In retrospect, this particular August day in 1982 probably had more historic relevance than was imagined at the time.
The ongoing evacuation of PLO forces and the withdrawal of Syrian troops continued, but not without a dogfight over Beirut involving a Syrian MIG and an Israeli Airforce jet. Syria claimed it was photo reconnaissance and Israel doubted it. Defense Minister Ariel Sharon did say he expected Peace negotiations to have a positive outcome, despite the flap. Poland was bracing for the Second Anniversary of Solidarity and the government were taking no chances, stationing troops at just about every street corner in Gdansk and in just about every other metropolitan area in Poland. The UN Peacekeeping mission in South Korea wanted to talk to defector/captive Pfc. Joseph White, who showed up in North Korea. White's mom said he was a rather gung-ho sort of kid not prone to defecting to Communist countries. Pyongyang said "not necessarily so". The controversy lumbered on.
The school year opened with 4 school districts in Michigan alone going out on strike, with rumors of more throughout the country. President Reagan threatened sanctions again a second Scottish company accused of selling compressors and other parts for a Natural Gas pipeline being built by the Soviet Union. A study found that women over 40 had a higher likelihood of bone loss, or Osteoporosis, than men of the same age.
And Sony introduced an interesting little record player that didn't play records the usual way. Instead of the customary "needles" or styli, the player used a laser beam and the sound was rumored to be pretty good. Skeptics rolled their eyes, hearkening back to the VHS versus Beta fiasco (Betamax being a Sony idea), and industry watchers were wondering what the fate of those black chunks of vinyl were going to be since the "records" in question were a lot smaller.
The rest, as they say, is history. News for August 31, 1982 as presented by the ABC Radio Network and their ABC World News This Morning.
