1997

The news reported yesterday that the Dow fell to its lowest point since 1997. So I thought I would go back in time and see what life was like in 1997. Here are some of the things I found:

• Unemployment in the United States was 4.7%
• Over 1.3 million Americans filed bankruptcy that year. (By comparison, over 2 million Americans filed in 2005)
• This year’s college freshmen were 7 years old
• England handed Hong Kong to China
• Scientists cloned Dolly the sheep
• A mass suicide in which 39 members of a "Heaven's Gate Cult" in California killed themselves thinking they would be sent up to a spaceship behind the passing Hale Bopp comet. Strange and sad story.
• OJ Simpsons loses civil suit for wrongful death
• Timothy McVeigh is found guilty of bombing
• Mars Pathfinder lands on Mars
  Princess Diana was killed in an automobile accident
• The comet Hale-Bopp is first spotted. It was considered to be the greatest comet in the 20th century. About 80% of Americans saw it without a telescope.
• 4 New York City police officers assault Haitian immigrant Abner Louima while in custody.
• Fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered
• Tony Blair becomes prime minister of Great Britain in a landslide election victory ending 18 years of Conservative rule.
• On 2 July, the devaluing of the Thai baht triggered off the currency crisis, which devastated the many Asian countries' economies in ensuing months.
• Titanic opened in 1997 and became the BIGGEST Total Box-Office Film ever in film history with over 1 Billion dollars and also became the movie with most Academy Award totaling 13
• Harry Potter was published in 1997 and written by J.K. Rowling, inspired millions to read.
  Mother Theresa of Calcutta died a week later after Princess Diana, Sept 1997
• Madeleine Albright was sworn in as Secretary of State, becoming the first woman to head the State Department
• Pokemon the major kids’ game was released to the U.S. and swept the Nation with its great gaming fun. Kids still love to play Pokemon games all over the world
• Camel cigarette brand removes Joe Camel from its advertising because opponents claim Jo Camel causes cigarettes.
• Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl 31-27.
  

Oh yeah, NOW I remember why I hated 1997….