What’s Happening Today?

Freethinkers Day. Freethinkers Day, also known as Thomas Paine Day, celebrates the life and work of Thomas Paine, who was born on today's date in 1737. The day not only educates the public about Paine's work but also about freethinking, a concept that his work was often imbued with, which rejects arbitrary authority and puts reason and logic before faith.

National Fun at Work Day. The holiday is celebrated on the last Friday in January, although some sources say it is celebrated on January 28 no matter what day of the week it falls on. It seems to make more sense to celebrate the day on a Friday, as many workers have been at their jobs all week, and could use a break. On this day, employees and employers find ways to make work environments fun, whether it be by striving to make the actual work more fun, or by escaping from work altogether.

What Happened Today?

1. In 1886, German engineer Carl Benz patented the first modern automobile. His “Benz Patent-Motorwagen Nummer 1” was the first gasoline-driven car.

2. 1996, France stopped nuclear testing. President Jaques Chirac announced the “definite end” to France's nuclear testing program just 1 day after the country exploded a nuclear device in the South Pacific.

3. In 2002, George W. Bush coined the term “axis of evil” as part of his State of the Union Address. The term used to describe “regimes that sponsor terror” became exemplary for the terminology used by the Bush administration to promote its “war on terror”.

Birthdays

1. 1843 – William McKinley, 25th President of the USA.

2. 1954 - Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host, actress, producer, founded the OWN Network, Harpo Productions.

Sources: Wikipedia & checkiday.com