AUGUST 6, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: Brooklyn's Housing Boom of 1939. Impact: The construction of 6,000 new dwellings in Brooklyn set off a housing boom that led to skyrocketing rent prices, which eventually birthed the 'Hipster Brooklyn' phenomenon. You can thank those houses for every overpriced artisanal pickle shop you encounter today. Fact: If only those 6,000 new homes came with a complimentary guide on how to deal with the hipster invasion. Spoiler alert: it involves a lot of flannel shirts and kale.
• Headline: Commodity Trends in Europe August 1939. Impact: The cooling of commodity interest in Europe led to a cascade of economic woes, which ultimately resulted in a series of coffee shop debates about the 'good old days'—you know, the ones where people actually had to rely on tangible goods instead of overpriced lattes. Fact: Isn't it comforting to know that while political disputes raged, people were still out there trying to make sense of their lives through commodity speculation? Truly the human spirit at its finest.
• Headline: SEES WIDE EFFECT IN UTILITY RULING; Treanor Comments on Decision Against Tax on Resales. Impact: Treanor's comments on utility rulings led to a series of legal battles that spiraled into a nationwide debate on consumer rights, eventually culminating in the ‘Fight for Your Right to Freeze Your Food’ movement. Who knew refrigeration could spark such a revolution?. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing more complicated than tax laws is the number of ways you can argue about whether your fridge is a necessity or a luxury item.
• Headline: RUSH TO ANTARCTIC IS LIKELY THIS YEAR; Argentina Urged to Compete With United States, Germany and Others With Claims PRESS KEEPS UP CAMPAIGN Buenos Aires Is Firm Against Use of Monroe Doctrine to Interfere With It. Impact: Argentina’s rush to claim Antarctica led to a frenzy of territorial disputes, which later inspired a world where penguins became the unofficial mascots of nationalism—who knew they could be so political?. Fact: It turns out, when nations start scrambling for icy territories, the penguins just want to know where they can get a decent fish taco. Priorities, right?.
• Headline: THIRD FIRM ENTERS 'PACKAGES' FIELD; Hirsch, Lilienthal & Co. Plan Includes Fitch Service to Aid Clients. Impact: The entry of a third firm into the 'packages' field catalyzed an explosion of services we now see today—think subscription boxes for everything from socks to snacks. You can trace the origins of your monthly avocado toast package back to this moment. Fact: Isn't it hilarious that the idea of 'packages' has evolved into people receiving random things in the mail they never knew they needed? Thank you, capitalism!.
• Headline: JAPAN IS SPEEDING KOREAN EDUCATION; But Governor Minami Asserts State Will Not Get Equal Treatment for 30 Years GREAT RESOURCES SEEN First Advances Were Made in Agriculture Under Direction of Japanese Generals Schools Are Increased Resources to Be Developed Koreans Enlist in Army. Impact: Japan's acceleration of Korean education under oppressive conditions ultimately laid the groundwork for a conflicted relationship that influenced the Korean War. The irony? Education—meant to enlighten—was used as a tool of control. Fact: Education can be a wonderful thing, unless it’s being administered with a side of imperialism. Then it’s just a recipe for conflict.
• Headline: U.S.-MEXICO NEAR RADIO PACT. Impact: The U.S.-Mexico radio pact negotiations foreshadowed a future where airwaves became a battleground for cultural exchange, leading to the creation of cheesy telenovelas and American sitcoms that would define generations. Who knew radio could be so influential?. Fact: Before streaming, there was radio drama—a time when people gathered around their radios, not to hear the news, but to listen to stories that were often juicier than their actual lives.
• Headline: 4 BROTHERS KILLED IN GARAGE BLAST; Spark Ignites Cleaning Fluid and Sets Fire to Building in Queens--Two Injured 4 BROTHERS KILLED IN GARAGE BLAST. Impact: The tragic garage blast that killed four brothers sent ripples through the community, leading to stricter safety regulations that would eventually save countless lives—proof that sometimes, the worst tragedies can lead to meaningful change. Fact: It's a grim reminder that sometimes the most mundane tasks, like cleaning a garage, can have deadly consequences. Always read the labels, folks.
• Headline: NEW U.S. PROTESTS MADE TO JAPANESE; Reports of Anti-Foreign Acts, Presumably Fostered by Japan, Continue YOCHOW DISORDER DENIED Priests Arrested in Peiping-- Washington Is Watching to Fix Real Responsibility Carried on Britons' Work Yochow Disorders Denied. Impact: The U.S. protests against Japan's actions in China marked the beginning of a prolonged tension that would eventually lead to the Pacific War, proving that anti-foreign sentiments can have serious international consequences. Talk about a diplomatic disaster!. Fact: In the grand scheme of history, anti-foreign acts have been the main ingredient in many a diplomatic stew—too bad they never come with a recipe for peace.