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Tidbits and Pieces – the year 1996

General Hodge-Podge

Number of internet host computers go from 1 million to 10 million in 12 months; Microsoft releases Windows NT 4.0; MSNBC, 24/7 channel debuts; Java releases its first version of programming language; Hot Mail, a free email service debuts; global warming shows a record high; Major League Soccer has its first season in the US.

People

Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorce; Tiger Woods wins 96th US Golf Amateur Championship; the 31st Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, hosted by Jerry Lewis, raises $49,200,000; Bill Clinton defeats Bob Doyle and Ross Perot in the US Presidential Elections.

Average Costs

The average cost of a new house is $118,200 and the average income per year is $36,600; average monthly rent $554; the average cost of a new car is $16,300, and to fuel up is $1.22 per gallon; the minimum wage is raised to $5.15 per hour.

Weather Events

Tornado in Bangladesh leaves 600 dead; cyclone – category 4 strikes India leaving 2000 dead; Hurricane Dolly strikes Mexico; major snowstorm paralyzes the Midwestern US causing 50 deaths; tropical cyclone, Olivia, strikes Barrow Island, Australia, packing winds at 253 mph; southern Mexico suffers a 6.5 earthquake.

Music & Culture

Howard Stern’s radio show premieres in York, Pa/Boston, Ma/Austin, TX/Fresno, Ca/, just to name a few; Susan Lucci, the actress in All my Children, loses for the 16th time; Jay-Z releases Beyond Reasonable Doubt-studio debut album; the Nutty Professor, starring Eddie Murphy, opens in the US; Spice Girls, a British group, debut their single Wannabe; MTV’s second channel is launched; we lose Tiny Tom, singer of Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

The year 1996 is designated as the year of the eradication of poverty

Diana Ross performed at Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Az, and made a spectacular exit via helicopter. Her performance was considered one of the “best” out of “best” and “worst” categories for Super Bowl events.

The faceless clock at two, four, six

Let’s zero in on pickup stix

Are they in between or in betwixt

Best to run the shortest dance

Or you’ll be taking a risky chance

Best to avoid that same old song

Ticking all boxes may be wrong

Oh splish splash my eyelash crashed

A fake ATM ran out of cash

Hey, it’s not what you reap but how you sow

I got my $200 and didn’t pass go

We remain young if our song’s unsung

Have we lost our wits through thicknthin

Say the hoi polloi there are no echoes let in

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Eugenia

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1996.html

http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1996

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