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| Trade deficit: Persistent US trade deficits. |
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| Veterans of the Vietnam war, including many disabled ex-military, are reported to be left homeless and impoverished, the country unable to yet handle its failure to succeed. |
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| A collection of symptoms and infections in humans resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is first detected and recognized in the 1980s, on its way to becoming a pandemic. |
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| Crack cocaine: Refers to crack cocaine, a popular drug in the mid-to-late 1980s. |
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| Bernhard Goetz: On December 22, Goetz shot four young men who he said were threatening him on a New York City subway. Goetz was charged with attempted murder but was acquitted of the charges, though convicted of carrying an unlicensed gun. |
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| Hypodermics on the Shores |
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| Syringe Tide: Medical waste was found washed up on beaches in New Jersey after being illegally dumped at sea. Before this event, waste dumped in the oceans was an "out of sight, out of mind" affair. This has been cited as one of the crucial turning points in popular opinion on environmentalism. |
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| On May 20, China declares martial law, enabling them to use force of arms against protesting students to end the Tiananmen Square protests. |
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| Rock and Roller Cola Wars |
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| Soft drink giants Coke and Pepsi each run marketing campaigns using popular music stars to reach the young adult demographic. |
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