Observations — 1990. Communism Shrinks, Mafia On The Big Screen

The Soviet Union was dissolved.  Yugoslavia kicked out the Communist Party. Nelson Mandela was freed. Margaret Thatcher resigned.  Lech Walesa became Poland’s president. Mikhail Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize. Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait. An earthquake in Sicily killed 18.  Oliver North’s conviction was overturned. U. S. Supreme Court overturned the flag-burning ban. David Dinkins became NYC’s first Black mayor.  Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation’s first Black governor.  The NC -17 rating replaced the “X.” The Hubble Space telescope was launched. James “Buster’ Douglas surprised the world with K.O. of Mike Tyson. “The Simpsons” and “Seinfield” debuted. Octavio Paz won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Pulitzer went to Oscar Hijuelos for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.   The Mystery Writers of America gave the Edgar to James Lee Burke for Black Cherry Blues, and The Private Eye Writers of America gave the Shamus Award to Jonathan Valin for Extenuating Circumstances.  We also read The Bad Place by Dean Koontz, Devices and Desires by P. D. James. The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum, September by Rosamunda Pilcher, The Stand by Stephen King, and Burden of Proof by Scott Turow.  We watched GoodFellas, Dances With Wolves, Henry and June, Reversal of fortune, Driving Miss Daisy, Pretty Woman, The Godfather Part III, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tremors, Home Alone, Edward Scissorhands, and Total Recall. Milli Vanilli’s Grammy was revoked for lip-syncing .We also listened to “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips, “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette, “Nothing Compares To You” by Sinead O’Connor, “Poison” by Bell Biv Devoe, “Vogue” by Madonna, “Visions of Love” by Mariah Carey, “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins, “Hold On” by En Vogue, and “Cradle of Love” by Billy Idol.  The world lost Ava Gardner, Barbara Stanwyck, Terry-Thomas, Robert Cummings, Howard Duff, Greta Garbo Eve Arden, Tex Harrison Sammy Davis, Jr., Jill Ireland, Paulette Goddard, Pearl Bailey and Roald Dahl.  If you were around, what were you doing during this year of the metal horse?