DECEMBER 17, 1935

Full News Archive

• Headline: Matson Acquitted of Check Fraud in Italy. Impact: If J L Matson hadn't been acquitted, the entire concept of 'trusting travelers' checks' might have been permanently lost, leading to a world where every traveler's wallet resembled a safe deposit box.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more worthless than some travelers' checks is the amount of paperwork required to recover them?.
• Headline: LIQUOR TAX CASE DECIDED.; Government Loses Fight for $21,000,000 on Diverted Alcohol.. Impact: The government’s loss led to a historical spike in underground speakeasies, which in turn inspired countless movies and bad decisions for future generations.. Fact: In the aftermath of this case, the phrase 'diverted alcohol' became the official term for any party that gets out of hand..
• Headline: WALMSLEY IS BOOED AT BRIDGE CEREMONY; Crowd Shouts Down Foe of Slain Huey Long as $13,000,000 Span Is Opened.. Impact: This event marked the birth of public booing as a legitimate form of protest, possibly leading to a future where politicians are heckled like comedians.. Fact: Some say the bridge was built to connect two sides of a river, but really, it was just a really expensive way to avoid Walmsley..
• Headline: LUMBERMEN BACK CANADIAN TREATY; Association Writes Hull That While It Criticized Pact It Will Cooperate.. Impact: This cooperation led to Canada developing an intense lumberjack rivalry with the U.S., giving rise to the famed 'Timber Olympics' that nobody knows about.. Fact: Fun fact: Lumbermen have been known to settle disputes with chainsaws, proving that diplomacy can get pretty hairy..
• Headline: RECESS CUT SHORT BY SUPREME COURT; Action Is Taken to Indicate Decisions on AAA, TVA and Bankhead Act Jan. 6.. Impact: This interruption caused lawmakers to rethink the concept of 'recess,' leading to bizarre efforts to redefine vacation days and the subsequent rise of office ping pong.. Fact: The Supreme Court is really just a group of people who were once very committed to their vacation plans but decided to ruin it for everyone else..
• Headline: SALE TO HELP THE BLIND.; Metal Articles Offered Were Made by Sightless Craftsmen.. Impact: This sale inspired a movement where people began to appreciate craftsmanship over aesthetics, forever changing the way we value odd-shaped metal objects.. Fact: Isn't it ironic that the best metalworkers can't see their work? Talk about a blind spot in the art world!.
• Headline: SENTENCED IN ITALY FOR CRIME IN U.S.; Giuseppe Spinelli Gets 30 Years in Slaying of 3 Brothers in Pittsburgh.. Impact: Spinelli's sentence led to a sudden spike in interest in organized crime stories, spawning a whole genre of books and movies that glorify gangsters.. Fact: The irony here is that he was probably just trying to make his family drama more interesting—too bad it came at such a high cost..
• Headline: CHINESE EDITOR IS SHOT.; Hongkong Journalist Advocated Fight on North China Autonomy.. Impact: This tragic event intensified the global conversation on freedom of the press, leading to the invention of the phrase 'no news is good news'—because who wouldn't want to avoid being shot?. Fact: Ironically, the best way to ensure your voice is heard is to have someone try to silence it. Welcome to journalism!.