“But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret.” – Ronald Reagan
Events tack by a suicide bomber destroys the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 • The fi rst mobile phones are introduced to the public by the Motorola Company. • Sally Ride becomes fi rst American woman in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger • President Ronald Reagan proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) • Margaret Thatcher wins landslide victory in General Elections in the UK
• The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is bombed, killing 63 people •
Technology Unemployment rises to 12 million, the highest figure since 1941 • IRA bomb exploded outside Harrods on December 17 • Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast, killing 22 • Ethiopia appeals for world aid for when the death toll reaches 4 million • The world’s population is estimated at 4.72 billion • The Philippines opposition leader, Be-
nigno Aquino, assassinated • China’s Population reaches 1 billion • A 5.2 earthquake hits central New York • Richard Noble sets a new land speed record of 633.468 mph, driving Thrust 2 at the Black Rock Desert, Nevada • Brinks Mat warehouse robbery at Heathrow Airport making off with three tons of gold bars valued at $37.5 million • Terrorist at-
18 May 1, 2012 THE MILITARY PRESS
• ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet
• Lotus 1-2-3 is released • IBM releases the IBM PC XT • U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger is launched on its maiden fl ight • Microsoft Word is fi rst released • The fi rst artificial heart recipient, Barney Clark, dies after 112 days
Cost of living
• West German news magazine Stern publish the Hitler Diaries which turn out to be forgeries
• Swatch introduce their fi rst watches
Popular Culture • Final episode of M*A*S*H airs, record 125 million watch • Cabbage Patch Dolls are sold in shops and become a success
Popular Films Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Tootsie Trading Places WarGames Superman III Flashdance
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Interest rates 11% Average new house $82,600 Median price home $70,300 Average income per year $21,070 Average monthly rent $335 Dodge Ram 50 Truck $5,665 Staying Alive Octopussy National Lampoon’s Vacation Never Say Never Again Terms of Endearment Yentl Educating Rita
May 1, 2012 THE MILITARY PRESS 19