Five Things to Know Today, Dec. 19

Welcome to Monday, a new week and the final countdown to Santa Claus' arrival. Here are some things to know today.

The weather: Sunny again today, with a high of about 60, the National Weather Service says. The low tonight will be around 44 degrees.

Gas prices: Well, the $3 barrier has been broken -- you can get a gallon of regular for $2.99 in a lot of places around Lilburn, according to www.georgiagasprices.com. That probably won't last, with the holidays coming up. Check Patch's Traffic and Gas report for the latest prices. The average in Georgia is $3.152, according to AAA.

Homeward bound. Our military men and women have left Iraq for good, with the last troops pulling out this weekend. Let's be extra welcoming when we see them coming home. And remember: Veterans have a higher unemployment rate than average, through no fault of their own. In this economy, do what you can to hire a vet, or steer a vet to a job opening.

The ghosts of Christmas. Maybe the ultimate Christmas story of the modern age, Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published in 1843 on Dec. 19, just in time for the holiday sales rush (clever marketing existed back then, too). Who's your favorite ghost? I'm partial to Christmas Present, but a lot of people like Past. Worth re-reading, even if there are many fine movie versions.

Politics. You think the primary races are tough? At one point during the Roman Empire, two brothers ruled as co-emperors. Over time their rivalry grew and each wanted to depose the other. One brother, known as Caracalla, finally lured the other, Publius Septimus Geta, to a reconciliation meeting without his bodyguard. Geta was promptly stabbed to death by the palace guard on this day in the year 211 AD. Caracalla ruled for another six years before he was cut down by an angry soldier during a roadside pitstop, at age 29.