From the landmark (you know, like the debut of The Oprah
Winfrey Show) to the obscure (International Year of Deserts,
anyone?), a lot has happened in the past 40 years. Here's a look
back at some of the highlights. - H.S
In 1967, the first ATM for public use was installed in a bank.
Usage fees would come later, in the 1980s - a rather unfortunate
addition, if you ask us.
The first personal computer, the Xerox Alto, was invented in 1972.
Although it was not a commercial product, it was used on a number
of college campuses.
The Rubik's Cube was released in May 1980, stumping the masses with
its 43 quintillion possible permutations. To date, 300 million of
the cubes have sold worldwide.
The Oprah Winfrey Show hit national airwaves in September
1986. In 2003, VH1 named Winfrey the greatest pop-culture icon of
all time, and today, she is widely considered one of the most
influential people in the country.
In 1988, Michael Jordan made the first of his 18 Wheaties-box
appearances. He currently holds the record for the most
Wheaties-box covers ever - as well as for the most high-profile,
false-alarm retirements (two).
DVD players first became available in Japan in November 1996; they
hit U.S. shelves four months later. In just a decade, DVD has
pushed VHS to the brink of extinction.
2006 was named the official International Year of Deserts and
Desertification. Is desertification really a word?
Remember When?
Still reminiscing about the good old days when gas was less than a
buck per gallon? So are we. But look on the bright side: Buying
microwaves and calculators no longer puts a dent in your wallet.
And that's a good thing, since you'll need those extra dollars for
gas. - H.S.
And Now for the Most Random…
(How could we not share them with you?)
— Jack Boulware
-In 1968, comedian and Bewitched regular Paul Lynde debuted as the center square on the game show Hollywood Squares. Among his legendary wisecracks: To the question “Why would you throw a lemon down a garbage disposal?” Lynde replied, “Because it was very, very naughty.”
-In 1972, a new electronic “video game” called Pong was installed in Andy Capp’s Tavern, a bar in Sunnyvale,
California. Within one day, people were lining up outside, waiting for the pub to open. Today, the video-game industry is a $7 billion business worldwide.
-The documentary film Koyaanisqatsi (“life out of balance”) was released in 1982 and became a cult hit for its sequences of humans struggling with technology. It was chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2000 for its cultural significance.
-All U.S. presidents elected after January 1, 1997, along with their spouses, will receive only 10 years of protection from the
Secret Service. President Clinton was the last president to qualify for lifelong protection.