The Edge

Today is Friday, Dec. 8, the 342nd day of 2017. There are 23 days left in the year.

Today in history

On Dec. 8, 1941, the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Imperial Japan, a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Also on this date:

In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was free of original sin from the moment of her own conception.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction for the South.

In 1980, rock star John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by an apparently deranged fan.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed a treaty at the White House calling for destruction of intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

In 1992, Americans got to see live television coverage of U.S. troops landing on the beaches of Somalia as Operation Restore Hope began (because of the time difference, it was early Dec. 9 in Somalia).

Fun fact

Dogs that have emotionally negative experiences often lie awake at night worrying about their problems.

Fitness factoids

Three reasons to take a walk today:

1. Walking can reduce stress, cheer you up and increase self-esteem.

2. You can lose weight by walking for exercise for 30 minutes a day.

3. Regular walking lowers blood pressure, improves sleep and gives energy boosts.

From health.cleveland.org

Daily inspiration

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

- Lena Horne

Today's birthdays

Flutist James Galway is 78. Singer Jerry Butler is 78. Pop musician Bobby Elliott (The Hollies) is 76. Actress Mary Woronov is 74. Actor John Rubinstein is 71. Reggae singer Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) is 69. Rock musician Warren Cuccurullo is 61. Rock musician Phil Collen (Def Leppard) is 60. Country singer Marty Raybon is 58. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is 58. Political commentator Ann Coulter is 56. Actor Wendell Pierce is 54. Actress Teri Hatcher is 53. Actor David Harewood is 52. Rapper Bushwick Bill (The Geto Boys) is 51. Singer Sinead O'Connor is 51. Actor Matthew Laborteaux is 51. Rock musician Ryan Newell (Sister Hazel) is 45. Actor Ian Somerhalder is 39. Rock singer Ingrid Michaelson is 38. Actress Hannah Ware is 35. Country singer Sam Hunt is 33. Christian rock musician Jen Ledger (Skillet) is 28. Actress Wallis Currie-Wood is 26. Actress AnnaSophia Robb is 24.

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The Edge is compiled by Dallas Callahan. She can be contacted at dcallahan@lmtribune.com.