OCTOBER 12, 1938

Full News Archive

• Headline: Pension Ratio Analysis in 1938. Impact: The increased number of elderly people led to a growing demand for retirement homes, which ultimately resulted in the invention of the 'Golden Years' marketing campaigns. Because who wouldn't want to spend their golden years in a shiny, overpriced facility?. Fact: In 1930, the average life expectancy was about 59 years. So, being above 60 was practically a miracle, which probably explains the pension panic!.
• Headline: The 1938 Ticket Man Strike. Impact: The refusal of one ticket puncher to join the union somehow spiraled into the invention of the phrase 'going rogue,' which has since been used by everyone from politicians to reality TV stars. Thanks, A.G. Williams!. Fact: Strikes were the original social media, where people gathered to complain about the system without a smartphone in sight!.
• Headline: Langer's $40 Pension Proposal in 1938. Impact: Langer's fight with Nye over pensions not only impacted North Dakota politics but also inspired a future generation of politicians to bicker over increasingly trivial issues, like who gets the last cookie at the Capitol.. Fact: This was like an early episode of a political reality show, with all the drama and none of the commercial breaks!.
• Headline: Tribute to Fairfax Harrison. Impact: Fairfax Harrison's tribute somehow became the template for future awkward corporate award ceremonies where people pretend to care while checking their phones.. Fact: Harrison was so beloved that if he had a reality show, it would probably be called 'Keeping Up with the Harrisons.'.
• Headline: Expand Social Service Work. Impact: The push to expand social services led to the eventual creation of a 'Help Wanted' sign that is still hanging in every government office to this day.. Fact: In the 1930s, social service was basically just a group of people asking, 'Can we help you?' without a clue on how to actually do it!.
• Headline: JAPAN WOULD BORROW TO BUILD AIR PLANT; Seeks $45,000,000 for Mukden Project on U. S.-Type Planes. Impact: Japan's loan request for an air plant led to the eventual arms race and a lot of 'who has the bigger planes' competitions. Spoiler: It's really not about the planes.. Fact: The 'U.S.-type planes' were basically just a fancy way of saying 'we want to copy the cool stuff and hope no one notices.'.
• Headline: Vienna to Mint German Coins. Impact: The decision to mint German coins in Vienna was a bold move that led to future debates on currency design—because nothing says 'economic stability' like arguing over shiny metal discs.. Fact: Minting coins is basically the oldest form of printing money, and we all know how well that turned out in the long run!.
• Headline: WOULD OUTLAW AIR WAR; Secretary Woodring Hopes for Action by Future Conferences. Impact: Woodring's hopes to outlaw air war led to a great deal of hot air—quite literally—as future politicians engaged in endless discussions about peace, while planes continued to fly overhead.. Fact: Outlawing air war? That's like trying to ban water from the ocean—good luck with that!.
• Headline: Pope to Return at End of October. Impact: The Pope's return to Vatican City set off a chain reaction of religious tourism that transformed Rome into the original holy hotspot, complete with souvenir shops and selfie sticks.. Fact: The Pope’s comebacks are so anticipated, they could rival any celebrity’s return from a hiatus. 'The Vatican is back, and this time, it's personal!'.