TODAY is Tuesday, March 12, the 71st day of 2002. <$>There are 294 days left in the year.

ON<\p>THIS<\p>DATE<$>

In 1664, New Jersey became a British colony as King Charles II granted land in the New World to his brother James, the Duke of York.

IIn 1938, the “Anschluss” took place as German troops entered Austria.

IIn 1947, President Truman established what became known as the “Truman Doctrine” to help Greece and Turkey resist Communism.

IIn 1969, Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London.

In 1999, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic joined NATO.

THOUGHT<\p>FOR<\p>TODAY<$>

“I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it, and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: hard work — and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.” — Lucille Ball, American actress-comedian (1911-1989).