My parents must have known I was going to be a writer on the day I was born. Before the night ended, my father left the hospital and picked up a newspaper to commemorate the day. I recently found the paper buried in my closet and took time to scan the headlines. Sure, some things have changed after more than 24 years, but others remain nearly the same.
The paper itself, the Evening Outlook, ceased publication in 1998 after years of serving Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area. Many newspapers have experienced circulation declines due to the Internet.
Two retail stores featured color advertisements. They featured items that haven’t changed much in price over the years. Hot Wheels were 89 cents, paper towels were two for $1 and Zee napkins were $1.39. An ad on the back of the front page offered a free lesson in using a microcomputer.
One headline read, “Border Patrol snaring more aliens than ever.” The article read, “Hopefully, we will catch so many of those trying to cross our sector that they will go back home and spread the message that it’s too tough to get through.”
Earth Day was celebrated in Santa Monica, which included a march for nuclear disbarment. Then-President Ronald Reagan was urging the Soviet Union to reduce its nuclear capacity.
Today, Iran is building up its nuclear power for supposed “energy purposes” against the direction of President George W. Bush.
Energy struck a nerve with the public back then. Nothing about global warming was mentioned, but there was an article called “Putting out lights saves money.” Another related articled entitled “Bay motorists bracing for gasoline tax boost” reflected the public’s disgust for the new 5-cent hike, bringing the price to $1.02 per gallon.
On my next birthday, I plan to pick up a paper to stash away. Perhaps in 20 years I will recall what it was like to get your hands dirty reading the paper, learn who was wrong about global warming, realize we had cheap gas at $3 per gallon, laugh at the fashion models and feel regret about a tiny ad for a crash course in nanotechnology.
Ryan Ortega is a senior business finance major.
