Sunday, March 30

Today is Sunday, March 30, the 90th day of 2008. There are 276 days left in the year.

Highlights in history on this date:

1820 - Duc de Richelieu re-establishes censorship of French press.

1842 - Ether is used as anesthetic for first time, by Dr. Crawford Long in United States.

1855 - Treaty of Peshawar signed, whereby Britain and Afghanistan form alliance against Persia.

1858 - The eraser-topped pencil is patented by H. L. Lipman of Philadelphia.

1867 - U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reaches an agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as …