TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1913, the federal income tax was authorized with ratification of the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. In 1959, rock pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. In 1962, President John Kennedy banned trade with Cuba. In 1994, President Bill Clinton ended the 19-year-old trade embargo with Vietnam.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), composer; Horace Greeley (1811-1872) activist/newspaper editor; Gertrude Stein (1874-1946), writer; Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), artist/illustrator; James Michener (1907-1997), novelist; Blythe Danner (1943- ), actress, is 65; Morgan Fairchild (1950- ), actress, is 58; Nathan Lane (1956- ), actor, is 52; Maura Tierney (1965- ), actress, is 43.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1990, legendary jockey Willie Shoemaker rode the 40,350th and final race of his career.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense." - Gertrude Stein

TODAY'S FACT: Juneau, Alaska, can be reached by cruise ship, ferry, or air, but it is the only U.S. city that cannot be reached by road

TODAY'S NUMBER: 400 - pages of federal tax rules in the first edition of the commonly used Standard Federal Tax Reporter. There are now more than 67,000.

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (January 30) and new moon (February 6).