Count down from 2016 with real world facts!

[Clarence]

1996

Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell, is born at the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland

[Shay]

1995

An unprecedented heat wave strikes the Midwestern United States Temperatures exceed 104°F in the afternoon for 5 straight days. At least 3000 people die, 750 in Chicago, Illinois alone.

[Clarence]

1994

Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an assailant, under orders from figure skating rival Tonya Harding's ex-husband.

And if you haven't seen "Headline News" by Weird Al you have to watch it right now! It makes a comical reference to this event and some other things from '94 and '93.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU95v23MQ4c

[chex]

1993

Gun battle erupts near Waco, Texas at Branch Davidian compound after FBI attempts a raid.

[Clarence]

1992

The largest shopping mall in the US, Minnesota's Mall of America is constructed spanning 78 acres

[chex]

1991

US Congress gives George Bush authority to wage war against Iraq.

[Clarence]

1990

The Hubble Telescope is launched!!

[chex]

1989

1,100,000,000th Chinese born

[Clarence]

1988

Al-Qaeda is formed by Osama bin Laden.

[chex]

1987

Ben & Jerry Ice Cream & Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia announce new Ice Cream flavor, Cherry Garcia.

[Clarence]

1986

I didn't have to do research to know that the Chernobyl disaster happened on this year. It's a subject that I'm actually very interested in.

[chex]

1985

West German Parliament ruled it illegal to deny the holocaust.

[Clarence]

1984

I was born just before Christmas! It's a Christmas miracle! And chex was born in the spring, making it the best year ever! Also:

Crack cocaine, a smokeable form of the drug, is first introduced into Los Angeles and soon spreads across the United States in what becomes known as the crack epidemic.

[chex]

1983

Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB, for mating for STS-7 mission.

(I lived at VAFB for a year)

[Clarence]

1982

The first computer virus, the Elk Cloner, written by 15-year old Rich Skrenta, is found. It infects Apple II computers via floppy disk.

[chex]

1981

Britain's Prince Charles announces engagement to Lady Diana Spencer.

[LaLou]

1980
Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito dies. The funeral ceremony later becomes a large diplomatic meeting and media event, with more than 140 state delegations in Belgrade from all over the world (only the funeral of Pope John Paul II in April 2005 will have more news coverage and a higher number of delegations).

[Wesley]

1979

The United States Mint releases the first Susan B Anthony $1 coins. They were met with bad public opinion due to being so close in size to a quarter.

[Clarence]

1978

This is the year of 3 popes:

1.Paul VI, who was elected in 1963 and died on 6 August 1978.

2.John Paul I, who was elected on 26 August 1978 and died thirty-three days later on 28 September 1978.

3.John Paul II, who was elected on 16 October 1978 and held the position until his death almost 27 years later in 2005.

[Shay]

1977

The e.p.t. pregnancy test was available over the counter.