This Goes to 11?

The latest unemployment figures from the Department of Labor are due Friday (Jan. 8), and here's hoping the rate stays under 11 percent.

Chances are, it's likely, given that the last two months were down (10.2 percent in October and 10 percent in November). But if you live in some places, it already goes to 11. In November, Michigan again recorded the highest unemployment rate at 14.7 percent, with Rhode Island (12.7 percent), California, Nevada, and South Carolina (all 12.3 percent) nipping at its heels. And Florida's not far behind the pack at 11.5 percent.

So when was unemployment last over 10 percent? The early 1980s (hitting highs in November and December 1982) - fast times for joblessness, eh?

Just in case Friday's figures are worse than expected (and if they are, watch out for the double dip recession), here's a list of goodies we could relive from 1982:

January 17:
"Cold Sunday" in the United States sees temperatures fall to their lowest levels in over 100 years in numerous cities.

February
Late Night with David Letterman debuts (hey, not all bad)

March 5:
John Belushi found dead in Bungalow 3 of Chateau Marmont

April:
Falklands War begins: Argentina vs. United Kingdom

May:
The Hacienda, Manchester, UK club, dubbed "the most famous club in the world" by Newsweek, opened its doors

June:
Graceland opens to the public

July:
Lawn Chair Larry flies over California in a homemade flying machine: patio chair + helium balloons; strangely reminiscent of 2009's Balloon Boy; oh, but wait, that was a hoax - Larry was real

August:
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor) and Fame (Irene Cara) are big hits . . . compact discs first produced

September:
Grace Kelly dies

November:
Mr. Maverick (John McCain) first elected to US House of Representatives; end of the early 1980s recession

December:
TIME's Man of the Year: the personal computer


Funny old world.

Here's hoping that we can relive the recovery of 1982-83, but this time without the Survivor soundtrack.