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August 17, 2008

August 17, 2008, was a Sunday. It was 16 years, 3 months, and 4 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on August 17, 2008:

  • Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals in one Olympic Games.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 17, 2008:

  • United States: "I Kissed A Girl" by Kate Perry
  • United Kingdom: "I Kissed A Girl" by Kate Perry

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 17, 2008

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry
  • Forever - Chris Brown
  • Disturbia - Rihanna
  • Take A Bow - Rihanna
  • Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Play the top singles from 2008
A Spotify playlist of songs from 2008. Let us take you back to the peak days of Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys and Basshunter.
The Dark Knight

Top movie

The movie "The Dark Knight" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 5,940 days ago. Approximately 198 months have passed. It was the 230th day of 2008, in week 33. The decade was the 2000s. People who were born on August 17, 2008, are now 16 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. 2008 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. We have gone through approximately 66 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to August 17, 2008

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is August 17, 2008, and it's a Sunday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Leo. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the week ahead.

The summer of 2008 is in full swing. The weather is warm, and the evenings are brighter than usual. Most schools and colleges are now finished until August or September. The song "I Kissed A Girl" by Kate Perry is at the top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. George W. Bush Jnr. is the President of the United States, and the movie The Dark Knight is at the top of the box office.

Gordon Brown is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Room Raiders", "Dog the Bounty Hunter", "Boston Legal", and "Battlestar Galactica". Practically every teenager and adult has a MySpace or Bebo account.

Meanwhile, in technology news, more and more people are beginning to use the Internet on their phones. This transition towards mobile Internet has been aided by the recent roll-out of faster 3G networks and the introduction of larger touchscreen phones. A growing social network called Facebook is beginning to steal users away from MySpace and Bebo. Video rental stores such as Blockbuster are struggling to compete with online streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.

It's 2008, so the music charts are filled with artists such as Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Rihanna and T.I. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as John Costelloe, Test, Natasha Richardson, and Jade Goody would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Wii Sports", "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock", "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune", and "Mafia Wars".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Dora the Explorer", "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody", "Mr. Meaty", and "iCarly". Children are playing with toys such as Gross Out Doodle Monster, Fast Talkin' Lightning McQueen, Kid-Tough Digital Camera, and Digi Makeover.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 17, 2008, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 2008 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 8.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 17, 2008 falls under the Salmon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of August will have the birthstone Peridot.
  • Birth flower (August): The Gladiolus and the Poppy.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on August 17, 2008.

  • The rise of Facebook.

    The rise of Facebook

    Facebook experienced massive growth and became the largest social network in the world.
  • The fall of MySpace.

    The fall of MySpace

    MySpace began to hemorrhage users in 2008. At the time, millions of users were leaving each month, with most of them migrating over to a newer and "cooler" social network called Facebook.
  • The Rickroll.

    The Rickroll

    In 2008, a "bait and switch" meme called Rickrolling became popular online. The prank involved tricking someone into watching the music video for Rick Astley's song "Never Gonna Give You Up".
  • Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Please Read the Letter"

    Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Please Read the Letter"

    "Please Read the Letter" by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss went on to win a Grammy for 2008's Record of the Year.
  • 2008 in music.

    2008 in music

    Popular music artists in 2008 included Sara Bareilles, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Usher, Jordin Sparks, Ray J, Leona Lewis, Lil Wayne, T.I., Pink, Beyoncé, Natasha Bedingfield, Coldplay, Katy Perry, M.I.A., Kevin Rudolf and Britney Spears.
  • World economic crisis.

    World economic crisis

    A world economic crisis took hold throughout 2008. This was a bleak year for many, as countries fell into recession, stock markets plunged, businesses were forced to close, and a lot of people lost their jobs. Sadly, many families were also forced to give up their homes.
  • The highest paid celebrities in 2008.

    The highest paid celebrities in 2008

    According to Forbes, the highest paid celebrities in 2008 were Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, David Beckham, Johnny Depp, Jay-Z, The Police, J.K. Rowling, Brad Pitt and Paula Deen.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 2008?

    Who were the best NBA players in 2008?

    In 2008, the best NBA players were Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Paul Pierce, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Manu Ginóbili.
  • Time Person of the Year 2008.

    Time Person of the Year 2008

    US President Barack Obama was named Time Person of the Year in 2008. In November 2008, he became the first African American to be elected President of the United States.
  • Megan Fox.

    Megan Fox

    American actress Megan Fox was listed as FHM's sexiest woman in 2008.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 2008, the best soccer players were Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas, Xavi, Andrey Arshavin, David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Kaká and Steven Gerrard.
  • 2008 in movies.

    2008 in movies

    Movies that hit the big screen in 2008 included the likes of The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Kung Fu Panda, Hancock, Mamma Mia!, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Iron Man, Quantum of Solace, WALL-E, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tropic Thunder and Cloverfield.
  • DVD sales are plummeting.

    DVD sales are plummeting

    DVD sales were beginning to plummet as people were switching to online streaming platforms. Between 2008 and 2014, sales in the USA fell by a whopping 66%.
  • Slumdog Millionaire.

    Slumdog Millionaire

    "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2008.
  • Online streaming begins to threaten video rental stores.

    Online streaming begins to threaten video rental stores

    Online video streaming was becoming increasingly popular. New services such as Netflix and Hulu were gaining millions of users, and video rental stores such as Blockbuster were struggling to stay afloat. As sales and rentals declined, small video stores started closing. Meanwhile, the larger franchises attempted to downsize and branch out into selling other products, such as cellphones and merchandise.
  • HD TV becomes the norm.

    HD TV becomes the norm

    HD TV quickly became the norm during this time, as flat-screen televisions were starting to fall in price.
  • Mobile Internet begins to take off.

    Mobile Internet begins to take off

    Internet access on cellphones became common in the late 2000s. This transition was aided by the rollout of faster 3G Internet networks and the introduction of larger touchscreen phones. Although many phones had Internet features at the start of the decade, they were often awkward and costly to use.
  • Bringing digital cameras to nightclubs and bars.

    Bringing digital cameras to nightclubs and bars

    During the 2000s, people often brought digital cameras with them to clubs and bars. The following day, they would upload their photographs to social media websites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Bebo. Although most phones had cameras, their picture quality was bad, especially in darker settings such as nightclubs.
  • Bebo.

    Bebo

    By this stage, a new social network called Bebo had become a huge hit in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand. Bebo was famous for its quizzes, auto-playing video box, whiteboard, "Bebo Skins," and "Bebo Luv" features.
  • Music stores are going out of business.

    Music stores are going out of business

    Many music stores were closing their doors for the last time. The ease of downloading and streaming music meant that the business model of selling CDs was quickly becoming nonviable.
  • Scene kids.

    Scene kids

    "Scene Kids" became a big subculture in the latter half of the decade. Their fashion consisted of skinny jeans, bright colors, and straight hair with long fringes.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on August 17, 2008.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around August 17, 2008.

  • July 18, 2008: The Dark Knight (2008) is released in cinemas.
  • July 19, 2008: The final episode of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is aired on Nickelodeon.
  • July 22, 2008:
    • "The Golden Girls" actress Estelle Getty passes away at the age of 84.
    • The Game releases the single "My Life", featuring Lil Wayne.
  • July 25, 2008: The comedy movie Step Brothers (2008) is released.
  • July 27, 2008: Bruce Edwards Ivins (suspect behind the 2001 Anthrax attacks) passes away after an overdose of Tylenol with codeine.
  • July 28, 2008:
    • Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim is murdered in Dubai.
    • Football: Irish striker Robbie Keane joins Liverpool.
    • The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, is completely destroyed by a fire.
  • July 29, 2008: Rap artist T.I. releases his single "Whatever You Like".
  • July 30, 2008: Financial crisis: The United States enacts the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008" in an attempt to address the subprime mortgage crisis.
  • August 1, 2008: Barry George is acquitted of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando in 1999.
  • August 3, 2008: Actor Morgan Freeman is injured in a car accident.
  • August 6, 2008: Pineapple Express (2008) is released in movie theaters.
  • August 7, 2008: The Russo-Georgian War begins.
  • August 9, 2008: Comedian Bernie Mac dies from pneumonia, which was brought on by a condition called sarcoidosis.
  • August 13, 2008: The comedy movie Tropic Thunder (2008) is released.
  • This date: August 17, 2008
  • August 18, 2008:
    • The website for Bitcoin is first registered.
    • The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, announces his resignation due to an impeachment movement against him.
  • August 20, 2008: 154 people lose their lives after Spanair Flight 5022 crashes during takeoff in Madrid, Spain.
  • August 21, 2008: English singer Kerry Katona is declared bankrupt after failing to pay a tax bill.
  • August 22, 2008: Barack Obama announces Joe Biden as his running mate for the 2008 US presidential election.
  • August 23, 2008: Dr. Dre's son Andre Young Jr. dies from an overdose of heroin and morphine.
  • August 28, 2008: Bloomberg mistakenly publishes a premature obituary for Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
  • August 29, 2008: John McCain announces Sarah Palin as his running mate for the 2008 US Presidential Election.
  • August 31, 2008: Jordan Ratcliffe (16) goes missing in Manchester, England.
  • September 1, 2008:
    • The Abu Dhabi United Group purchases football club Manchester City from former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
    • Soccer: Dimitar Berbatov joins Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur.
    • It is confirmed that former Big Brother contestant Jade Goody has cervical cancer.
    • Real Madrid star Robinho signs for Manchester City.
  • September 2, 2008: The browser Google Chrome is released.
  • September 4, 2008: Football: Kevin Keegan resigns as manager of Newcastle United after a second spell in charge.
  • September 5, 2008:
    • Rachel Rice wins the 9th season of the reality TV series "Big Brother" (UK).
    • The Kings of Leon release their song "Sex on Fire".
  • September 7, 2008:
    • "Piece of Me" by Britney Spears wins Video of the Year at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
    • The United States Government takes control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
    • The first episode of the fantasy horror series "True Blood" is aired on HBO.
  • September 10, 2008: The Large Hadron Collider is powered up for the first time.
  • September 12, 2008:
    • The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) is released in cinemas.
    • 25 people are killed when two trains collide in Chatsworth, Los Angeles.
    • Rapper Nate Dogg suffers a second stroke.
  • September 13, 2008: 30 people are killed after five synchronized bombs detonate in Delhi, India.
  • September 14, 2008: Financial crisis: The collapse of Lehman Brothers becomes a certainty after Barclays and Bank of America pull out of bids to purchase the firm.
  • September 15, 2008:
    • The website Stack Overflow is launched.
    • Financial crisis: Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • September 16, 2008:
    • The emails of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin are hacked.
    • Financial crisis: The Federal Reserve bails out the finance and insurance corporation "American International Group".

Late 2000s fashion

Photographs of late 2000s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 2000s fashion

Television shows

TV series on August 17, 2008

People in August 2008 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from August 2008.

The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners
Real Housewives of New York City
Real Housewives of New York City
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
Mad Men
Mad Men
Skins
Skins
Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights
Dexter
Dexter
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Eureka
Eureka
Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in August 2008

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place
iCarly
iCarly

WordGirl
WordGirl
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb
Horrid Henry
Horrid Henry
Mr. Meaty
Mr. Meaty
Curious George
Curious George
The Hills
The Hills
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Toys

Toys in 2008

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Digi Makeover
Digi Makeover
FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony
FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony
Kid-Tough Digital Camera
Kid-Tough Digital Camera
Fast Talkin' Lightning McQueen
Fast Talkin' Lightning McQueen
Air Hogs RC Storm Launcher
Air Hogs RC Storm Launcher
Pirates of the Caribbean ship
Pirates of the Caribbean ship
Lil Luvables Fluffy Factory
Lil Luvables Fluffy Factory
Gross Out Doodle Monster
Gross Out Doodle Monster
Floam
Floam
Moon Sand
Moon Sand
iPod Touch
iPod Touch
Iggle Piggle
Iggle Piggle
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in August 2008.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2008
Battlefield: Bad Company
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 2008
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Mafia Wars 2008
Mafia Wars
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV
Mario Kart Wii 2008
Mario Kart Wii
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 2008
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2
Super Smash Bros. Brawl 2008
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Burnout Paradise 2008
Burnout Paradise
Rock Band 2007
Rock Band
Mass Effect 2007
Mass Effect
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune 2007
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Assassin's Creed 2007
Assassin's Creed

Were you born on August 17, 2008?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 2008.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out August 17, 2014, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 17.

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Actor
Born on August 17, 1943
He turned 65 on this day in 2008.

David Koresh

David Koresh

Cult leader Deceased
Born on August 17, 1959
He was not alive on this date.

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Actor
Born on August 17, 1960
He turned 48 on this day in 2008.

Scott Halberstadt

Scott Halberstadt

Actor
Born on August 17, 1976
He turned 32 on this day in 2008.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry

French soccer player
Born on August 17, 1977
He turned 31 on this day in 2008.

James Tindale

James Tindale

Geordie Shore
Born on August 17, 1990
He turned 18 on this day in 2008.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler

Actor
Born on August 17, 1991
He turned 17 on this day in 2008.

Paige

Paige

Wrestler
Born on August 17, 1992
She turned 16 on this day in 2008.

Lil Pump

Lil Pump

Rapper
Born on August 17, 2000
He turned 8 on this day in 2008.

The Kid Laroi

The Kid Laroi

Australian singer
Born on August 17, 2003
He turned 5 on this day in 2008.

USA

US President

George W. Bush Jnr. was the President of the United States on August 17, 2008.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Gordon Brown was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Brian Cowen was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 17, 2008 was most likely conceived around November 25, 2007.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 17, 2008 is close to May 10, 2009.

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Stats for August 17, 2008

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 17, 2008:

  • 5,940 days have passed since this date.
  • 848 weeks have passed.
  • 513,219,600 seconds have passed since August 17, 2008.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 598,756,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 264,821,313,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 85,536,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 44,136,886 steps. That's roughly 19,616 miles.
  • 6,158,635 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 2008?

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