JANUARY 16, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: Wells Quartet Wins Bobsled Championship. Impact: This bobsled victory led to an international arms race in sled design, culminating in futuristic bobsleds that look more like spaceships than sport equipment. Next stop, the Olympics in outer space!. Fact: Bob-sledding: the only sport where you can literally be a passenger in your own fate. Just hope your pilot doesn’t have a phobia of turns!.
• Headline: Honoring Dr. Myron R. Sanford. Impact: Dr. Sanford's Latin teachings became the secret language of spies for decades, as they communicated in a tongue that only the most elite could understand. So much for 'dead languages' being irrelevant!. Fact: Did you know that Latin is considered a 'dead language'? Ironically, it’s probably more alive than some of the conversations I’ve overheard at parties..
• Headline: GIVE 5-POINT PLAN FOR HELPING SOUTH; 40 Leaders of Section Ask an End to Its Treatment as 'Colonial Possession' Health problem Held "Acute" GIVE 5-POINT PLAN FOR AIDING SOUTH Signers of the Report. Impact: This report's recommendations were largely ignored, setting a precedent for decades of ineffective policy-making that continues to haunt the South like a ghost of bad decisions.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Colonial possession' doesn’t refer to your overbearing aunt's collection of porcelain cats, but rather a genuine political issue. Who knew?.
• Headline: POWERS STUDY SOPS TO ITALY IN AFRICA; Jibuti May Be Made Free Port --Concessions on Suez Also Considered at Geneva Loan to Italy Considered Halifax and Bonnet Meet POWERS STUDY SOPS TO ITALY IN AFRICA Spanish Issue to Fore. Impact: This diplomatic back-and-forth eventually led to Italy’s grand ambition to colonize more territories, which, spoiler alert, didn’t end well. It’s like giving a toddler a paintbrush and hoping for a masterpiece.. Fact: Did you know that 'sops' in this context refers to concessions? Not to be confused with 'sops' that you would throw at a dog for a trick. Same level of negotiation skills, though..
• Headline: ELIZABETH S. MacLEOD; Poet of Prince Edward Island Dies at the Age of 97. Impact: MacLeod's death marked the end of an era for Canadian poetry, inspiring a surge of literary homage that would lead to an explosion of heartfelt, albeit slightly pretentious, poetry slams across the nation.. Fact: Elizabeth S. MacLeod was not just a poet; she was also a living reminder that having a long life and a way with words is the ultimate combo for literary fame!.
• Headline: HUNTER 'PHI BETES' JUST NORMAL GIRLS; TO BE POLICEWOMAN. Impact: This headline sparked a wave of women joining the police force, leading to an eventual rise in crime shows depicting female officers as total badasses. Crime rates went up, but hey, at least we got some kickass TV!. Fact: The term 'Phi Beta Kappa' sounds fancy, but it’s really just a club for brainiacs. So, yes, normal girls can also be super smart—what a concept!.
• Headline: Vera Zorina, Dancer, Secretly Wed on Dec. 24 To George Balanchine, Director of Ballet. Impact: Their secret marriage created a ripple effect in the ballet world, leading to a series of dramatic partnerships and even more dramatic breakups. All thanks to a holiday wedding!. Fact: Did you know that secretly marrying a famous choreographer is basically the ballet equivalent of a power couple? Let's hope they danced happily ever after!.
• Headline: 'FROZEN' GASOLINE CURBS PLANE PERIL; Dry Ice and Alcohol Cool the Liquid, Thus Reducing Danger From Fire. Impact: This innovation led to a miraculous reduction in mid-air fire incidents, which in turn made flying slightly less terrifying—unless you were an air marshal trying to enforce calm on a flight full of anxious passengers!. Fact: If you think 'frozen gasoline' sounds like a bad sci-fi movie, you're not wrong! Welcome to the future of flight safety, where your fuel might just need a parka..