Ever Since Phantom Opened on Broadway: The Next 6 Years

I began my look back at life since 1988 - the year The Phantom of the Opera opened on Broadway - a couple of weeks ago.  That blog, which covered the first 10 years (1988 - 1997), may be accessed by clicking HERE.

Today's blog will cover the next 6 years in the history of the world, 1998 - 2003.

In 1998, a gallon of gas averaged $1.15.

1998:

• Bill Clinton denies having "sexual relations" with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky.
• The nations of Europe agree to a single monetary unit, called the Euro.
• Exxon and Mobile combine to become the world's largest petroleum company.
• New $20.00 bills are introduced that make counterfeiting much more difficult.

• Microsoft is the biggest company on the NYSE.
• The Winter Olympics are held in Nagano, Japan.
• Both the iMac and Viagra are introduced to the public.
• Google is founded.

1999:

• The Human Population reaches 6 Billion.
• Lance Armstrong wins his first Tour de France.
• Barbie turns 40!
• MySpace begins as a social network, though it is not officially launched until 2003.
• The concept of Bluetooth is made public.
• The biggest news of the year:  preparing for doomsday, aka Y2K, which threatened to bring the world to its knees.

2000:

• The last year of the 20th century.
• The state of Vermont becomes the first to grant and recognize same-sex Civil Unions.
• The expected lifespan in the United States is now an average of 77.5 years.
• Tiger Woods becomes the youngest player to win a Grand Slam in golf.

2001:

• 9/11.
• The iPod is released.
• Wikipedia goes online.
• Windows XP is released.
• Mamma Mia! opens on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre.

2002:

• The Mars Odyssey finds large masses of ice on Mars.
• Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Golden Jubilee.
• The first American Idol is crowned.  Her name is Kelly Clarkson.

2003:

• The national Do Not Call Registry is started to the chagrin of tele-marketers.
• Because France won't help out with the Iraq situation, wacky government workers begin calling fried potatoes "Freedom Fries."

• Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected Governor of California.
• 50 million people are without power during the largest blackout in North American history.
• iTunes is introduced and sells 10 million songs in just a few months.
• Wicked opens on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre.

In 2003, a gallon of gas averages $1.83.

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Jeff
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