Nov 7
Democrats Win Congress
Democrats won both the House and Senate in a wave election driven by Iraq War opposition. Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House.
🇺🇸United States · 00s
The Social Network
Twitter launches, Pluto gets demoted, and the housing bubble inflates.
What happened
5 milestones of 2006
Jul 15
Twitter Launches
Jack Dorsey sent the first tweet: 'just setting up my twttr.' The 140-character platform would transform politics, journalism, and how the world communicates.
Dec 30
Saddam Hussein Executed
Saddam Hussein was hanged after being convicted of crimes against humanity. Cell phone video of the execution leaked online, sparking controversy.
execution
Aug 24
Pluto Demoted to Dwarf Planet
The International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a 'dwarf planet.' America was outraged on behalf of the tiny world. Bumper stickers appeared: 'Honk if Pluto is still a planet.'
Oct 9
Google Buys YouTube
Google purchased YouTube for $1.65 billion. The video platform was 18 months old. It would become the world's second-largest search engine and reshape media forever.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Departed
Martin Scorsese — Scorsese finally won Best Picture and Best Director. DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson in Boston.
Cars
John Lasseter — Pixar went to Route 66. Lightning McQueen became a merchandising juggernaut.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Gore Verbinski — The highest-grossing film of the year. Captain Jack sailed on.
Little Miss Sunshine
Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris — A dysfunctional family road trip in a VW bus. Indie charm.
Borat
Larry Charles — Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat. America was pranked — and laughed nervously.
What was on TV
The Office (US)
2005-2013 — Steve Carell as Michael Scott. 'That's what she said.' Peak cringe comedy.
Dexter
2006-2013 — A serial killer you rooted for. Michael C. Hall in Miami.
30 Rock
2006-2013 — Tina Fey's NBC satire. 'I want to go to there.'
Grey's Anatomy
2005-present — Shonda Rhimes dominated Thursday nights. McDreamy was America's crush.
American Idol
2002-2016 — Taylor Hicks won. Still the most-watched show on TV.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$3.32
Gallon of gas$2.59
New house (median)$246,500
New car (average)$22,000
Loaf of bread$1.14
Movie ticket$6.55
Inflation: 3.2%
Housing prices peaked. The bubble was about to burst. Gas prices were rising.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
2006 (USD)
$3.32
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
2006 (USD)
$2.59
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
2006 (USD)
$246,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
2006 (USD)
$22,000
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
2006 (USD)
$1.14
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
2006 (USD)
$6.55
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Twitter launched
140 characters that would reshape global communication.
Nintendo Wii
Motion-controlled gaming brought non-gamers into the fold. Wii Sports was genius.
Google buys YouTube
$1.65 billion for a video platform. The best deal in tech history.
Blu-ray vs. HD DVD
The format war began. Blu-ray would win.
Amazon Web Services
AWS launched cloud computing. The infrastructure of the internet age.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Skinny jeans emergingEmo fringe haircutsCrocs (controversially)
Slang
Epic fail— A spectacular mistake
FTW— For the win
Sick— Awesome, amazing
Behavior
- YouTube culture was born — viral videos became the new watercooler
- MySpace was still king of social media (but Facebook was coming)
- An Inconvenient Truth made climate change a mainstream conversation
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