Week of May 8, 1984

The Soviet Union says it will not send its athletes to the Los Angeles Summer

Olympic games because the U.S. government they say, cannot ensure their

security and accusing the U.S. of “anti Soviet hysteria.” Will others follow? (see

below).

Democratic primaries.

President Reagan criticizes the Soviet Union for pulling out of

the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and said there was

nothing he could do personally to lure them back. He

expressed “a great feeling if disappointment” and called the

action “unfair” to the athletes.

Canada - A gunman walks into the Quebec legislature and sprays the assembly

with machine gun fire, killing three and wounding 14 others and taking a hostage

before surrendering.

The $350-million 1984 World’s fair opens in New Orleans.

school standards in the last year has ended 20 years of

academic decline and “changed our history by… putting

education back on the American agenda.

Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger holds talks

with top Japanese officials, urging them to increase

defense efforts to meet the growing Soviet Asian military

buildup.

Major banks raise their prime lending rate to 12.5% from 12%. Erked - the White

house blamed the Federal Reserve Board and their hold on the nation’s money

supply for the latest rise n the prime rate.

President Reagan says guerrillas fighting the government in El Salvador deserve

credit for shooting at a helicopter carrying reporters covering Sunday’s

presidential runoff election. “There’s some god in everyone” declared Reagan,

who then turned to a group of reporters saying, “I really didn’t mean that.”

Week of May 8, 1984

Speaking on foreign policy - Richard M. Nixon, addressing a group of newspaper

editors for the first time since he left the presidency, refused to talk about the

Watergate scandal or to criticize his vice president, Spiro Agnew, who Nixon

said, has “suffered enough.”

Religion -

The United Methodist Church votes overwhelmingly to prohibit active, avowed

homosexuals from being ordained as ministers in the church.

Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan at a speech in Chicago this week -

Thirty million black people need to do something for themselves… not sitting

around waiting on white people to

hand-me-down an old dress, an old

pair of shoes or give you a little job as

a maid. He don’t need you as a maid

no more, black woman He got boat

people from Europe now that we are

cleaning his toilets. He got European

boat people now making his nasty

beds. They don’t need you any

more…”

For the first time, a drug has been

found to help baldness. The drug,

Minoxidil, when applied after a transplant surgery, inhibits temporary hair loss

and ultimately provides a greater supply of hair. The drug is made by the Upjohn

Co, but it’s used to treat high blood pressure. This may be another use.

On a Friday night - Fire sweeps

through the Haunted Castle attraction

at Six Flags Great Adventure

amusement park killing eight persons -

all teens and injuring seven others.

Firefighters fought the blaze as

children rode the adjacent Ferris

wheel. Rock band Golden earring

performed nearby as water was

sprayed on the burning structure.

Technology -

Hewlett-Packard unveils a new briefcase-size computer, The Portable. The 9-

pound model, priced at just under $3,000 was 272 kilobytes of RAM, more than

double that of most desktop computers.

Week of May 8, 1984

The FCC orders American Telephone & Telegraph Co to reduce its long-distance

telephone rates by 6.1% beginning May 25. It’s the first across—the-board rate

reduction in 14 orders and largest ever ordered by the agency.

Olympic updates - More countries drop-out this week - Bulgaria, East Germany,

Vietnam and Mongolia announce they’re dropping out of the LA Summer

Olympics - the second, third, fourth and fifth communist nations to join the

boycott.

Sports -

Just out of a two-year retirement - Sugar Ray Leonard defeats Kevin Howard in

a bout at Worcester, MA but Leonard has decided to go back into retirement. He

says he’s just not into it anymore.

contract with the Chicago Blitz of the USFL, signs

three-one year contracts with the Chicago Bears.

Music news -

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will hit the

concert trail - the first time in three years. Nobody

knows who will replace guitarist Steve Van Zandt, who

will be touring with his own band. The Springsteen tour, to support his new album

“Born in the U.S.A.” begins July 1.

to be used in commercial against drunk

driving. Jackson wore his trademark

sunglasses and single white glove for the

brief ceremony on the White House

South lawn. He kept his glove on when

he shook hands with President Reagan.

“Well, isn’t this a thriller,” said Reagan as

he stepped on stage with his wife, Nancy and Jackson. “We haven’t seen this

many people since we left China.” Jackson said only 13 words - “I’m very, very

honored. Thank you very much. Mr. President and Mrs. Reagan.”

Now at bookstores -

The Legend: The Illustrated Story of the Bee Gees” by David English. An

illustrated look (lots of cartoons) of the Bee Gees biography.

Week of May 8, 1984

“David Bowie: A Chronology” by Kevin

Cann

“Roy Acuff’s Nashville: The Life and Good

Times of Country Music” by Roy Acuff and

William Neely.

Sports -

Scores 39 points - Larry Bird leads the

Boston Celtics to a 212-104 victory that

eliminated the Knicks in the seventh and

deciding game of their eastern

Conference semifinal series.

Sunday night television -

CBS - 60 Minutes, AfterMASH, The Four

season, The Jeffersons, Alice, Trapper

John, M.D.

ABC - Ripley’s Believe Or Not, ABC Theater

PBS - Living World, Masterpiece Theatre

MTV - London Calling

Showtime - Bizarre

Special - Doug Henning - Henning performs 17 illusions. Also on the show - Ann

Jullian, Bruce Jenner, Billy

Crystal and the Los Angeles

Rams Cheerleaders.

ABC Theater - “The Dollmaker”

- stars Jane Fonda as she fights

for a new start with her family in

the green hills of Kentucky.

London Calling - A look at the

clubs and concert venues of

London town.

Week of May 8, 1984

Week of May 8, 1984

Week of May 8, 1984