January 1 Historical Events
The 1990s
- 1999: 11 European Union countries make the Euro their official currency.
- 1994: The North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico goes into effect.
- 1993: Czechoslovakia peacefully divided into two new countries: Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The 1950s
- 1959: Cuban President Fulgencio Batista is defeated by revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro.
The 1800s
- 1892: Ellis Island opened up as a station to process Immigrants coming into the United States.
- 1863: Emancipation Proclamation is signed by Abraham Lincoln declaring Slaves are free.
January 1 Historical Information
- Wikipedia: Today in History Entry
- Library of Congress: This Day in History
- The New York Times: Today in History News Archive
- BBC News: Historical Archive
- CBC News: Today in Canada Archive
- History.com: This Day in History
January 1 in Sports
- TodayInSportsHistory.com: Today in Sports History
- National Pastime: Today in Baseball History
January 1 Historical Articles
- The New York Times: Batista and Regime Flee Cuba; Castro Moving to Take Power (1959)
January 1 2009 Top Social Stories
- Mahalo Answers: Best documentary films of all time (845 Views)
- Fark: Asked why he ran a stop sign, a drunk Charles Barkley told cops... (25440 Views)
- Reddit: Just saw this on the Fox News text message feed (1525 Score)
- Digg: Are eBayers really this stupid? (3410 Diggs)
- YouTube: Kathy Griffin on CNN "Knock the D*** out of your Mouth" (Time: 113,131)
- VideoSift: Marijuana: It's Time for a Conversation (35 Sifts)
January 1 Liveblog
- 2009: Archived Liveblog
11:55 PM: War U.S. drone suspected of firing missiles in Pakistan Read
11:50 PM: Music Music downloads are up while album sales plummet Read
11:45 PM: Video Baby delivered in Canadian airspace Watch
11:40 PM: Yikes! Giant beaver on the loose in Britain Read
11:35 PM: Tragic Special needs student left all night on school bus Read
11:30 PM: Wacky Court bans man from carrying pens Read
11:25 PM: Yikes! Hundreds crash birthday party advertised on Facebook Read
11:20 PM: Tech Developers create software that will produce computer simulated actors indistinguishable from real thing Read
11:15 PM: Wacky Skating rink employees fired for making late-night fast food run in Zambonis Read
11:10 PM: Yikes! Mafia joins social network Read
11:05 PM: Gossip Angelina Jolie should not give birth to more children, doctors warn Read
11:00 PM: Showbiz Bollywood to make Back to the Future spin-off Read
10:55 PM: Music The Killers latest album was produced via email Read
10:50 PM: Wacky Man auctions pita bread that looks like Jesus Read
10:45 PM: Showbiz Time Warner, Viacom reach deal to avoid blackout Read
10:40 PM: Science Earth's cooling may have been caused by meteors, say researchers Read
10:35 PM: Gossip Matt Dillon arrested for driving 106 mph Read
10:30 PM: Showbiz Mamma Mia is best selling DVD ever in Britain Read
10:25 PM: Tragic Cruise ship worker falls overboard off coast of Florida Read
10:20 PM: Wacky 420 swimmers go for a dip in the freezing waters of lake Ontario Read
10:15 PM: Music Musicians who have snubbed the Queen Read
10:10 PM: Money U.S. steel industry asks Obama to help save industry with recovery program Read
10:05 PM: Yikes! The Sex Pistols were considered threat to Irish society, according to recently released state papers Read
10:00 PM: Strange Pioneer of anti-bike theft gets bike stolen Read
09:55 PM: Showbiz Flashback: worst movies of 2008 Read
09:50 PM: Wacky 89-year-old arrested for keeping neighbor's child's football, sues neighbors for emotional distress Read
09:45 PM: Yikes! Homeless man ordered to wear underwear Read
09:41 PM: Tragic Whistler B.C. avalanches kill skier and a snowboarder Read
09:39 PM: Tragic Two dead in plane crash near Chicago Read
09:38 PM: Money Asian stocks start 2009 on an upswing Read
09:34 PM: Tech Frozen Zune player said to "fix itself" Read
09:30 PM: Gossip American Idol star Gina Glocksen ties the knot Read
09:25 PM: News Hamas missiles threaten Israeli nuclear facility Read
09:23 PM: Yikes! Fire breaks out in Sydney brothel—clients and prostitutes flee in the nude Read
09:16 PM: Money Wells Fargo completes acquisition of Wachovia Read
09:13 PM: Music Rolling Stone recaps 2008's biggest music stories Read
09:06 PM: News Sri Lankan military enters Tamil stronghold Read
08:58 PM: Yikes! Decline of Great Barrier Reef could cripple ocean ecosystems Read
08:54 PM: Fun Pretty pic of the Eiffel Tower on New Year's Eve Look
08:48 PM: Sports Bulldogs surge late to win Capital One Bowl 24-12 Read
08:45 PM: Politics Obama to meet with leaders of both parties on stimulus plan Read
08:43 PM: Strange U.K. shop owner takes day off, leaves store open with sign, "Take what you want, but please pay." Read
08:39 PM: Showbiz New Year's TV marathons continue into the night Read
08:36 PM: Money Chemical industry giant LyondellBasell prepares to file for bankruptcy Read
08:32 PM: Death Actor Bernie Hamilton—police captain on original Starsky & Hutch—dead at 80 Read
08:30 PM: Tragic Children among dead in Gaza attacks Read
08:24 PM: Money Steel industry may be next in line for bailout Read
08:19 PM: Yikes! Man with Cerebral Palsy left on freezing bus for New Year's Eve Read
08:13 PM: Sports UCLA facing tougher challenge from Pac-10 conference Read
08:09 PM: News Russia cuts off natural gas to Ukraine Read
08:04 PM: Video The Jonas Brothers perform on New Year's Rockin' Eve Watch
07:59 PM: News Australia may take in Guantanamo detainees Read
07:54 PM: Yikes! Afghanistan plagued by corruption—payoffs demanded at every turn Read
07:51 PM: Fun Author of Dewey, The Small-Town Library Cat... adopts a new kitten Read
07:47 PM: War Gaza attacks cause bitter rift within more moderate Fatah movement Read
07:43 PM: Politics Friends say Hawaii is the key to understanding Obama Read
07:38 PM: Music Best Week Ever's top 20 songs of 2008 Read
07:36 PM: Money Investors face 2009 with guarded optimism Read
07:33 PM: Tech Toyota secretly developing all-solar car? Read
07:28 PM: Games Kotaku's most popular stories of the year Read
07:27 PM: Politics Bush aides say Cheney was not in charge Read
07:22 PM: Strange President of Guyana is upset someone is impersonating him on Facebook Read
07:20 PM: Showbiz Terminator, Deliverance selected for National Film Registry Read
07:16 PM: Money Seeking Alpha reviews the stock market's lessons of 2008 Read
07:13 PM: Music Music sales going strong as albums face possibility of extinction Read
07:10 PM: Politics NY Gov. Paterson on Senate appointment: "It ain't nothin' till I calls it." Read
07:06 PM: Science Scientists say it's time for unorthodox measured to fight climate change Read
07:04 PM: Tech 2008 tech timeline Read
06:59 PM: News Italian laws no longer automatically apply to Vatican Read
06:58 PM: Music Files reveal The Sex Pistols were considered major threat by highest levels of Irish law enforcement Read
06:55 PM: Yikes! Family finds $4 million car in deceased uncle's garage Read
06:53 PM: Politics Obama to huddle with Congress on economy Read
06:49 PM: News Russia/Ukraine gas feud could cause E.U. shortage Read
06:47 PM: Tragic Five dead in Washington house fire Read
06:44 PM: Science What happens to the body during a hangover Read
06:40 PM: Sports International media picks Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt as athlete of the year Read
06:35 PM: Strange Quebec economy plagued by widespread insomnia Read
06:30 PM: Death Mystery writer Donald E. Westlake dead at 75 Read
06:26 PM: Gossip Fergie works off pounds in preparation for wedding Read
06:22 PM: News Raul Castro warns Cubans of hard times ahead, U.S. aggression Read
06:18 PM: War Twitter: Gaza death toll at 439 Read
06:15 PM: Politics Blagojevich appointee Roland Burris may face Senate stall tactics Read
06:09 PM: Yikes! Millionaire lawyer fined for sexual antics in restaurant Read
06:06 PM: Sports Rose Bowl: USC triumphs 38-24 Read
05:59 PM: Music Beyonce is YouTube's most popular artist Read
05:58 PM: Science Tiny diamonds are evidence of comet impact in North America Read
05:56 PM: War Iraqi troops take over Baghdad Green Zone Read
05:52 PM: Sports Rose Bowl: USC leads Penn State 38-14 in fourth quarter Read
05:48 PM: Politics What's on Obama's agenda for his first day as President? Read
05:45 PM: Showbiz Variety assesses leading award season contenders Read
05:41 PM: Tech Steve Jobs "in great health"—according to Silicon Valley yogurt shop worker Read
05:37 PM: Science Parasitic bacteria help fight Dengue Fever Read
05:33 PM: News Obama expected to merge NASA and Pentagon space programs Read
05:32 PM: News Police recover $10,000 statue stolen from Bernard Madoff Read
05:30 PM: Music Simulated John Lennon appears in ad for One Laptop Per Child Read
05:26 PM: Tech People's Twitter account data being sold to spammers Read
05:22 PM: Yikes! Malibu beach disappearing Read
05:18 PM: Politics In appointing Roland Burris, Blagojevich passed over Obama's choices Read
05:11 PM: Video Kathy Griffin's foul-mouthed New Year's Eve appearance on CNN Watch
05:06 PM: Strange Nova Scotia couple gets Christmas card addressed to "Hick in the Woods" from stranger in Florida Read
04:59 PM: Showbiz Last minute cable deal prevents blackout of Comedy Central, MTV Read
04:57 PM: Sports Jets running back Thomas Jones criticizes Brett Favre Read
04:53 PM: News Cuba marks 50 years of communism Read
04:51 PM: Tragic Death toll in Bangkok nightclub fire at 61 Read
04:48 PM: Politics 2008's top 10 weirdest moments in politics Read
04:46 PM: Video Last night's spectacular fireworks display in Seattle Watch
04:44 PM: Wacky British elementary school teaches students how to blow their noses Read
04:41 PM: Strange Disabled duck gets around in custom wheelchair Read
04:34 PM: Yikes! Over 1,000 cars torched on New Year's Eve in France Read
04:26 PM: Tragic Six dead in Washington DC house fire Read
04:23 PM: Showbiz Bollywood to remake Back to the Future Read
04:19 PM: Science China to build world's largest solar power facility Read
04:17 PM: Games Joystiq ranks the year's best games Read
04:12 PM: Gossip Rick Salomon—of Paris Hilton sex tape fame—accused of assault Read
04:07 PM: Showbiz Slideshow: New images from 12 major 2009 films Look
04:02 PM: Crime Four arrested for gang rape of lesbian woman in S.F. Bay area Read
03:57 PM: Tech How to unlock a 3G iPhone Read
03:53 PM: Sports Star Hawkeyes running back Shonn Green to skip senior year, enter NFL draft Read
03:51 PM: Science Sharks have surprisingly weak bites Read
03:48 PM: Tragic Bangkok nightclub fire blamed on fireworks Read
03:45 PM: Yikes! Priest crushed by tree while trying to clear another tree from road Read
03:43 PM: War Basra airport handed over to Iraqis Read
03:40 PM: News Pakistan denies report that militant Zarrar Shah confessed to Mumbai attacks Read
03:38 PM: Music Coldplay's Chris Martin and Metallica's Lars Ulrich list their favorite music of 2008 Read
03:31 PM: Crime Maryland teens light sleeping boy's hair on fire Read
03:27 PM: Strange Drug dealers accepting gift cards Read
03:25 PM: Politics Tough fight expected for confirmation of Eric Holder as Secretary of State Read
03:23 PM: Death Longtime Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell dead at 90 Read
03:19 PM: War Israeli warplanes kill Hamas leader Nizar Rayyan in Gaza Read
03:13 PM: Sports Bulldogs take lead in second half—beat Spartans 24-12 Read
03:10 PM: Science People who think too much also eat too much Read
03:05 PM: Gossip Pink sings at her ex Carey Hart's New Year's party Read
03:01 PM: Showbiz Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds set for August 21, 2009 Read
02:57 PM: Fun Celebrity New Year's "resolutions" Read
02:54 PM: Tech Worst... MacWorld... ever Read
02:50 PM: Gossip Nicole Richie says she's ready for second baby Read
02:46 PM: Yikes! Microsoft to fire 15,000 on January 15? Read
02:44 PM: Death Joe Biden releases statement about death of Claiborne Bell Read
02:41 PM: Tech What must Yahoo! do to survive? Read
02:37 PM: Strange Mitt Romney's New Year's resolution: "stop wearing a suit and tie to bed" Read
02:34 PM: Hot Five homeless people who accomplished amazing things Read
02:29 PM: Crime Three arrested in connection with gang rape of lesbian Read
02:24 PM: Games World of Warcraft-playing teen arrested after displaying suicidal thoughts to in-game assistance player Read
02:20 PM: Together Sons find father's missing World War II submarine Read
02:17 PM: Money Thousands of store closings expected in 2009, say experts Read
02:14 PM: Fun The Onion: Bill Gates finally getting into Radiohead's Kid A Read
02:10 PM: Politics Sarah Palin says new parents Levi and Bristol 'Working Their Butts Off' Read
02:01 PM: Tech Unlock your iPhone 3G Read
01:57 PM: Strange Hawaiian coffee farmer creates new Obama-inspired brew, "Barack O Blend" Read
01:53 PM: Death Former Senator Claiborne Pell dies at age 80 Read
01:50 PM: War Israel's Gaza Strip campaign escalating; troop number to increase Read
01:47 PM: Hot The stories behind 20 of your favorite Muppet and Sesame Street characters Read
01:41 PM: Money Government officials having a tough time keep track of that $700 Wall Street bailout Read
01:36 PM: Fun The 80 best lifehacks of 2008 Read
01:31 PM: Showbiz Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" set for an August 22, 2009 release Read
01:26 PM: Yikes! Vermont man almost throws out $650,000 winning lotto ticket Read
01:22 PM: Money Many face steep salary cuts in swarm to find new job Read
01:18 PM: Sports Does Brett Favre's year-ending playing warrant a benching? Read
01:14 PM: Video Robbie Maddison lands on top of Arc de Triomphe with 120 foot jump at Paris Las Vegas Watch
01:10 PM: Hot Man shoots up friends car to prevent him from driving drunk Read
01:04 PM: Tragic Special needs student found alone on NYC school bus after driver left him 19 hours earlier in freezing temperatures on New Year's Eve Read
12:59 PM: News U.S. Coast Guard looking for overboard cruise employee off the coast of Florida Read
12:56 PM: Fun What are you optimistic about? Share your optimism for 2009! Read
12:53 PM: News North Korea says it will denuclearize in 2009 Read
12:50 PM: Showbiz Best movie deaths of 2008 Read
12:44 PM: Tragic Teen blogger Katy Hughes blogs about being homeless Read
12:40 PM: Video The iPhone symphony, almost Watch
12:37 PM: Crime New York City homicides were up in 2008 Read
12:34 PM: Sports Thomas Jones says Favre should have been benched Read
12:31 PM: Money Top stock picks for 2009 from 75 advisors Read
12:28 PM: Music Beyonce starts 2009 with a bang on the Billboard Hot 100 Read
12:24 PM: Fun 2008 in 42 stunning photographs Look
12:20 PM: News Gazprom shuts off gas supply to Ukraine and Western Europe Read
12:15 PM: Science Twelve interesting examples of evolution Read
12:10 PM: Tech Tech blogger Robert Scoble discusses Twitter spam Read
12:05 PM: Gossip Fergie working out daily to prepare for wedding Read
12:00 PM: Yikes! You know the economy is bad when ... drug dealers begin accepting gift cards Read
11:54 AM: Hot Facebook squares off with breast-feeding mothers Read
11:51 AM: Video Atlanta school raps their way to Oprah donation of $365,000 Watch
11:44 AM: Crime Thor look-alike scares off burglars after New Year's Eve party Read
11:39 AM: News India and Pakistan swap nuclear secrets Read
11:34 AM: Sports Mark DeRosa traded to the Cleveland Indians Read
11:29 AM: Money European Union currency, the Euro, celebrates 10th "birthday" Read
11:24 AM: Science Don't think too much about it, research says it could make you fat Read
11:22 AM: Tech USB devices that are actually useful Read
11:18 AM: Death Former Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell died at the age of 90 Read
11:15 AM: Strange Mafia bosses gaining friends on Facebook Read
11:10 AM: Gossip Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are working toward high school diplomas, not dropouts, reports Sarah Palin Read
11:05 AM: Yikes! Maryland teens set boy's hair on fire and record it on camera phone Read
11:00 AM: Wacky Woman's birdwatching trip to Norway ends in success - in her own back yard Read
10:57 AM: D
