On this day: January 31
POSTED: 10:08 PM PST Jan 30, 2013
UPDATED: 11:00 PM PST Jan 30, 2013
The first Social Security check is issued, America launches its first satellite into orbit, McDonald's comes to Moscow, and "Avatar" hits the $2 billion mark, all on this day.
MITO SettembreMusica/Wikimedia Commons
1937: Composer Philip Glass, one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century, is born in Baltimore, Md. Glass has written operas, musical theater works, 10 symphonies, 11 concertos, solo works, chamber music, and film scores, three of which have been nominated for Oscars.
