What was going on when I was born?

When Irwin L. Jacobs, the 39-year old Minneapolis multimillionaire, elbowed his way onto the Pabst Brewing Company board, he was viewed as an unfriendly interloper, at best. As owner of about 10 percent of Pabst's outstanding shares, Mr. Jacobs, who made his fortune by buying failing or bankrupt companies, first demanded last summer that he be named chairman and that four of his associates be named directors. He settled for a lone board seat for himself. Now, Mr. Jacobs is giving up that seat. But in doing so, he has issued heated statements indicating that his battle with the nation's third-largest brewer - behind Anheuser-Busch Inc. and the Miller Brewing Company - is far from over.

''I woke up in Chicago and I'm going to sleep in Washington,'' Thomas Sowell said cheerfully yesterday as he descended to street level in a crowded elevator. Mr. Sowell, the conservative black economist, social theorist and polemicist, had just given a luncheon speech for 80 people at the private Century Club on West 43d Street. They had gone to hear him because Mr. Sowell's most prolific period - now - happens to coincide with the advent of Ronald Reagan and the resurgent political and economic conservatism across the country that Mr. Reagan's Administration is said to stand for. Two books by Mr. Sowell - ''Markets and Minorities'' and ''Ethnic America'' - have just been published, to much praise from fellow conservatives and a lot of criticism, some of it bitter, from fellow blacks and from liberal intellectuals. As for his travels, Mr. Sowell is indeed on the run. His home base is the conservative Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University, in California. At lunch yesterday, Mr. Sowell sat next to George Gilder, one of the Reagan Administration's favorite economists for the unabashed defense of capitalism he presents in his recent book, ''Wealth and Poverty.''

New construction of single-family houses in August plunged 16.4 percent from July to its lowest level since the Government began keeping records more than two decades ago, the Commerce Department reported today. In addition, new construction of all categories of housing fell 10.7 percent to an annual rate of 937,000 during the month. The rate was only slightly above the 9 04,000 rate of February 1975, the department sa id. The only lower rate was the 843,000 of October 1966.

International Opposition to the sale of Awacs radar planes and other air warfare equipment to Saudi Arabia gained as a clear majority of the Senate publicly lined up against President Reagan's arms sale proposal. While the development did not spell final defeat for the President, it clearly threatened the possibility of a serious political defeat for him and a possible setback in relations with Saudi Arabia. (Page A1, Col.6.) The Russians demanded the silencing by Polish authorities of an ''unbridled'' anti-Soviet drive by Solidarity and other dissidents that had reached ''dangerous limits.'' (A1:5. )

James L. Emery, the Assembly minority leader and a potential Republican candidate for Governor, charged today that, based on a comparison with California taxation figures, New York State and its local governments lose $3 billion a year through faulty collection of sales taxes. In an analysis comparing New York tax collections with those of California, Mr. Emery charged that New York collected some $1.7 billion less than the nation's most populous state, even after taking into account differences between the two states' tax structures and the sizes of their economies. By extrapolation, Mr. Emery said at a news conference, tax evasion cost local governments an additional $1.36 billion. ''The honest taxpayer who is paying taxes is being victimized by the Carey administration's inefficiency,'' he said.

The fossil jaw of a small mammal never before known to man has been found on the Navajo Indian reservation in northeastern Arizona, the Harvard University paleontologist who led the discovery team reported yesterday. The finding, coupled with an earlier discovery of the teeth of a known mammal of the same era at the same site, provides the first evidence that mammals were present in North America as early as the Late Triassic or Early Jurassic periods some 180 million years ago. According to the fossil record, the first mammals appeared on earth about the same time that the dinosaurs appeared. Dr. Farish Jenkins Jr., leader of the discovery team, said that although it was not yet known exactly what the newly discovered mammal looked like, the fossil showed that the animal was probably a shrew-like insectivore about the size of a small mouse. An insectivore is a generally small, primitive mammal that feeds mainly on insects.

A decade of controversy over how best to protect the huge upstate wilderness areas of Adirondack Park is yielding to a behind-the-scenes effort at compromise between opponents and supporters of the toughest state land-use regulations in the country. At stake is the future of one of the East's most beautiful regions, a six-million-acre preserve of forest-cloaked mountains, sparkling lakes and streams, towering waterfalls and rustic trails that serve as a home to bear, deer and other wildlife and a playground for campers, hikers, climbers, boaters and nature lovers. But the park is a checkerboard of state and privately owned land, with a permanent population of 119,000 people in 106 towns and villages in 12 counties. The state owns 2.3 million acres, or 38 percent of the park, while private owners hold 3.7 million acres, or 62 percent.

When the Champion International Corporation broke ground last May on a new $483 million pulp mill in Quinnesec, Mich., the goal was to get the mill operating by September 1984. That is now in question. Construction plans were squeezed by a 10 percent cut this month in Champion's 1982 capital spending budget, a cut that stemmed largely from the persistently high interest rates that threaten to hurt the economy in 1982. ''If the situation does not improve, a second cut could delay the plant for as much as another year,'' Gerald J. Beiser, Champion's senior vice president for finance, said yesterday. ''We'll have to decide that in a couple of months, based on general business conditions. We're watching the situation very closely.''

JI, the legendary Buddhist temple complex that occupies 32 acres of the countryside to the south and west of the Japanese city of Nara, was founded by the Imperial Prince Shotoku in 607 A.D. Although it still functions as a monastery, its fame now derives from the renowned art collections that have reposed there since the seventh century. These are well known to art historians and connoisseurs the world over, but - until now - none of these treasures has ever been loaned for public exhibition outside the temple area. For this reason alone, the exhibition called ''Horyu-Ji: Temple of the Exalted Law,'' which opens today at the Japan House Gallery, 333 East 47th Street (through Oct. 25), would have to be regarded as an unusual event, for it consists entirely of works of art drawn from the temple collections. These unprecedented loans have been made in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Japan Society and the 10th anniversary of the Japan House Gallery.

FOUR passionate soprano roles at the New York City Opera this weekend should generate enough heat to steam up every window in Lincoln Center. Tonight and Sunday afternoon, Marilyn Zschau portrays Puccini's ''Tosca,'' a heroine undone by circumstance and her own jealousy. Tomorrow at 2 P.M., Ashley Putnam as Mary, Queen of Scots, and Maralin Niska as Queen Elizabeth I of England face each other in Donizetti's ''Maria Stuarda,'' -a confrontation that leads to blo odshed. On Sunday evening, Grace Bumbry will recreate the vengeful and ambitious Abigaille, the seething villainess of Verdi's ''Nabucco.'' This is Miss Bumbry's debut at the City Opera, and she will play opposite Joanna Simon as the beauteous Fenena.

The gold standard, a time-honored bulwark against inflation but an idea that most economists have abandoned as a relic of a less sophisticated past, is suddenly the subject of serious economic policy discussion. The Reagan Administration, admittedly baffled and unhappy about the skepticism with which its economic program continues to be regarded in the financial markets, appears increasingly receptive to exploring the idea of restoring the dollar's link to gold , a notion that for many years has been kept alive mainl y by gold zealots. Although there is no clear evidence that the President or his top advisers have such a plan under active consideration, the issue, which was part of last year's Republican platform, is rapidly moving to center stage. Tomorrow the 17-member Gold Commission, whose members were appointed by the Administration in June, meet s in public for the first time am id assertions by Reagan advisers outside the Government that only by bringing gold back into the monetary system can inflation be brought under control and long-term interest rates reduced. There are many arguments for and against bringing back the gold standard, which is a system under which a government agrees to exchange a specified amount of gold for dollars at a fixed price.

Dutch, balking at missiles, mir- ror Europe's Unease A2 NATO commander pessimistic on allies' military spending A3 Iran executes 19 more foes of re- gime A4 Around the World A5 Smuggled Chinese document tells of life in prison camps A6 Awacs resolution and statements by Haig and Senators A10 Government/Politics Environmental agency terms bird pesticide level safe A12 Prosperous Grand Rapids is honoring its favorite son A12 Postal rate agency again rejects bid to raise postage rate A16 Republicans following Reagan plan on Social Security A22 How Reagan plan on adjusting benefits would work A22 Democrats to meet in Philadel- phia next June A24 Adirondack Park dispute yielding to compromise efforts B1 Comptroller asks Carey to post- pone some s tate borrowing B4 Washington Talk Briefing A18 When it comes to books, Washing- ton likes the facts A18 The National Rifle Association vs. the U.S. Government A18 Q&A with Joseph A. Califano on Reagan and the Great Society A18 General Around the Nation A12 People's Temple case goes to jury in California A13 Dr. Michael Baden gets a new job in Suffolk County B2 98 seized in drug sweep outside city schools B3 Health/Science System tested to ease shock of space shuttle's blastoff A13 Weekend Weekender Guide C1 Tour of Chester A. Arthur's New York C24 Big book fair on Fifth Avenue Sunday C28 Theater: Broadway C2 New Face: Jeanne Ruskin in "Misalliance" C5 Dance: Salute to black dance by Negro Ensemble C5 Screen: "French Lieutenant's Woman," with Meryl Streep C4 At the Movies C8 "The Hungry i Reunion" opens C8 "Raggedy Man," with Sissy Spacek C10 "Continental Divide," with John Belushi C14 "Mommie Dearest" opens C15 Music: Four sopranos take pas- sionate roles at City Opera C1 Tuba spectacular at St. Peter's C7 Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park C7 Manhattan Transfer at Music Hall C12 Art: Buddhist art at Japan House C1 Auctions C22 Art People C23 "Sauce for the Goose" by Peter De Vries reviewed C31 Restaurants C18 TV Weekend C33 Industry/Labor Mine union chief denounces plan to cut safety funds A20 Labor federation girds for Soli- darity Day march at capital A20 Style The Evening Hours B10 Brunch goal: Chic identity, not just food B10 Fashions, in the public eye B10 Obituaries Geoffrey Parsons Jr., ex-editor of International Herald Tribune D15 DeWitt J. Paul, former head of Beneficial Corporation D15 Sports Eagles, led by Jaworski, down Bills, 20-14 A29 Phils beat Mets, 3-2 A29 Giants shift guards on offense A29 No rematch imminent for Leon- ard and Hearns A29 Before Dawn faces first racing test in Matron tomorrow A29 Ryder Cup gives rival pro golfers a chance to play as a team A30 Valenzuela sets rookie mark by hurling his eighth shutout A31 Yanks' Guidry recaptures win- ning ways A31 Dave Anderson on the matador who was also a bull A32 Johnstone paces Rangers' rout of Swedes A32 Bourne and Islanders still apart on contract A32 Giants favored over Saints; Jets are underdogs to Steelers A33 Bradshaw offers no excuses for Steelers 0-2 start A33 Chargers trade Jefferson, all-pro receiver, to Packers A33 Features/Notes Sports People A31 Issue and debate: Sheltering the homeless B4 Notes on People C27 News Analysis Bernard Gwertzman examines the Awacs debate A11 Editorials/Letters/Op-Ed Editorials A34 The promise of Awacs Hobby horse of gold Night flower Protesting the Springbok tour Letters A34 Tom Wicker: the mailman co- meth A35 Flora Lewis: the foreign policy bind A35 Huan Xiang: China and the United States A35 Jay Hall: the way to inspire work- ers A35