When someone mentions the year 2005, it doesn't sound that long ago, does it? Well guess what — it was 10 years ago, you guys. Sometimes, that's referred to as a decade. If someone made a movie right now that took place in 2005, it would be a period piece. Feeling old yet? Well, here's some news that's about to make you feel even older: on this date in 2005, the first-ever video was uploaded to YouTube. That's right: the website that graced us with such treasured cultural phenomenons as "Charlie Bit My Finger," "David After Dentist," and "Rickrolling" is turning 10 today. Happy birthday, YouTube!
The first video is titled "Me at the zoo," and features the website's co-founder Jawed Karim expounding for 18 seconds on the remarkable length of the trunks of the elephants calming grazing behind him. It's gripping stuff. As of publication, the video has been viewed almost 20 million times — well short of the record held by PSY's "Gangnam Style" (which has 2 billion views.) "Me at the zoo" currently has 229,576 "likes" and 11,952 "dislikes," meaning 11,952 people apparently don't like history. Or elephants. Or both.
But YouTube isn't the only thing that's been around for a decade now. Just in case you felt like spending your afternoon checking for grey hairs in the mirror, here's a list of 10 other things that are turning 10 in 2015:
George Bush Sworn In For Second Term (Jan. 20)
Four more years! Four more years! Because the first four were so great!
Chris Rock Hosts The 77th Academy Awards (Feb. 27)
Chris Rock. He hosted the Oscars, you guys. Really, I'm not joking — go look it up! It was the year that Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby swept practically all the major awards, winning Best Picture, Director, Actress, and Supporting Actor. It was also the year Leonardo DiCaprio went home empty-handed... like all the rest of them. (This time his snub was for Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. He lost to Jamie Foxx for Ray.)
Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" Is Released (Mar. 29)
The second single from her album "The Emancipation of Mimi," this song is widely considered responsible for Carey's career resurgence following a slump in the early '00s. It quickly became the #1 song of the year, topping the Billboard Top 100 for fourteen straight weeks, a record still only surpassed by Carey's own "One Sweet Day." (For context, the rest of the year's Top Five was filled out by Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl," Mario's "Let Me Love You," Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," and Ciara ft. Missy Elliott's "1, 2 Step.")
Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge Of The Sith Premieres (May 19)
Also known as the moment our six long years of torture at the hands of evil emperor George Lucas finally came to an end.
Tom Cruise Jumps On Oprah's Couch (May 23)
Thank goodness TiVo had just started to catch on a couple years earlier.
Carrie Underwood Wins Season 4 Of American Idol (May 25)
Do you even remember when there were only four seasons of American Idol? How many have there been now? 37? I think there might be as many American Idol seasons as there are Land Before Time movies at this point.
Destiny's Child Announces Their Breakup (Jun. 11)
Hearts were broken everywhere when the fiercest trio of all-time went their separate ways. Little did we know that the death of Destiny's Child would give birth to the worldwide phenomenon that is Queen Bey, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Facebook Expands To Include High School Students (Sept.)
The social networking site lost its exclusive luster... and the rest of us lost literal years of our lives, spent scrolling through newsfeeds, reflexively "poking" people, and freaking out about privacy policies rather than doing productive things like homework, sleeping, or going outside.
How I Met Your Mother Airs Its Pilot (Sept. 19)
It was but the first step in the writers' devious nine-year plan to craft the least satisfying series finale of all time.
Braniston Files For Divorce (Oct. 2)
The scandal that rocked a nation. America's golden couple, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, called it quits following rumors that he had an affair with his Mr. And Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina Jolie. (The sexy action flick had debuted on June 10, 2005.) The rest, as they say, is history...
Images: Screengrab/YouTube; Getty Images (6)
