Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 1989
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
World Wide Web Concept
2 
Portable Digital Assistant Concept
3 
Flash Memory
4 
Digital Mobile Phone Networks
5 
Medical Robotic Surgery Concept
6 
High-Definition Television (HDTV)
7 
Computer-Aided Geographic Information Systems
8 
Electronic Music Workstation
9 
Satellite Internet Concept
10 
Reusable Rocket Booster Studies
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 21, 1989
Full News Archive
- Headline: Revenge of the Hillbillies Review Insights. Impact: If this film had flopped, we might have been spared the cinematic nightmare of countless sequels featuring poorly executed revenge plots, or worse, the rise of reality TV hillbillies. Imagine a world where 'Duck Dynasty' never existed. You're welcome.. Fact: Fun fact: The term 'hillbilly' originated in the early 1900s and was often used to describe rural Americans, but it was probably just a way for city folks to feel superior while sipping their overpriced lattes..
- Headline: Warriors and Faith: A Film Review. Impact: The unlikely trio of an American G.I., a novice nun, and a Japanese soldier could have sparked an entire genre of buddy films that would either educate or confuse future generations about the complexities of war, friendship, and perhaps how to make the perfect cup of tea.. Fact: Did you know that during WWII, the American and Japanese soldiers were often more alike than different? They both preferred to avoid war but were stuck in the middle of it. Kind of like those awkward family reunions we all dread..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1989, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1989
$0.28
2025 dataset value
$971,793
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1989, it would be worth $971,793 today (971.8x return)
Rank #2
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1989
$0.23
2025 dataset value
$2,127,569
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1989, it would be worth $2,127,569 today (2127.6x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Sandman #1
$300
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #1
$35.00
The New Warriors #1
$50
Amazing Spider-Man #316
$30
The Punisher War Journal #7
$40
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Game Boy
$540.00
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
$300.00
Polly Pocket
$150.00
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
$300.00
Ghostbusters Proton Pack
$300.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Tetris
$200.00
SimCity
$10.77
Prince of Persia
$150.00
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
$781.00
Golden Axe
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card
$2,726
Michael Jordan Hoops Card
$250,000
Barry Sanders Rookie Card
$6,000
Randy Johnson Rookie Card (Marlboro Ad)
$70.00
John Stockton Hoops Rookie Card
$500