NOVEMBER 14, 1934

Full News Archive

• Headline: Gold Bloc Responds to Belgian Currency Crisis. Impact: When Belgium's gold standard wobbled, the French Franc decided to join the party and also take a dive. This left gold-bloc currencies in a frenzy, which led to a series of events culminating in an underground gold trade that eventually inspired the legend of pirates burying treasure in the Caribbean. Thanks a lot, Belgium.. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'going off gold' isn't a new trend in dieting? It's just what countries do when their economies are on a diet of bad decisions..
• Headline: Minto's Snub by Curzon Revealed. Impact: Curzon snubbing Minto created a rift in the royal hierarchy that rippled through time, leading to a dramatic increase in passive-aggressive notes between viceroys. Who knew that snubbing someone could inspire a whole genre of etiquette books?. Fact: Snubbing politicians has been a time-honored tradition. Just ask any high school student during prom season..
• Headline: American Ship Lines Negotiate Tonnage Reduction. Impact: The American ship lines entering negotiations for a tonnage cut sparked a global maritime revolution, leading to the invention of the world's first underwater delivery service. Next thing you know, people were getting pizza delivered by dolphins.. Fact: The only thing more inflated than world tonnage back then was the egos of those negotiating it..
• Headline: ROOSEVELT AIDS HENRY ST. SERVICE; Joins With Lehman and Smith in Urging Gifts in Drive for $550,000. WORK OF NURSES PRAISED. Impact: Roosevelt's call for gifts to the Henry Street Service inadvertently led to the creation of the first 'fundraising bake sale'—a concept that would evolve into every school parent's nightmare in the following decades.. Fact: Nurses have always been praised, but it wasn't until this campaign that they started receiving gifts that weren't just 'Get Well Soon' cards..
• Headline: Reich Seeks Pact With Holland.. Impact: The Reich's desire for a pact with Holland set the stage for a series of awkward family dinners where both nations would pretend everything was fine while secretly plotting the next move on the geopolitical chessboard.. Fact: Negotiating treaties is like playing chess, except the pieces can sometimes become real-life countries and the stakes are a bit more serious than just a checkmate..
• Headline: Maine Gets Strong Beer at Once.. Impact: Maine's sudden embrace of strong beer led to a cultural renaissance that would eventually inspire the craft beer movement, proving that sometimes, all you need is a little liquid courage to change society.. Fact: This moment in history was the beginning of a long and storied relationship between Mainers and craft breweries—because who needs sobriety when you have strong beer?.
• Headline: Funeral of Moritz Rosenthal.. Impact: Moritz Rosenthal's funeral became a pivotal moment that inspired a trend of grandiose send-offs, leading to today's elaborate funeral industry, where even the dearly departed might complain about the expenses.. Fact: Funerals have always been about the living, and Rosenthal's was no exception. The real question: who gets the last slice of cake?.