Thursday, Oct. 18, is the 292d day of 2012. There are 74 days left in the year.

Today’s birthdays: Rock ’n’ roll performer Chuck Berry is 86. Sportscaster Keith Jackson is 84. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka is 73. Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova is 56. Boxer Thomas Hearns is 54. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 52. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is 51. Jazz singer-musician Esperanza Spalding is 28.