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Events that have shaped the past decade
Courtesy of Apple Inc.
Apple's famous translucent blue desktop computer changed the image of Macintosh computers.
May 15, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
The translucent blue desktop computer, a navy blue dress, Mad Cow disease and self-help spiraling out of control defined 1998. A decade later, has anything really changed?
Apple Invasion
1998: Apple introduced the world to iMac, the company’s first computer targeted at the consumer instead of the professional since the original Mac computer in 1984. This new design included the now famous “Bondi Blue” translucent plastic case design. Duane Burghard, chairman of MacXprts in Columbia, thinks the computer changed the face of Apple. “The way a computer looked became part of the identity of the computer,” he says. “This was elegance and style that was put into a utilitarian design.”
2001: Apple moved into the digital music market with its first iPod in October. The 5GB iPod cost $399 but had a larger capacity and smaller size than individual compact disc players.
2008: Now, Apple has a plethora of mp3 players and computers. Apple iPod representative Christine Monaghan says Apple has sold more than 150 million iPods so far. The past year saw the invention of the iPhone, but this year Apple is focusing on “thinnovation” with the MacBook Air. Weighing in at three pounds, it’s the lightest computer Apple makes. Maybe dropping the i made it lighter.
Sex and the Government
1998: President Bill Clinton famously said on Jan. 26: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” A few days earlier, news organizations ran stories of the alleged sexual relationship between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. What followed were scads of women dressing in navy Gap dresses as Lewinsky for Halloween.
2001: U.S. Representative Gary Condit had an affair with his former intern Chandra Levy, who later disappeared.
2008: New York governor Eliot Spitzer was connected to a prostitution ring, which led to his resignation March 12. The New York Times reported April 24 of his oath to change state politics. Ironically, he cracked down on the problem that eventually led to his downfall, and now he’s upholding the connection among sex, lies and politics.
The Big Beef
1998: Oprah Winfrey’s statement about the beef industry and Mad Cow Disease — “It has just stopped me cold from eating another burger” — was all over the news. Texas cattle ranchers filed a lawsuit against Winfrey because they blamed her for the decline in cattle prices. The ranchers believed Oprah had the power to move mountains and change consumers’ views, but the court said she didn’t have that much push — she eventually won the court case.
2001: Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal released a frenzy of commentary on the American fast food industry. The book’s investigation into slaughterhouses was chilling, as were the revelations about McDonald’s cooking process.
2008: The MU Center for Agroforestry is funding research to see the impact of livestock pharmaceuticals on the environment. Dr. Keith Goyne, assistant professor at MU’s School of Natural Resources, is one of the scientists working on the project. “We have a significant amount of livestock pharmaceuticals in Missouri,” Goyne says. “Farmers are concerned with not only our ability to raise foods, but many farmers are concerned about the environmental issues and being able to continue their operations.”
The Branding of Dr. Phil
1998: Dr. Phil McGraw appeared on Oprah after her victory in the Texas beef trial. He then became her weekly “relationship and life strategy expert.” Although some question Dr. Phil’s credibility, he is a licensed psychologist and holds a Ph.D in clinical psychology from North Texas State University.
2001: Dr. Phil released his fourth book, The Life Strategies Self-Discovery Journal: Finding What Matters Most for You. Several more followed suit.
2008: It seems as if he’s here to stay. Dr. Phil created brouhaha when he planned a show based on his visit to Britney Spears just before her release from Cedars-Sinai Hospital in January. His show was also associated with an incident that involved providing bail for a teenager charged with beating a classmate. His shtick might be tough love, but Dr. Rhonda Wood, assistant professor of counselor education at Lincoln University, feels that attitude is a dangerous one. “Tough love is not meant to be used across the board,” she says. “You have to be very up front about it because it’s forcing your values on your client.”
