TODAY is Monday, February 20, the 51st day of 2006. There are 314 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE:In 1792, President Washington signed an act creating the US Post Office.

In 1839, Congress prohibited duelling in the District of Columbia.

In 1895, abolitionist Frederick Douglass died in Washington.

In 1933, the House of Representatives completed congressional action on an amendment to repeal Prohibition.

In 1944, during World War II, US bombers began raiding German aircraft manufacturing centers in a series of attacks that became known as “Big Week.”

In 2003, fire broke out during a rock concert at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killing 100 people and injuring about 200 others.THOUGHT FOR TODAY:<$>“Cities, like cats, will reveal themselves at night.” — Rupert Brooke, English poet (1887-1915).