What was going on when I was born?

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Historical Context for February 10, 1980

In 1980, the world population was approximately 4,447,606,236 people[†]

In 1980, the average yearly tuition was $738 for public universities and $3,225 for private universities. Today, these costs have risen to $9,750 and $35,248 respectively[†]

Notable Births

1980César Izturis, Venezuelan baseball player[†]

César David Izturis is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds. He is the half-brother of shortstop Maicer Izturis.

1980Enzo Maresca, Italian footballer[†]

Enzo Maresca is an Italian professional football manager and former player. He is the head coach of Premier League club Chelsea.

1980Mike Ribeiro, Canadian ice hockey player[†]

Michael Tavares Ribeiro is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Originally selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 45th overall, of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Ribeiro has played in the NHL for the Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Phoenix Coyotes and the Nashville Predators.

1980Bruno Šundov, Croatian basketball player[†]

Bruno Šundov is a Croatian former professional basketball player. Standing at 2.18 m, he played the center position. He played for five NBA teams and over 20 clubs around the world.

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Headlines from February 10, 1980

F.B.I. SUBPOENAS 20 IN A BRONX INQUIRY INVOLVING NARCOTICS; FINANCIAL PAPERS ARE SOUGHT Caliber Among Politicians Served --Federal Grand Jury Has Not Brought Charges in Case A Galiber Attorney Comments F.B.I. Subpoenas 20 in the Bronx

By Howard Blum

Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation moved through the Bronx yesterday afternoon serving more than 20 subpoenas on Bronx politicians and alleged members of organized crime. The subpoenas demanded financial records for a Federal grand jury.

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SELECTION; The Writer Underground Russia Author's Query

By Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyr

IN the 1960's and early 1970's, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was allowed to publish his work only after protracted negotiations involving Party bureau crats and the editors of the journal Novy Mir. Printed here are the opening pages of "The Oak and the Calf," Solzhenitsyn's memoir of Russian literary politics in those years, to be published in May by Harper Row.

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Volcker's Elusive Success; Volcker's Success

By Steven Rattner

WASHINGTON--In October, when Paul A. Volcker, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, pushed through measures intended to tighten controls on growth of the nation's money supply, his principal goal seemed to be to soothe fears of explosive increases and the inflation that might result.

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The Poet of Dark Times; By STEPHEN SPENDER Brecht

By Unknown Author

IN his preface to this impressive selection of Bertolt Brecht's poetry, John Willett speculates on why Brecht is only today beginning to be appreci ated as a poet of major stature--perhaps a greater poet even than playwright, as Auden believed him to be. His early poems, which appeared in the 1920's, ...

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I was wondering if anything interesting on the news was going on when I was born, and decided to create this website for fun. The purpose is to show people what was going on when they were born. With this website I've found out that it was a pretty slow news day on my birthday, but I bet it would feel cool to know a historical event happened on your birthday.

The data used in this project is provided by the New York Times API. They have by far the best API I was able to find, with articles dating back to the 1950s. There weren't any other major newspapers that had an API with close to as much data. The closest was the Guardian API, but theirs only went back to the 1990s. I decided to only use articles from the New York Times because their API was by far the best. This tool works if you have a birthday after the 1950s or so.

Some important dates in history I'd recommend looking up on this website are:

  • 9/11/2001: The September 11 Attacks happened on this day, the news articles from this date provide great context to the tragedy our nation suffered and the immediate response from the American people. The headlines capture the shock, confusion, and unity that emerged in the aftermath of this devastating event.
  • 7/20/1969: The historic Apollo 11 moon landing, when humans first set foot on another celestial body. The articles from this date showcase humanity's greatest achievement in space exploration and the culmination of the space race.
  • 11/9/1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War. The coverage provides fascinating insights into this pivotal moment in world history and the emotions of people as decades of division came to an end.
  • 1/20/2009: Barack Obama's inauguration as the first African American President of the United States, a watershed moment in American history that represented a major milestone in the ongoing journey toward racial equality.
  • 8/15/1969: The Woodstock Music Festival began, marking a defining moment in American counterculture and music history. The coverage captures the spirit of the era and the unprecedented gathering of young people.

These historical events are just a few examples of the fascinating moments in history you can explore through this tool. Whether you're interested in your own birthday, significant historical dates, or just curious about what was making headlines on any given day, this website offers a unique window into the past through the lens of contemporary news coverage.

You can read more on our blog.