What was going on when I was born?

A Federal appeals court panel today reinstated a jury's verdict that The Washington Post libeled William P. Tavoulareas, president of the Mobil Oil Corporation, in a 1979 article. The 2-to-1 decision, written by Judge George E. MacKinnon of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, ruled that the article contained false statements and that ''the evidence was sufficient to demonstrate that the article was published in reckless disregard of its falsity.'' The 88-page opinion cited a host of details about the article in support of its conclusion that it was published with such reckless disregard - in legal jargon, with ''actual malice.'' In a finding that could give new impetus to libel suits against aggressive journalistic organizations, it also stressed that ''The Post is a newspaper which seeks, among other things, hard-hitting investigative stories,'' and said such a policy of ''sophisticated muckraking'' could provide ''a motive for knowing or reckless falsehood.''

WHAT do I cook for myself when I dine at home alone? It is a natural question, and as a person who is single and makes his livelihood from food, I probably hear it more often than most people do. In these hectic times, it may come as a surprise to much of this country's population that anyone would bother to cook a meal for just himself or herself. Unfortunately, in the kitchens of many of today's single people, the only appliance that gets regular use is the refrigerator. Preparing a meal as often as not means spreading cheese on crackers or pulling the seal off a frozen dinner and popping it into the oven. That is a depressing comedown for what should be one of life's more enjoyable and festive rituals. Personally, I love dining, even when I am alone, and I derive enormous pleasure from cooking, whether for a group of people or for myself. So when I am by myself I often go about it as seriously as if I had guests. I set the table carefully, sometimes going so far as to bring out the good linen tablecloth, crystal and silver. Sometimes I will read or listen to music while eating, but I draw the line at watching television.

Sam M. Walton, the down- home Arkansas retail executive, is upset about the flood of imports, and he is aiming to do something about it. As the chairman of Wal- Mart Stores, a 753-unit discount chain that operates largely in rural communities, Mr. Walton, who Forbes has estimated to be worth more than $2 billion, sees his small- town customers losing their jobs as factories close because of imports. In February, he wrote to 3,000 American manufacturers and wholesalers telling them that the chain wanted to buy more American goods. ''Our continued success depends on our mutual reaction to a very serious problem with regard to our balance of trade deficit,'' he said in the letter. Wal- Mart reports that so far it has written new orders with four suppliers as a result of the 66-year-old Mr. Walton's appeal.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985 International Prime Minister Nakasone urged the Japanese to buy more foreign goods to help ease the trade crisis with the U.S. In a rare televised address, as the Government announced a series of measures to open Japanese markets, he warned that the program could cause some industries to ''suffer pain.'' (Page A1.) The package contains some immediate measures to open Japanese markets, but the emphasis is on steps to be carried out over three years. (D10.) The White House praised Mr. Nakasone's ''courageous moves.'' But Donald T. Regan, the chief of staff, said the package ''contains few new or immediate'' measures. (D10.) Some key Congressmen said the actions may not be enough to prevent retaliatory legislation. (D10.)

The White House chief of staff, Donald T. Regan, said today that the groundwork and an agenda would have to be complete before President Reagan would meet with Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the new Soviet leader. In laying out what amounted to the conditions that the Russians would have to meet before talks could be held, the White House appeared today to be moving away from its recent suggestions that a meeting should take place as quickly as possible, even with no prearranged agenda. Mr. Regan, echoing comments made Monday by State Department officials, told reporters that President Reagan was against ''just having meetings for meetings' sake.'' ''We think that it would be a big letdown,'' Mr. Regan said, ''not only for Americans, but for the rest of the world, if the two leaders were to meet and accomplish nothing.'' The President appeared last month to have been moving away from his long-held insistence on firm ground rules for a summit meeting when he sent Mr. Gorbachev a letter proposing a meeting.

F OR a quarter century Frank D. Drake has searched for clues that humans are not alone. Dr. Drake is one of a small band of earthlings devoted to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, known by those who do it as SETI. He and his brethren scan the heavens with huge dish-shaped antennas, listening for signals from advanced civilizations. At times these cosmic eavesdroppers speak candidly about the aliens they seek and how they plan to react if contact is made - but it takes prompting. They are wary of being dismissed as cranks or cultists. They painfully recall the occasion in 1978 when Senator William Proxmire, Democrat of Wisconsin, gave them a ''Golden Fleece'' award for what he said was their waste of Federal money. They also wince at the theorizing of Jungian psychologists, who say that belief in aliens is fostered by a deep human need for messiah figures. In spite of the skeptics, their search has survived, even prospered, mainly because of support by influential physicists and astronomers. The field is now dotted with Nobel laureates and other luminaries. This month marks the 25th anniversary of the first systematic search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The hope of these sober specialists is contact. Their fear is that technological civilizations, which they are sure have flourished for eons, may destroy themselves by war - indeed, may have already destroyed themselves - before contact can be established.

Interest rates fell sharply yesterday, after Paul A. Volcker, Federal Reserve chairman, said that economic growth might be difficult to maintain in light of the problems in the mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy. There was fluctuation with little change during morning trading, but then Mr. Volcker's comments touched off a quick rise in note and bond prices, and a slight drop in Treasury bill rates. By late in the day, the 11 1/4 percent bonds due in 2015 were offered at 97 1/8, up nearly 1 1/8 point, to yield 11.59 percent, while the 10 3/4 percent notes due in two- years were offered at 100 7/8, up about 3/8 point, to yield 10.24 percent. Treasury bill rates also declined, with the six-month issue bid at 8.45 percent, down from 8.56 percent and the one-year issue at 8.66 percent, down from 8.81 percent.

After months of discussion, the Cuomo and Koch administrations have endorsed the construction of a privately financed domed football stadium in Flushing, Queens, state and city officials said yesterday. Under a plan worked out recently, the stadium would have a minimum of 78,000 seats and would rise on 70 acres adjacent to Shea Stadium that are now filled with about 70 junkyards and light- industrial businesses that provide about 1,200 jobs, according to the officials who helped develop the plan. Cost estimates for a domed stadium have ranged from $250 million to $300 million. Earlier Proposal From Trump At a news conference scheduled for today, Vincent Tese, the chairman of the State Urban Development Corporation, and Herbert J. Sturz, chairman of the City Planning Commission, are expected to announce the agreement and to ask for requests for proposals to build and operate the stadium.

New York gave baseball a roaring welcome back to town yesterday as Vice President Bush, Mayor Koch and a sellout crowd of 46,781 made their way to Shea Stadium to open the season. The Mets responded by beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, on a 10th-inning home run by Gary Carter, the all-star catcher making his debut with the Mets. It was cold, it was festive and it was almost regretful for the Mets because they lost a 5-2 lead in the late innings and surrendered the tying run in the ninth on a walk with the bases loaded. But they survived when Carter went to bat with one out in the bottom of the 10th and hit the second pitch thrown to him by Neil Allen into the left-field bullpen to end 3 hours 42 minutes of storybook baseball. ''It was a storybook ending, all right,'' said Dave Johnson, the manager of the Mets. ''Losing the lead and then coming back to win is certainly dramatic.''

The Hughes Aircraft Company said today that it had received ''very positive'' indications that the Japanese Government would grant a license to a joint venture it formed with two Japanese companies to sell a sophisticated communications satellite system to Japanese companies. Albert D. Wheelon, president of Hughes's space and communications group, said the company had been given ''one of the first tangible examples'' of the Japanese intention to increase imports of American-made products. The joint venture, known as the Japan Communications Satellite Company Ltd., was asked on Monday to deliver an application for the communications system to the Ministry of Post and Telegraph in Tokyo. The Ministry received the application today, Hughes officials said.

Last November, Bevill, Bresler & Schulman Inc. joined a syndicate of underwriters for a $275.5 million bond issue by the New Jersey Highway Authority, holding about 5 percent of the issue. Although the percentage was small, the action quickly caught the attention of some of Bevill, Bresler's competitors. ''It was a step up for them,'' said John T. Feeney, president of Moore & Schley Municipals Inc. ''All of a sudden, they were there with the big hitters.'' Bevill, Bresler, based in Livingston, N.J., was a firm on the move - that is, until three of the five companies that are related by common ownership and make up the group were moved into bankruptcy or receivership on Monday under Securities and Exchange Commission charges of fraud. The actions came out of the blue for most who know of the growing firm, and even for many who work at it. Although top officials could not be reached for comment, one executive called the charges ''shocking.'' ''If they prove true, it's even more shocking,'' he added.

The Reagan Administration, in a policy shift, said today that it would no longer rule out supplying United States military assistance to the two non-Communist Cambodian guerrilla groups. The new policy, which is expected to be discussed by Secretary of State George P. Shultz with leaders of the groups on Wednesday, marks a departure from the Administration's hands- off military policy toward Indochina. But State Department officials said the United States still believed primary aid for the insurgents should come from others. Previous Appeals Rejected Since President Reagan took office in 1981, the Administration has repeatedly rejected appeals from Son Sann and Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the leaders of the two non-Communist guerrilla groups, for military aid.