Today is Saturday, January 7, the seventh day of 2012. There are 359 days left in the year.
1610 ― Galileo discovers first three Jupiter satellites, Io, Europa and Ganymede
1618 ― Francis Bacon becomes English lord chancellor
1714 ― Typewriter patented by Englishman Henry Mill (built years later)
1890 ― W. B. Purvis patents fountain pen
1953 ― President Truman announces development of the hydrogen bomb
1972 ― Los Angeles Lakers chalk up 33rd consecutive win (NBA record)
1975 ― Led Zeppelin fans riot before Boston concert, causing $30,000 damage
1977 ― Human Rights Charter '77 established in Prague
1986 ― U.S. President Reagan proclaims economic sanctions against Libya
1992 ― AT&T releases video-telephone ($1,499)