Time Capsule from December 1998

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I had a great Christmas this year...mostly because I wanted it to be that way. Next Christmas will be a lot more tense because of Y2K. I made this Christmas count. It got me thinking that these are the good old days--1998, before all the problems start in 1999. The Jo Anne Effect starts in a few days.

What makes December 1998 what it is? What's unique to this time period? What will remind us of this time, this calm before the storm? I guess you could call this a time capsule. I'm going to list some songs, movies, slang, trends and economic statistics that make right now--Wednesday, 30 December 1998--what it is. Please add anything that defines this moment to you.

Songs: A popular slow song right now is "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain. "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins, Will Smith's "Miami," and "Have You Ever?" by Brandy are being played a lot on Top 40 radio. Metallica's "Turn The Page" rules rock radio, and big country songs include "Someone You Used To Know" by Collin Raye, Terri Clark's "You're Easy On The Eyes," and "You're Beginning To Get To Me" by Clay Walker.

Movies: Just out and #1 at the box office this week is Robin Williams as a doctor who believes in the power of humor in "Patch Adams." The rest of the top 10 are (2) "Stepmom"; (3) "You've Got Mail"; (4) "The Prince of Egypt"; (5) "The Faculty"; (6) "Mighty Joe Young"; (7) "A Bug's Life"; (8) "Star Trek: Insurrection"; (9) "Enemy of the State"; and (10) "Jack Frost."

The big toy this holiday season is Furbies. There are several different versions of "Chicken Soup for the (fill in the blank) Soul" books on the market right now. 1998 was a great year for Taco Bell's "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" Chihuahua.

Slang? "Thanks for the heads up." There's also "raising the bar," "core competencies" and "core business," "re-invent" and "he said/she said." My brother says a big street talk phrase is "I feel ya" (I hear you, I relate, I understand how you feel).

Economics: The Dow closed at 9274 today, down from 9320 yesterday. The Dow was as high as 9374 on November 23rd. The S&P 500 closed at 1231 today; the Nasdaq and its internet stocks closed at 2166.

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped from 4.6% in October to 4.4% in November. The Consumer Price Index has went up just 1.5% in the past 12 months. The prime rate is 7.75% and the discount rate is 4.50%. February gold is $288.10 per ounce, and New York light sweet crude for February delivery is $11.75 per barrel.

The House Of Representives impeached Clinton recently. Clinton's trial in the Senate is expected to begin January 6th. What happened to that promise that this whole Lewinsky mess would be over with by the end of this year? How long will it be before Y2K is bigger news than Monica Lewinsky?

The U.S. and Britian bombed Iraq recently, there are no more weapons inspections taking place, and Iraq is firing at U.S. planes that are still trying to maintain "no-fly zones" over that country.

What will remind you of December 1998?

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), December 31, 1998

Answers

Our iMac. Don't wanna hafta give up this wonderful new toy with the Internet and IRKle and Forums and ListServs and research to my obsessions' hearts content. AAAggggghhhh. Could handle Y2K better if we had never connected to cyberspace. Newbie rush hasn't worn off yet ...

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), December 31, 1998.


1998 was the year many faced the idea that it is time to "walk your talk." Others still "talking their walk" and satrting to take baby steps.

Preparing for upcoming Y2K uncertainties and ever increasing natural disasters is beginning to take front and center stage at 1998 year's end.

Who can figure out what's gonna happen next? Not Washington. Not us.

Interesting times.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 31, 1998.


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