Bell System breaks up January 1.

The Challenger went into space for the fourth time on February 3.

Navy Capt. Bruce McCandless and Army Lt. Colonel Robert Stewart became the first humans to fly free outside a spacecraft on February 7.

Italy and the Vatican agree to end Roman Catholicism as the state religion on February 18.

Former vice president Walter Mondale won the Democratic presidential nomination on June 6 in San Francisco. He selected Representative Geraldine Ferraro (D) of NY as the candidate for vice president.

On March 30 Reagan ends US role in Beirut by relieving 6th Fleet from peacekeeping force.

On May 7, the Soviet Union withdraws from the Summer Olympics in L.A. Thirteen (13) communist allies such as East Germany stay home in a payback for the West's snub of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Romania was the only Warsaw Pact country to participate.

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot and killed by 2 of her bodyguards, who were members of the minority Sikh sect, in New Delhi, October 31

Ronald Reagan was reelected as president on November 6. It was the greatest Republican landslide in US history (59% of the vote). George Bush again became vice-president.

Toxic gas leaks from Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India kills 2,000 and injures 150,000 on December 3.

Dow Jones Industrial Average: high = 1286.4, low = 1086.57

Unemployment Rate: 7.5%

Minimum Wage: $3.35

Nobel Peace Prize Winner: Bishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa

Miss America Winner: Venessa Williams; resigned July 23 after posing in Playboy

Grammy for best Album: Lionel Richie, Can't Slow Down

Grammy for best Record: Tina Turner, "What's Love Got to Do With It"

Chrysler launches the modern minivan

Percent of households with computers: 13% (approx. 50% in 1998)

Owner of a Lonely Heart, Yes (2 weeks)

Karma Chameleon, Culture Club (3 weeks)

Jump, Van Halen (5 weeks)

Footloose, Kenny Loggins (3 weeks)

Against All Odds, Phil Collins (3 weeks)

Hello, Lionel Richie (2 weeks)

Let's Hear It for the Boy, Deniece Williams (2 weeks)

Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper (2 weeks)

The Reflex, Duran Duran (2 weeks)

When Doves Cry, Prince (5 weeks)

Gostbusters, Ray Parker Jr. (3 weeks)

What's Love Got to Do with It, Tina Turner (3 weeks)

Missing You, John Waite (1 week)

Let's Go Crazy, Prince (2 weeks)

I Just Called to Say I Love You, Stevie Wonder (3 weeks)

Caribbean Queen, Billy Ocean (2 weeks)

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Wham! (3 weeks)

Out of Touch, Daryl Hall John Oates (2 weeks)

Like a Virgin, Madonna (6 weeks)

"Roll On (18-Wheeler)," Alabama

"When We Make Love," Alabama

"That's the Thing About Love," Don Williams

"I Don't Know a Thing About Love," Conway Twitty

"I've Been Around Enough to Know," John Schneider

"Somebody's Needin' Somebody," Conway Twitty

"Somewhere Down the Line," T.G. Sheppard

"City of New Orleans," Willie Nelson

"Long Hard Road," Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

"You're Getting to Me Again," Jim Glaser 

- Best Film: Amadeus

- Best Actress: Sally Field, Places in the Heart

- Best Supporting Actress: Peggy Ashcroft, A Passage to India

- Best Actor: F. Murray Abraham, Amadeus

- Best Supporting Actor: Haing S. Ngor, The Killing Fields

- Best Director: Milos Forman, Amadeus

Outstanding Drama Series: Hill Street Blues

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Tom Selleck, Magnum, P.I.

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Tyne Daly, Cagney and Lacey

Outstanding Comedy Series: Cheers

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: John Ritter, Three's Company

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Jane Curtin, Kate and Allie

Summer Olympic Games held in Los Angeles

Winter Olympic Games held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia

Super Bowl XVII, Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9

Super Bowl XVII MVP: Marcus Allen, L.A. Raiders

Heisman Trophy winner: Doug Flutie, Boston College, QB

National College Football champions: Bringham Young

Stanley Cup Champions: Edmonton Oilers

NHL Most Valuable Player: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

NCAA Hockey Champions: Bowling Green

Kentucky Derby winner: Swale, L. Pincay

Men's World Figure Skating Champion: Scott Hamilton, USA

Women's World Figure Skating Champion: Katarina Witt, E. Germany

NCAA Wrestling Champions: Iowa

NBA MVP: Larry Bird, Boston

NBA Champions: Boston Celtics

NCAA Men's Basketball Champions: Georgetown

Jon R. Wooden Award, Nation's Best College Player: Michael Jordan, North Carolina

NCAA Women's Basketball Champions: USC

Golf - United States Men's Open Winner: Fuzzy Zoeller

Golf - Masters Golf Tournament Winner: Ben Crenshaw

Golf - United States Women's Open Winner: Hollis Stacy

Tennis - U.S. Open Men's Single Champion: John McEnroe

Tennis - U.S. Open Women's Single Champion: Martina Navratilova

Indianapolis 500 Winner: Rick Mears

Heavyweight Boxing Champ: Pinklon Thomas (def. Time Witherspoon 8/31)

World Series Champion: Detroit Tigers (def. San Diego Padres 4 games to 1)

MLB Batting Champion: Am. League: Don Mattingly, NY (.343); Nat. League: Tony Gwynn, SD (.351)

Rule One is to relax and HAVE FUN!