January 11th

Nika-revolt against Justianus & Theodora in Hippodrome Constantinople.

The Arab Spring movement begins in Tunisia when demonstrators take to the streets to protest chronic unemployment and police brutality.

Mark McGwire admitted to The Associated Press that he'd used steroids and human growth hormone when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998.

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to conquer Mount Everest, died at age 88.

English soccer player David Beckham announced a five-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Calling the death penalty process "arbitrary and capricious, and therefore immoral," Illinois Gov. George Ryan commuted the sentences of 167 condemned inmates, clearing his state's death row two days before leaving office.

The first planeload of al-Qaida prisoners from Afghanistan arrived at a U.S. military detention camp in Guantanamo, Cuba.

The first Rock in Rio music festival is held. A whopping 1.5 million people attended, making it the world's largest music festival.

France set off an international uproar by releasing Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Baseball's American League adopted the "designated hitter" rule which allowed another player to bat for the pitcher.

The first government report regarding the dangers of cigarette smoking was issued by the U.S. Surgeon General, Luther Terry.

A massive landslide kills 4,000 in Peru. Nine villages in the Río Santa Valley were engulfed by a 12-meter wall of rock and ice.

Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.

Insulin is used for the first time to treat diabetes. 14-year-old Leonard Thompson was the first person to receive the medication to combat his Type 1 diabetes.

Alabama seceded from the Union.

1st public demonstration of telegraph message sent using dots & dashes at Speedwell Ironworks, Morristown, New Jersey by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail.

1st pineapples planted in Hawaii (or 1/21).

The Michigan Territory was created.

American founding father Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies.

Jacob van Necks fleet leaves Bantam Java with pepper, clove & muskaat.