Today, 25 January, is National Opposite Day. It's supposed to be a fun day. It's supposed to be a day that allows us to live in opposition to the way we routinely live. Start the day with dinner and work back to breakfast. Say the opposite of what you mean; during an election year, we'd all save a lot of time if we limited the inconsistencies to just one day. Wear your summer clothes under your parka. Stuff like that.

Today, 23 January 2016, is John Hancock's 279th birthday. Remember him? Smuggler, merchant, Massachusetts governor, president of the Continental Congress? Guy whose ginormous signature on the United States Declaration of Independence is his major claim to fame today?

John Hancock's writing panache has inspired a day that is dedicated to remembering something he did. 23 January is National Handwriting Day.