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Historical Context for November 30, 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[†]

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Headlines from November 30, 1980

Hospital Costs Responding To Budget RX; Hospitals and Commission at Odds on Cost Policies

By John S. Rosenberg

HARTFORD ALTHOUGH many of its deci sions have been challenged as short-sighted and possibly dangerous by a number of hospital administrators, the state body that regulates the budgets of medical institutions has in recent weeks received three positive evaluations of its record and its power to accomplish what it was set up to do: curb the rise in health-care costs.

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Islanders Romp, 5-1; Bossy Gets 26th Goal; Islanders Roll, 5-1; Bossy: 26 Lindsay's Big Failing Sabres 5, Whalers 2 Bruins 6, Oilers 3 Islanders Scoring

By Parton Keese Special To the New York Times

UNIONDALE, L.I, Nov. 29--The Islanders' 5-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings tonight served as a portrait of two National Hockey League teams going in opposite directions. New York extended its unbeaten string to 13 games; the Red Wings, new coach and all, have yet to win a game away from home in 13 attempts.

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SYRIA WARNS JORDAN TROOPS MAY ATTACK SANCTUARIES OF FOES; MOSLEM EXTREMISTS ACCUSED Hussein Has Denied Giving Shelter to Members of 'Brotherhood' Wanted by Damascus General Puts Off U.S. Trip SYRIA WARNS JORDAN TROOPS MAY INVADE Jordan Concentrates Armor A Clash Erupted in 1970 2 Syrians Executed by Jordan Hussein Likened to Sadat

By Pranay B. Gupte Special To the New York Times

AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 29--The Syrians warned King Hussein of Jordan today that they would defend "national security and interests by all available ways and means, even if they were unbrotherly."

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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.