Prove to me that you were alive in 1983

M00003 wrote:

Tell me something convincing about that year.

Gag me with a spoon.

Obviously she had a strong impact you and I assume others and never will be forgotten.

Joseph McVeigh wrote:

Lorenzo Charles catches Dereck Whittenburg's air ball, slams it home, Valvano runs around looking for someone to hug.

I missed that game because I unwittingly agreed to take a girl to a movie that had just come out. At least it was Python! -> Meaning of Life.

Growing up in the DC area, my family's television set had two dials - "VHF" and "UHF" - one (I think VHF) was for channels 2-13, the other was for higher channels. Like up to Channel 50. There were 3 major networks - ABC, NBC and CBS. Then two other channels that showed reruns - Fox and the independent "Channel 20" in DC. And there was a PBS station.

Derek Wittenburg to Lorenzo Charles, baby!

I was alive and I waited, waited for it. Right here right now. A song really captured the feeling and excitement of the moment. The world was changing. The Berlin wall fell. Sony walkmans were all the rage.

Barabbas wrote:

1983 was the year of the big match race at the Rotterdam Marathon between Alberto Salazar and Rob deCastella. This was a huge event in the world of distance running at the time. Salazar was undefeated in the marathon with four consecutive victories and also world record holder. Deek was second fastest ever and Commonwealth and soon-to-be World champion. I had a high school track meet that morning, and hurried home afterwards to catch the race coverage on tv (this was pre-vcr, at least in my family). ABC covered the race that day. Deek won, Alberto finished 5th. I was crushed - my childhood hero was human after all.

'83 was also the year of the first World Championships of Track & Field in Helsinki, Finland. Great tv coverage for that also. Those were the days.

Salazar lost again later than year in Fukuoka (5th). Seko beat Ikangaa in a sprint finish. (by 3 sec.) Shigeru So, who was 6th at 40km, came back to finish 3rd and secure his spot on the Olympic team.

In the World Championships, there was a false start in men's 5000m. Alberto Cova had an insane kick in 10000m. (He was 5th with 80m to go.)

My birth certificate

http://thepowerhour.com/news4/obama_kenyan_birth_certificate.htm

I got a Big Track for Christmas.

Yes, I fondly remember free tv, though I was just 14 and would not have been paying the bill anyway. Imagine that--tv that you pick up out of the air, free of charge. I shake my head whenever I get a cable bill. Someday, they will figure out a way to make us pay for the air we breathe.

As most years were back then, '83 was a pretty good year. Great music and no American occupations going on.

It was a hot July 4th on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

outsiderunner wrote:

As most years were back then, '83 was a pretty good year. Great music and no American occupations going on.

Unless you count the brief "occupation" of Grenada after the invasion?

Good point...forgot about Grenada...how could I, as I recall it quite clearly?

Other proof of being alive back then...In general, people were not fat. Girls/women looked nice. Tattoos were almost non-existent.

The Uncle Floyd Show. Ridiculously low-budget, slapstick comedy in the era of post-punk. I'm pretty sure the Ramones played there at least once. (Broadcast on a UHF station, at least in NJ.)

Running Formula reader wrote:

outsiderunner wrote:

As most years were back then, '83 was a pretty good year. Great music and no American occupations going on.

Unless you count the brief "occupation" of Grenada after the invasion?

One of the few wars 'Murica can say they won, which happens when you outnumber the opposition 3-1.

Military personnel

US - 7,600

Grenada/ Cuba/North Korea < 2,300 (

Yes, Uncle Floyd! What a long-lost memory.

In late 1983 the world was introduced to Billy Joel's new wife Christie Brinkley in the video for Uptown Girl, perpetuating the stereotype of the ugly musician getting the supermodel.

MTV was music videos all the time. And the the degree of the variety of pop music that was widely popular has not been touched since then: Michael Jackson, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Men at Work, the Clash, Stray Cats, Lionel Richie, Hall & Oates, Journey, David Bowie, Styx, Kinks, Stevie Nicks, Donna Summer, Yes, and even Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

The Berlin wall fell?

wfunny wrote:

The Berlin wall fell?

You must be an imposter. The wall didn't come down until the end of the decade.

In 1983 there was an impression that the wall had always been there and always would be there. It was a periodic news item that someone would get desperate enough to try to get over the wall or sneak over to the west. Most often they were caught and shot in the no man's land between fences.

I vividly remember the scenes of kids falling into barbed wire fences after being shot. Horrible

outsiderunner wrote:

Yes, I fondly remember free tv, though I was just 14 and would not have been paying the bill anyway. Imagine that--tv that you pick up out of the air, free of charge. I shake my head whenever I get a cable bill. Someday, they will figure out a way to make us pay for the air we breathe.

As most years were back then, '83 was a pretty good year. Great music and no American occupations going on.

It was a hot July 4th on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

"ON-TV"

This might be just a Chicago thing, but the over the air pay channel. After hours they would show soft porn. There was a thick wavy line in the middle of the screen and no sound. If you waited long enough you could catch a glimpse of a boob.