Jan 20
Barack Obama Inaugurated
Barack Obama became the 44th president and the first African American to hold the office. 1.8 million people gathered on the National Mall. 'Yes we can' became 'Yes we did.'
🇺🇸United States · 00s
Hope and Change
Obama inaugurated, the Great Recession bites, and Michael Jackson dies.
What happened
5 milestones of 2009
Year-round
Great Recession Deepens
Unemployment hit 10%. The economy lost 4.3 million jobs. The stimulus package passed. GM and Chrysler went bankrupt. The worst economic crisis since the 1930s.
Jun 25
Michael Jackson Dies
Michael Jackson died at 50 from a propofol overdose. The King of Pop was gone. His music streaming numbers skyrocketed. The world mourned the greatest entertainer of the 20th century.
Jan 15
'Miracle on the Hudson'
Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after bird strikes disabled both engines. All 155 aboard survived. A hero story when America desperately needed one.
Feb-Dec
Tea Party Movement Emerges
Conservative protesters organized 'Tea Party' rallies against government spending, bailouts, and Obama's agenda. A grassroots movement that would reshape the Republican Party.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Avatar
James Cameron — The highest-grossing film ever (at the time). 3D cinema was reborn.
The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow — Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director. Iraq War on screen.
Up
Pete Docter — The first 10 minutes made everyone cry. Carl and Russell flew to South America.
Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino — Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa. Tarantino rewrote WWII.
The Hangover
Todd Phillips — 'What happens in Vegas...' The highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever.
What was on TV
Breaking Bad
2008-2013 — Walter White's transformation from teacher to drug lord. Season 2 raised the stakes.
Modern Family
2009-2020 — A mockumentary about three families. Instantly became a hit.
Glee
2009-2015 — A high school glee club. Musical numbers and teenage drama.
The Office
2005-2013 — Jim and Pam's wedding. 'That's what she said' peaked.
Mad Men
2007-2015 — Don Draper's world was unraveling. Prestige TV at its finest.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$3.15
Gallon of gas$2.35
New house (median)$216,700
New car (average)$21,000
Loaf of bread$1.37
Movie ticket$7.50
Inflation: -0.4%
Deflation hit for the first time since the 1950s. The economy was in free fall. The stimulus passed.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
2009 (USD)
$3.15
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
2009 (USD)
$2.35
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
2009 (USD)
$216,700
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
2009 (USD)
$21,000
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
2009 (USD)
$1.37
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
2009 (USD)
$7.50
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Bitcoin whitepaper
Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency entered the world.
WhatsApp launched
A simple messaging app that would connect 2 billion people.
Uber founded
Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp founded Uber. Taxis would never be the same.
Windows 7
Microsoft redeemed itself after Vista. Windows 7 was stable and beloved.
Kickstarter launched
Crowdfunding went mainstream. Creative projects found their audience.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Hipster aesthetic (flannel revival, thick glasses)Ugg boots everywhereSkinny jeans for everyone
Slang
YOLO— You only live once (emerging)
Hashtag— The # symbol used to tag topics
Fail/Win— Internet binary judgment
Behavior
- Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift at the VMAs — the meme era began
- Swine flu pandemic fears gripped the nation
- Obama's inauguration was the most watched event in streaming history
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