I haven’t spent a lot of time formulating new year’s resolutions except to keep on having fun. I’m still remembering how it seems like yesterday when we were worried about what the new millennium would bring, and now that’s been eight years ago already. About the only thing we know for sure is what has happened in the past.
One hundred years ago - 1909 - Robert E. Perry reached the North Pole, Federal spending totaled .69 billion dollars, a first class stamp cost .02 cents, Pittsburgh defeated Detroit in the World Series, and Marconi won the Nobel Prize for developing the wireless.
Seventy-five years ago - 1934 - Hitler became fuhrer in Germany, Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger were eliminated, the Dust Bowl calamity occurred, Federal spending totaled 6.54 billion dollars, unemployment stood at 22%, a stamp cost .03, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated Detroit in the World Series, and Enrico Fermi bombarded uranium with neutons.
Fifty years ago - 1959 - Castro assumed power in Cuba, Alaska and Hawaii became states, Federal spending was 92 billion, unemployment was 6.8%, a stamp cost .04, Dodgers defeated the White Sox in the World Series, Texas Instruments developed the first integrated circuit, and the dark side of the moon was photographed for the first time.
Twenty-five years ago - 1984 - A gas leak in India killed 2000, the Bell System was broken up, Reagan was re-elected in a landslide with 59% of the vote, unemployment was 7.5%, a stamp cost .20, Detroit defeated San Diego in the World Series, and Apple introduced the Mac computer.
So it goes. Who knows what 2009 will bring, but at the least I can wish everyone a Happy New Year!
