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Around The World In 1979

World population: 4.378 billion
Nobel Peace Prize: Mother Teresa of Calcutta (India)

Vietnam and Vietnam-backed Cambodian insurgents announce fall of Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and collapse of Pol Pot regime (Jan. 7).

Shah leaves Iran after year of turmoil (Jan. 16); revolutionary forces under Muslim leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, take over (Feb. 1 et seq.).

Conservatives win British election; Margaret Thatcher becomes new prime minister (May 3).

Carter and Brezhnev sign SALT II agreement (June 14).

Nicaraguan President General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami (July 17); Sandinistas form government (July 19).

Iranian militants seize US embassy in Teheran and hold hostages (Nov. 4).

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan stirs world protests (Dec. 27).

In The USA In 1979

President: James Earl Carter, Jr.
Vice President: Walter F. Mondale
Population: 225,055,487
Life expectancy: 73.9 years
Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings (Jan. 4).

Nuclear power plant accident at Three Mile Island, Pa., releases radiation (March 28).

The U.S. Voyager I space probe photos reveal Jupiter's rings (March 4).

McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal (June).

Eleven fans are killed during a stampede for seats before The Who concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio (Dec 3)

Economics in 1979

US GDP (1998 dollars): $2,557.50 billion
Federal spending: $504.03 billion
Federal debt: $829.5 billion
Median Household Income (current dollars): $17,500.00
Unemployment: 5.8%
Minimum wage: $2.65
Cost of a first-class stamp:$0.15

Average cost of 1 gallon of Gas: 86 cents a gallon

Price tag on a 1979 Ford Mustang II $4,105

Average price of a loaf of bread: $0.60

Cost of 1 dozen eggs: $$.85

Cost of a gallon of milk: $1.50

1979 Sports Facts

Super Bowl: Pittsburgh d. Dallas (35-31) (Patriots tied for first in AFC East with Miami1979 9-7-0 2nd AFC East )
World Series: Pittsburgh d. Baltimore (4-3) (Red Sox finished Third in AL East)

NBA Championship: Seattle d. Washington Bullets (4-1) (Celtics finished 5th Place Atlantic Division 29-53)

Stanley Cup: Montreal d. NY Rangers (4-1) (Boston Bruins (43 23 14) lost to Montreal (4-2) in the Semi-Finals

1979 Entertainment Facts

Movies: Apocalypse Now, All That Jazz, Kramer vs. Kramer, Breaking Away, Midnight Express, Escape from Alcatraz, Alien, Mad Max
Academy Award, Best Picture: The Deer Hunter

Nominees Best Picture: Coming Home, The Deer Hunter, Heaven Can Wait, An Unmarried Woman

Academy Award, Best Actor: Jon Voight, Coming Home

Academy Award, Best Actress: Jane Fonda, Coming Home

Emmy, TV Drama: Lou Grant

Emmy, Lead Actor: Ron Leibman, Kaz

Emmy, Lead Actress: Mariette Hartley, The Incredible Hulk: “Married

Grammy Award Record of the Year: "Just the Way You Are," Billy Joel

Grammy Award Album of the Year: "Saturday Night Fever," Bee Gees

Grammy Award Song of the Year: "Just the Way You Are," Billy Joel, songwriter

Miss America: Kylene Baker (VA)