A blast from the past
Good morning. Today is April 26, 2006. There will likely be much talk about life changing events that occured two decades ago. On 26 April 1986, at 1:23 AM, reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power station exploded. The radiation released was over a hundred times more than that 
of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The death toll from that disaster is still debated. Some say fewer than 50 people have died as a result, others insist hundreds of thousands have died either directly or from cancer and other long term health problems. That's not to mention the birth defects and deformities some believe are linked to the lingering effects from the Chernobyl explosion.
Me, I have no idea. I've been reading historical accounts of the disaster and trying to remember where I was when it all went down. Frankly, I can't. It was 1986, I was just out of high school, and keg parties were still the most
important events of my life. There was also a lot of bad weed going around Waterville and… well, things get hazy. I wish I had a photo of myself back then, with the long hair and the bandana (around the head, not around the leg. We weren't Scott Baio fans, for chrissakes). I have none, however. And so I'll just insist that I was a clean, responsible lad who probably looked like this.
It's funny. I remember where I was when Regan was shot (at a wooded area known as Devil's Chair with two girls and a dirt bike), when Lennon was killed (sleeping off a hangover after raiding a liquor cabinet the night before) and when the space shuttle exploded just two months before the Chernobyl mess (sleeping off a hangover and planning to get up just in time to go to night school). Nuclear nastiness in the Ukraine? I have no idea.
At any rate, we had little to worry about on this side of the world. Billy Idol, Poison, the Go Go's and Cindi Lauper (whom I had a crazy crush on) were on the radio, the Sox were starting their run to the World Series, Crocodile Dundee, Platoon, Aliens, Pretty in Pink and Blue Velvet were at the theater, a rack of Stroh's was selling for about $2.59. Good times, man. Good times. The only one I know who wept uncontrollably after news of Chernobyl
spread was sportswriter Randy Whitehouse, who remarkably, was fully bearded at the age of 14. I mean, look at the eyes red with tears. Look at the bellow of anguish forming at the lips of the hirsute, junior high-aged Whitehouse.
Because I really have no point to all this — I was just waxing nostalgic for 1986 after hearing a Loverboy tune — here are the top ten hits from April of that year. While people were choking and dying in the Ukraine, we were getting down to Falco. It's sad. It's just very sad.
1. "Kiss," Prince & The Revolution
2. "Rock Me Amadeus," Falco
3. "Manic Monday," Bangles
4. "Addicted To Love," Robert Palmer
5. "West End Girls," Pet Shop Boys
6. "What You Need," INXS
7. "Harlem Shuffle," Rolling Stones
8. "Let's Go All The Way," Sly Fox
9. "R.O.C.K. In The USA," John Cougar Mellencamp
10. "Why Can't This Be Love," Van Halen
The Screaming Room 
Martha said,
April 26, 2006 at 4:13 am
Mark, I think I recognize maybe 1 of those titles. I am not a rock music fan and by 1986 I had moved on to other genres. Primarily country at that point. I tried to find a list of country top 10 for that date, but wasn’t successful. Anyone have any suggestions?
What was I doing in 1986? HMMMMMM, let me think.. My kids would have been I think 9 and 11. I actually can’t recall anything particularly memorable about that year. I think I led a rather boring life. By some peoples standards, I guess I still do, but since I’m content, I guess that’s what’s really important.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 6:09 am
Good one, Martha. I think you’re right.
I remember practically every minute of 1985 and ’86, since memorable things were going on for me, but the five years before are quite a blur. No country music for me though — it seems to me that for a few years there, if you didn’t hear it on kids’ TV, you didn’t hear it.
Martha said,
April 26, 2006 at 6:51 am
LOL Linda… been there, done that.. about the kids tv that is… btw, let me clarify.. I love a lot of the rock oldies, but anything much newer than the early to mid 70s I just can’t tolerate. To me, its more noise than anything else.
A.O. said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:09 am
Guess I’m not as old as I thought. I remember every one of those songs. Though, some of them are best left forgotten. Twenty years, wow, where the hell have I been for the past twenty years? Must be all that kids tv. It’s turned my mind into mush. I know almost every episode of Rugrats. Now, that’s pretty bad.
K2 said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:46 am
If the Soviets had acted quickly and administered iodine tablets to the kids, there would’ve been a huge reduction in the number of thyroid cancers among said kids. It was a disgraceful lack of response that doomed many children.
Also, there is an award winning photograph that shows the exact same birth defect in ten kids — all of which had deformed limbs, caused by radiation exposure when they in the wombs of their mothers. I’ll try to find it and send it to you. It’s a very disturbing photo.
Of course, Rock me Amadeus. By the way, when did Frankie say Relax?
brenda said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:56 am
What was I doing April 1986? I’d just married a nice guy named Tim, signed papers to re-enlist in the Army- & to go back thru basic training in 6 months, but that plan was averted because by May I found out I was pregnant with my second child- my first chid was 6 years old, in first grade. I was a student as San Bernardino Valley College and on Valentines day I’d quit a 4 month speed binge ……Tim helped me get over that.
Tim worked at night at an allnight gas station, and I’d call in song requests to tell him I loved him. I liked to request Barbara Streisand songs, driving the dj crazy!
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:57 am
Frankie — 1985 i think?
A.O. said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:10 am
Is that Randy’s new “do”?
K2 said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:21 am
She blinded me with science?!?
Robert said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:41 am
1986….Getting married is about all I remember that year, making this my 20th year of wedded bliss, or a reasonable fascimile..
For anyon asking about country music in 1986..here’s the scoop….Reba McIntype, George Strait were very big (Weekend In New England), and newcomers Vince Gill and Alan Jackson were starting to make a name for themselves…
Garth Brooks was still a couple years from being “discovered”, working in honky tonk bars in Oklahoma, discouraged but not giving up…on a side note, Garth Brooks was never voted Male VOcalist of the year even though his records sold better than any other artist of the time…
Martha said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:07 am
Makes me wonder if the reason Garth was never voted vocalist of the year might have something to do with his inability to make up his mind whether he wanted to sing country or rock. There are at least a couple of his songs which play on country stations, but are anything but.
Bobbie said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:17 am
In 1986, I was a military dependent (Army) living in a place called Neu Ulm, Germany, which is in southern Bavaria. The kids were outside playing on a gorgeous day (lots of sun, few clouds, etc.) when all of a sudden, the blackest clouds that I have ever seen started pouring in-one minute they weren’t there and the next, they were everywhere. These clouds were darker than the black licorice I’m having for breakfast right now.
For 3 days, we had to endure the coldest rain that I have ever felt before. This rain was colder than anything I have ever experienced before or since. I wondered how the rain could be so cold but not freeze, either on the way to the ground or when it hit the ground.
On the 4th day, the sun came back out again, brighter than it had been the days before. There were still some clouds in the sky with a tinge of black to them, but not as deep as the previous 3 days. Of course, the kids were allowed back outside once more-after being cooped up in the house for 3 days enduring a bone chilling cold that goes right thru you and does not allow you to get warm, you’d want out in the sunshine too.
Uncle Sam waited a few days before telling us that we should scrub our kids thoroughly from head to toe, not let them play in the dirt or buy anything food from the economy for a week or so. Of course, Uncle Sam was also quick to say that none of the radiation had supposedly reached us after the accident, but when you sit there and watch the clouds just suddenly appear like they did that day, or develope thyroid problems later in life or you can play connect the dots from head to toe on your body with the moles that suddenly started appearing after that day. Even my son, who was born in 1987, has had to deal with the mole problem over the years.
Now for the lighter side of things-I remember all of those songs very well. AFN radio devoted a set amount of time to each genre of music during the course of the day, so after almost 6 years, I became well versed in all types of music. To this day, I still can not tolerate Latino/Mexican/salsa stuff and probably never will.
Maverick said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:27 am
1986 – Top Gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dead Kid said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:27 am
Stand by Me
Masturbation said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:28 am
9 1/2 weeks
Finger Eater said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:28 am
The Hitcher
Hot Deaf Woman said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:29 am
Children of a Lesser God
Bill Buckner said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:31 am
No big deal about that year…
Rob Lowe's Crank said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:35 am
About Last Night
Lea Thompsen's underwear said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:37 am
Howard the Duck (42 Minutes in you can see her panties)
Rob Lowe's Butt said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:39 am
Youngblood
Anonymous said,
April 26, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Gaaawd!!
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 1:26 pm
In 1986, I was fresh out of high school. I was working full time and not yet into partying (late bloomer). I was trying to figure out the difference between Simple Minds and Tears For Fears. (SHout SHout Let It All Out) I totally recognize everything on that list, but I was just starting to get into country at the time. Randy Travis’s new album, Storms of Life had just come out and I was starting to get into Dwight Yokum. Ah yes, the 80’s. I had big hair and wore lots of denim.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 1:56 pm
AmaDeus, AmaDEAUS! Amadeus, AmaDEUS! Oh oh oh, Amadeus.
Genius!
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 4:36 pm
That’s really a cool list, and K2, I’m loving your additions.
In 1985 I was packing my house and kids to move to another country. One of the last things i sold was my stereo. I’d lie on the floor between the speakers and play mostly Jim Morrison music (oldies even then) really loud, a bit or a lot high, excited and scared.
But only when the kids weren’t home. I was the perfect parent otherwise.
Then in 1986 it was a new home, new job, new friends, new everything.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 5:14 pm
This is the end. Bewwwwtiful friend…
Anonymous said,
April 26, 2006 at 5:14 pm
But, you still listened to Jim, right?
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 6:38 pm
When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 6:41 pm
Notice the change to my moniker? I’m now the artist formally known as A.O.
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Not having periods anymore? LOL
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 6:59 pm
A time like that gets under your skin. I still get a bit lightheaded and long to lie down on the floor when i hear the Doors.
So what’s the buzz AO, or should I say TAFKAAO? Get tired of wearing out the period key, or are you just inspired by the ’80’s? Sometimes change is good.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Nope. No more periods..period.
Jim Morrison. Talk about “Light My Fire”. Damn.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:03 pm
No more periods. Ha! Damn good, MT. Damn good.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:04 pm
I’ve also heard, through the grapevine (classic song!) that, one of our bloggers has a birthday coming up on Friday.
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:05 pm
no kidding, I would have liked to have cured his Roadhouse Blues any day. As Nadine would say, he was hawt.
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Thanks MLaF…Is Treehugger having another birthday? Or is it Linda?
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:10 pm
I heard it was Bailey’s mom that was having a birthday.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:15 pm
Damn. Wouldn’t it be cool if I could just drag a photo into the comment box and submit it.
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:22 pm
I heard she wasn’t celebrating this year, she was going to wait until 40 next year. I also heard she is a real bitch about birthdays. LOL Ever since her wiseguy friends told Margarhita’s it was her birthday last year, she usually goes into seclusion that day.
Mark- I have tried to put photos up too, to no avail.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:24 pm
Yeah, it’ll be good if there’s a quick and easy way to post pics when WordPress unleashes its non-beta version. We’ll see, I guess.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Bailey’s Mom a bitch? Huh. I don’t believe it. I know a certain boy that wishes her the biggest of birthday wishes.
And, I’ve also tried posting pictures. No luck. Bet Weasel could do it!
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Speaking of moms, how are T-man and the Meatball? Sounds like a sit com….
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:28 pm
They’re the best! Got new school pic’s of the T-Man today. He’s wearing his Jimi Hendrix sweatshirt in it. Long hair, Hendrix, need I say more?
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:30 pm
What do I have to do to get a wallet of the school pics? They both get pics?
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:38 pm
Did I gross you out yet, Mark?
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:40 pm
You don’t have to do anything. I’ll be sure to get you some. Have to order T-mans. But, I do have the Meatballs in.
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Yayyyyy, I can’t wait to see them.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Such cuties. I’m a big fan.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:49 pm
I can’t tell if my above photo looks like a door-to-door seller of religion or a frustrated economics major whose about to run amok in the classroom with a high powered rifle. Either way, it ain’t good.
Whitehouse, on the other hand, just looks stoned.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:50 pm
I think you look like a Scott Baio fan. Whitehouse looks…cooool!
Mainetarr said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:51 pm
You look like one of those repressed horny Mormons who walk all over hell to recruit members into the cult.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Yeah. Why, he’s almost delivering a Fonzie style “aaaaayyyy…”
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Ha! Yeah, I was thinking repressed, horny Mormon. I just couldn’t find the right terminology.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Whatever Mark was doing or thinking about in that pic, he doesn’t seem to be enjoying it. Is it the tie? Last time he wore a tie, maybe?
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:02 pm
He looks constipated. Just look at that expression on his face. I think he needed to fart.
K2 said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Either that, or Mark was a card-carrying member of Hitler Youth.
Randy, life must look rather strange when viewed through sallow-hued glasses. What happened to your rose-colored, Janis-Joplin-as-‘Pearl’ spectacles?
And AO, smart move ditching the periods. Kinda like KFC and FedEx, but completely different.
Lastly, I must admit that I have essentially swithced to Miller High Life bottles, since they’re half the price of my beloved Heineken. It was either go to a lesser flavor to save cash, or cut back on my drinking. My fate was determined in less than a microsecond.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:07 pm
But Randy looks like he just did. (Sorry Randy)
K2 said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Linda, you know I only post as K2, right? Court order.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Miller? Not Miller Lite but the champagn of beers? Man, I used to drink that back when we drank in a poorly constructed cabin in the woods behind the Waterville Armory. Miller Highlife and Century cigarettes. Memories, man.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:18 pm
K2, are you involved in that password thing? Because court orders were made to be broken.
My comment about Randy was an answer to AO #55. My computer is constipated tonight too, no posts appear for 15 minutes then half a dozen all at once. So expect me to be like Karnak the Magnificent tonight.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:20 pm
K2, Miller High Life? Gawd…say it ain’t so! And, just no periods in my AO. Damn! Too bad. Sigh!
But, Janis Joplin’s rose colored glasses! “Pearl”…classic. That was my alarm clock when I was a wee lass.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:21 pm
See, I haven’t seen that specific problem. The only glitch I’ve seen is the one where you have to hit submit twice to get the sucker through.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I keep getting the “Slow Down Cowboy” thing. But, it’s really no big deal.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:32 pm
I think I fixed my bug. A nefarious object had installed itself.
By the way if any of you remember that my husband was under doctors orders to stay on the couch & be waited on, he’s now better and is free to wait on me as usual. Yay! hope you are as lucky, AO.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Not on your LIFE! Had to deal with a broken down Jeep today. Bummer. Then, had to rent a car. AFTER I rented the car I found out that my Jeep was fixed. Murphy’s Law. I cancelled the rental because, the Jeep was going to be ready by five. Then, it wasn’t. Got the car. Then…it was. Again, bummer. Sorry if I’ve confused any of you. I’ve just had a very crazy day.
Linda, Glad to hear that your husband is doing better. Hope you get waited on, left and, right. You deserve it!
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 8:56 pm
You deserve it too, AO. Sorry you had the car/Jeep hassle, sounds like a rat race.
Bobbie said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:01 pm
It’s about time you got with the program, AO, and dropped the periods. I think that you were the only one using them anymore.
Wish me luck-I get to deal with my mother-in-law for an 8 AM MRI in Pueblo for her spine. That means leaving Rocky Ford no later than 6:30 AM to get there on time. After we get back, I’m taking a nap!
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:01 pm
Eh, no biggie. More of a hassle than anything. But, it’s over. And, I have an extra car for tomorrow!
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Bobbie, My thoughts will be with you. Good luck!!
As for the periods, hey, I was just trying to be different.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:25 pm
Good luck Bobbie. Hope her spine is OK.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:28 pm
I just accidentally clicked on the banner at the top of the page that says The Screaming Room. Got a little list to choose from including “translate page into English.” Made me laugh a bit — maybe I’ll try it, see what WordPress can make of our ramblings.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Well, good luck with that Linda. Sun Urinal couldn’t make any sense of our ramblings so, they shut us down. Bastards.
LaFlamme said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:43 pm
What? If I click on The Screaming Room, it just brings me back to the main blog.
AO said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:49 pm
And, that’s a good place to be.
Linda said,
April 26, 2006 at 9:55 pm
Right click. Your page, unaccountably, seems to already be in English. But i looked up some of the other WordPress blogs (clicked on Uncategorized) and got some hilarious translations of foreign language pages.
Clearly I have too much time on my hands now that my husband is healthy again.
Gil said,
April 26, 2006 at 10:49 pm
US planes attack Libya, “accidentally bombs French Embassy as well.
President Ferdinand Marcos flees Philippines after ruling for 20 years, Imelda cries for lost shoes.
Senate Judiciary Committee approves William H. Rehnquist as Chief Justice of US Supreme Court. Acid flashback causes him to sew gold stripes on robe.
Super Bowl
Chicago d. New England (46-10)
World Series
NY Mets d. Boston Red Sox (4-3)
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha – Pittsburgh rules
US GDP (1998 dollars): $4,422.20 billion
Federal spending: $990.34 billion
Federal debt: $2120.6 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars): $24,897
Consumer Price Index: 109.6
Unemployment: 7.0%
The Oprah Winfrey Show hits national television. Steadman still undecided.
Nintendo video games introduced in U.S.
A dashingly handsome, young sailor spends the year in foreign countries trying to set new drinking and skirt-chasing records.
Gil said,
April 26, 2006 at 11:10 pm
February 21 – The Dead Kennedys play their last concert at UC Davis in Davis, California.
June 27 – Black Flag play their last concert, in Detroit, Michigan.
A sad, sad year.
But to make up for it, Dutch tells Gorby to pound sand and walks out of the Reykjavik summit. Clock begins ticking for USSR.
Bobbie said,
April 26, 2006 at 11:16 pm
Thanks AO and Linda-it should be interesting tomorrow. Right now, we’re fighting with the oxygen company to deliver an extra tank for her.
Martha said,
April 27, 2006 at 4:51 am
About that rat race. I have a friend who used to have a bumper sticker that said.. “the rat race is over… the rats won.”
Bobby, I hope everything goes well.
No one has told me yet where to find the top 10 country hits for that time period.. there’s that period again…
Wow, that median income is pretty scary.. I’m soooooooo far behind the times, I don’t make that much in a year, yet.
K2 said,
April 27, 2006 at 7:46 am
Come on, Gil, the Beatles and Western culture did more to erode communism than Reagan did, albeit he did sealed the deal, that senile, bad-acting husband of Nancy, that horoscope-reading, say-no-to-drugs saying mother of Patty, that ugly-Playboy-modeling, black-sheep daughter, sister to that cock-loving, bleeding-heart liberal son, Ron Jr.
And yes. Miller High Life. Bottles. For the money, best beer around. But it’s goat piss compared to Heineken. At this point, my liver is so scarred, it can’t tell the difference.
And now back to your regularly scheduled Dead Kennedys net cast:
“Nazi punks! Nazi punks! Nazi punks! FUCK OFF!!!”
or
“Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor.”
AO said,
April 27, 2006 at 8:13 am
K2, I think that Heineken tastes like goat piss. Or, skunk piss. Take your choice. I even tried the new “Light” version. Ugh!! Nasty stuff!
K2 said,
April 27, 2006 at 8:36 am
Heineken Light is bad, no doubt. Especially since the orignal Heineken Light is a good-tasting Amstel Light. It’s all marketing bullshit.
Got goat milk?
K2 said,
April 27, 2006 at 8:38 am
Wait! You mean regular Heineken. AO, you will be getting my cease-and-desist order by noon today, you blasphemous anti-Amsterdamonian.
faxman said,
November 3, 2006 at 4:52 am
Get your hands on all the information available on shoes here.
blogfun said,
November 14, 2006 at 9:09 am
This site is aimed at being a storehouse of information that gives you the feel, the sense, the inside story and everything else there is to know about Household Chores and its applications.
Jake said,
February 20, 2007 at 12:17 am
This is great, bookmarked, thanks!
dani said,
October 9, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Biggest catastrophy in the world it touched France
Anika parsons said,
January 3, 2008 at 2:45 pm
hi my name is anika i am doing a report on this situation and need more info about it
LaFlamme said,
May 8, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Get thee to the new and improved Screaming Room at http://www.marklaflamme.com/blog