for the first time since landing here.

• This was, of course, before the patriots. And, by 'the patriots,' I don't mean the football team.
• They wanted to wait until after the busy Thanksgiving travel season.
• They wanted to make absolutely sure all the campaign commercials were over.
• Needless to say, last-minute Christmas shopping was really big that year.

It's believed that the very, very first basketball game was played on this date in 1891. The game was in its early stages. For example, back then, players would take shots at peach baskets. And then, when they ran out of ammunition, the game was over.

On this date in 1898, radium was discovered. Don't know if it was AM or FM.

In 1913, the first crossword puzzle was published, in the Sunday supplement of the New York World.

• At first, people were surprised to find out there were that many cross words that you could make a puzzle out of them.
• The trick was coming up with enough cross words to create a puzzle... but they did it.
• It was published in New York, the place known for cross words.
• Did you know that doing crossword puzzles can slash your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by almost 50 percent.

Kiefer Sutherland is 49 today. The following birthday takes place in real time.

The former king of Monday Night Television, Ray Romano turns 58 today. He's dropped slightly in popularity so now, not everybody likes him.

Samuel L. Jackson celebrates his 67th birthday. I still haven't forgiven him for "Snakes on a Plane."

Jane Fonda celebrates her 78th birthday today with a very careful workout.

Humbug Day -- You might be a Scrooge if...

• Your only holiday decoration is a rotting pumpkin.
• The treats you leave for Santa include a banana, prune juice, and a venison steak.
• Your version of "Ho Ho Ho" involves Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan.
• The light display on your roof is in the shape of a middle finger.
• If your idea of Christmas dinner is a 6-pack of Schlitz, a Slim-Jim, and a cheese log.
• If you buy all of your Christmas Gifts in one night, at the same place you buy your gas and cigarettes.
• The star on the top of your tree wears a business suit and answers to the name - "special prosecutor."
• The only stockings you hang by the fireplace are fishnet.

National Flashlight Day -- This isn't real Christmasy, but when it comes to life-saving knowledge about bioterrorism, Americans score dismally low. A poll by the America Prepared Campaign (APC) reveals we're woefully under-informed. For instance, did you know:

• Your emergency kit should include a flashlight, battery powered radio, first aid supplies and prescription medicines, but not a stockpile of antibiotics. You can't predict which antibiotics you'll need.
• Equip each person with an out of town contact to call in case of separation. But don't assign each family member a specific time to be at a specific phone line. He or she may not be able to get there.
• Bio-weapons involve living organisms, but they're not all contagious. Fear of contagion creates dangerous panic. Anthrax, botulism and salmonella are examples of non-contagious biological agents.
• If you're outside and people around you suddenly start getting ill, don't waste time looking for a cloth or dust mask to cover your face. Just get out of the area immediately.
• A biological agent can enter the system through the lungs, through the skin or by being swallowed. But it may not be immediately obvious.
• When you experience symptoms you believe are bioterrorism-related, don't give up. Get help. Never assume it's an automatic death sentence. Most bio-agents are treatable -- panic isn't.

If you were to buy the entire "12 Days of Christmas" this year, it would cost you $34,130. Plus, of course, clean up.