What was going on when I was born?

There are comic book cartoonists who battle make-believe evil with make-believe heroes. There are editorial cartoonists who take on the real thing.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15--An Israeli woman is unable to get a tourist visa to visit her husband in New York because United States consulate officials fear that she and her two small children are seeking to emigrate.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15--Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance has set a deadline of not later than mid-February for the Soviet Union to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan or face the likelihood of an American boycott of the Moscow Olympics this summer.

The First Chicago Corporation, which yesterday reported a decline of almost 50 percent in its net operating earnings in the fourth quarter, has restructured its top management and stripped its president of most of his authority, according to sources within the company.

When demand for home insulation surged two winters ago, the Allied Chemical Company reacted with bridled enthusiasm.

The price of gold bullion soared to a record $728 an ounce in New York yesterday, up $47 on the day and some $200 since Christmas. Some dealers quoted slightly higher and others somewhat lower prices in late dealings in the traditionally amorphous cash New York bullion market.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15--The White House asked the Postal Service today to proceed with implementing an electronic mail service plan approved Dec. 17 by the Postal Rate Commission and to refrain from appeals that could delay it.

A Federal judge declared unconstitutional yesterday the controversial legis lation that severely restricts Federal financing for abortions for indigent women.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Jan. 15-- President Mohammed Zia ul-Haq delivered a strong appeal today for international aid and support in the face of what Pakistan regards as a grave threat posed by the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.

A New York restaurant may have rats, mice, flies or roaches or violate the city's Sanitary Code in a number of other ways and--even though the Department of Health is aware of the condition--still remain open to the public.

WOMEN who want to get to the top of their profession or business were told yes terday that they should realize that there is little room for balancing career and family or personal demands.

New York City's 9,400 independent taxi owners will petition New York City today for a permanent 31 percent increase in taxi fares and a series of new night, Sunday and holiday surcharges.