"Old times there are not forgotten"
The population of the World was reported to have reached 6 billion people by the United Nations Population Fund. China restricted Internet use, particularly at Internet cafes. King Hussein of Jordan died of cancer. His son Abdullah II replaced him. Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder in Michigan for administering a lethal injection to a terminally ill man. The Dow Jones Average of common stocks closed at $10,006.78 - first close above $10,000.00. Wayne Gretzky, known as The Great One played in his final National Hockey League game. MySpace.com was introduced to the Internet. The Dow Jones Average of common stocks closed at $11,014.70 - first close above $11,000.00. Leonardo de Vinci's painting of The Last Supper returned to display in Milan, Italy following 22 years of restoration work. Apple Computer released the first iBook. John F. Kennedy, Jr. his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette were killed when the small airplane Kennedy was flying crashed off Martha's Vineyard. Opening ceremonies of the World trade Organization meeting in Seattle, Washington were cancelled due to protests that continued for several days. The United Kingdom passed political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive. The Vermont Supreme Court ordered the state to legalize same-sex unions. The Panama Canal was transferred to Panamanian control.
New book titles: Southern Cross, The Testament, Bittersweet, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, We'll Meet Again, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hannibal, Black Notice, The Alibi and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
At the movies: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, Toy Story 2, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Matrix, Big Daddy, The Mummy, Runaway Bride and The Blair Witch Project.
On stage: Side Man, Fosse, Death of a Salesman, Annie Get Your Gun, Amy's View, Little Me, Not About Nightingales and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown.
Emmy Awards: Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue, Edie Falco for The Sopranos, Michael Badalucco for The Practice, Holland Taylor for The Practice and The Practice for best drama series.
January 1
Euro Currency was introduced, locking in exchange rates of member nation's currencies.
April 20
The Columbine High School massacre took place in Littleton, Colorado when two students at the school killed 12 fellow students and one teacher before taking their own lives.
April 22
Classmate Glyndon W. "John" Sawyers died suddenly in Fairfax, Virginia. He was a long time resident of Falls Church, Virginia. Johnny was married 40 years to classmate Lynda Sue Oscar. He had worked for Giant Food headquartered in Landover, Maryland as a cabinet maker since the early 1970's. John was survived by Lynda, one son and one daughter.
December 23
Marshall University defeated Brigham Young University by the score of 21-3 in the Motor City Bowl played in the Pontiac Silver Dome (Michigan).
December 31
Concern about the effect of changing the number of the year to begin with the number two would have on computer systems known as Y2K reached its climax.