Design Context: 1998 Timeline of Events

The big headlines for 1998 were all about the Clinton sex scandal and the President's relationship with then intern, Monica Lewinsky. It had the country in an uproar was asking: What is that stain on the blue dress and how did it get there? What's the significance of the cigar? And probably the most crucial question of all, what the heck is up with that beret?

While the majority of our time was spent gossiping about our sax-lovin' Commander in Chief, we did manage to devote our free hours to the important things in life like the resurgence of pop music (Can you say *NSYNC, BSB, Britney Spears, and 98 Degrees?); the rise of The WB as teen's go to TV channel (Don't you wish TiVos were already available so you'd never miss an episode ofDawson's Creek, Felicity, or Charmed?); and rooting for (or against if you were a Sammy Sosa fan) St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGuire as he set a new MLB record

HISTORY & POLITICS

• An ice storm strikes the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, causing 30

deaths and severely damaging the power infrastructure of the region, with some towns going without electricity for months.

• American president Bill Clinton is embroiled in a sex scandal that will eventually see him

take the stand to testify about his relationship with a White House intern.

• 5,000 people are killed when an earthquake strikes northeastern Afghanistan. The

tremor was measured at 6.1 on the Richter scale.

• A series of bombs are set off in Kenya and Tanzania in a concerted attack against U.S.

Embassies that would eventually be linked back to Osama bin Laden.

• India and Pakistan detonate nuclear devices, announcing to the world that have joined

the ranks of the atomic superpowers. Reaction from countries already in the nuclear club is swift and negative, with economic sanctions imposed almost immediately on both countries.

• The Yangtze River in China escapes its banks and drowns 12,000 victims before flooding

is contained.

• Google, a company which would come to dominate the internet search engine wars

thanks to their unique sorting algorithms, is founded in California.

• Chrysler and Daimler-Benz merge to form Daimler-Chrysler, becoming one of the

largest automakers in the world.

• Iraq declines to allow United Nations weapons inspectors to continue their mission in the

country, creating significant diplomatic tension.

• Hurricane Mitch is responsible for 18,000 deaths in Central America, with the greatest toll

seen in Nicaragua and Honduras.

• Microsoft begins a long antitrust battle against the United States Department of Justice

over claims that the company attempted to gain an unfair advantage over third party software companies through the bundling of different types of software together with their ubiquitous operating system.

Bill Clinton's sex scandal with White House intern Monica Lewinsky threatens his Presidency.

Bombings of U.S. Embassies in Tanzania & Kenya are linked to Osama bin Laden.

Bombings of U.S. Embassies in Kenya & Tanzania are linked to Osama bin Laden.

Web uber giant Google is founded.

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MUSIC

• My Heart Will Go One – Celine Dion
• I Don't Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
• You're Still The One – Shania Twain
• Believe – Cher
• Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
• Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz
• Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
• The Boy Is Mine – Brandy and Monica
• My Hero – Foo Fighters
• Ray of Light – Madonna
• The Way – Fastball
• This Kiss – Faith Hill
• Still Not A Player – Big Pun
• Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
• Doo Wop (That Thing ) – Lauryn Hill
• Gettin' Jiggy Wit It – Will Smith
• Hard Knock Life – Jay-Z
• I Want Your Back – *NSYNC
• One Week – Barenaked Ladies
• Blue Monday – Orgy
• Dragula – Rob Zombie
• The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
• Because Of You – 98 Degrees
• Pure Morning – Placebo

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TELEVISION

	Dawson's Creek James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams would heat up the WB Network with this popular teen soap opera that attempted to put a glossy sheen on the lives of late 90's youth.

	That '70s Show Turning back the dials on the time machine yielded this retro comedy that featured a stylized imagining of what it was like to grow up in the late 1970's in Wisconsin.

	Will & GraceOne of the first television programs to showcase gay characters as primary drivers of a sitcom's plot instead of as zany comic relief.

	CharmedA drama focused on three witches who live together under one roof that would revive the careers of past television vixens Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano.

	The King of Queens Kevin James is given a family sitcom in which to translate his unique brand of stand-up comedy.

	Sailor Moon Long popular in Japan, this animated hit would finally reach American shores through the Cartoon Network, reaching a new audience of Japanimation fanatics. > Check out our Sailor Moon costume idea

	Felicity The standard small town girl moving to a big city story is used as a backdrop for one woman's journey of self-discovery.

	The Powerpuff Girls Ostensibly a children's program, this cartoon gathered a sizeable following amongst a wide range of demographics, helping to usher in a new era of acceptance for off-the-wall animated television.

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MOVIES

	Deep Impact Starring Robert Duval, Tea Leoni and Elijah Wood One of two films released in 1998 dealing with the havoc caused by an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, Deep Impact dealt more with the human element of how families would react to such a doomsday scenario.

	Dr. Doolittle Starring Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wilson and Oliver Platt Eddie Murphy continued his relentless assault on the children's film market with this charmer about a doctor who wakes up one day to discover that he has the ability to communicate with animals.

	Mulan Starring Ming-Na, Eddie Murphy and B.D. Wong An unusual animated film for Disney, Mulan tackles a tumultuous period in Chinese history.

	Saving Private Ryan Starring Tom Hanks, Edward Burns and Tom Sizemore Graphic and emotionally harrowing story of a group of men sent to rescue one man shortly after the invasion of Europe during World War II.

	Armageddon Starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler Action-oriented epic about a team of astronauts sent into space to destroy an asteroid that is headed towards the planet Earth at breakneck speed.

	There's Something About Mary Starring Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz and Matt Dillon Influential comedy that would boost the careers of both Stiller and Diaz, in particular helping the latter achieve superstar status in Hollywood.

	A Bug's Life Starring Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, Richard Kind, David Hyde Pierce, Denis Leary, Madeline Kahn and Bonnie Hunt Pixar delivers yet another charming computer animated movie, this time about anthropomorphized insects and the world they live in.

	Godzilla Starring Jean Reno, Matthew Broderick and Maria PitilloBig-budget remake of the 1950's Japanese atomic scare film that originally made the titular city-destroying giant lizard famous. Here lizard... lizard... lizard...

	Shakespeare In Love Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes and Geoffrey RushAn unusual take on the Bard, this time following his romantic exploits as he attempts to find the true love his life is lacking.

	The Big Lebowski Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi Convoluted caper about a 30-something slacker who becomes embroiled in a kidnapping he had nothing to do with thanks to sharing his unusual last name with the intended extortion victim. The film would go on to become a cult classic.

	Blade Starring Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff and Kris Kristofferson Comic-book adaptation that deals with a half human / half vampire's endless battle against the undead who have infiltrated human society.

	Enemy Of The State Starring Will Smith, Gene Hackman and Jon Voight A lawyer is forced to go on the run from American intelligence agents after he is given evidence of a secret plot against the people of the United States.

	The Faculty Starring Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett and Jordana Brewster A sci-fi horror film about a school slowly being taken over by aliens, The Faculty was also a veritable who's who of future Hollywood stars and starlets.

	Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Starring Jason Flemyng, Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham Frenetic gangster action film that introduced the world to British director Guy Ritchie.

	Rounders Starring Matt Damon, Ed Norton and Gretchen Mol When a former card shark's best friend gets out of prison, he is drawn back into the life he swore he would leave behind.

	Rush Hour Starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker and Tom Wilkinson Chan and Tucker are an unlikely pair in this wacky take on buddy cop comedies.

	The Truman Show Starring Jim Carrey, Laura Linney and Ed Harris An unusually serious Carrey discovers that his character has actually been the unwitting star of a 24 / 7 reality show his entire life.

	The Wedding Singer Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore and Christine Taylor Sandler would both tickle funny bones and pull heart strings in this film about a washed up wedding singer who struggles to move forward with his life after meeting someone new.