DECEMBER 19, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: California Companies and Unions Indicted. Impact: In a surprising twist of fate, the indictments led to a secret society of lawyers forming in California, ultimately resulting in the creation of the 'California Law and Order' reality TV franchise that we all know and love today.. Fact: Did you know that unions once tried to unionize the squirrels in California? They were just too nutty for that..
• Headline: PRAVDA Critiques Slovakia's Working Hours. Impact: The diplomatic tensions sparked by this criticism caused an unforeseen chain reaction that resulted in Slovakia inventing the world's first 'working hours' calculator, which became an essential tool for procrastinators everywhere!. Fact: Fun fact: 'Pravda' means 'truth' in Russian, but in this case, it felt more like a 'truth or dare' game gone wrong..
• Headline: Air Battle Over Helgoland Bight. Impact: The loss in the skies led to a secret meeting of British airmen who, in a desperate bid for morale, invented the first air combat video game, paving the way for a future of gamers who think they could have done better.. Fact: Did you know that air battles were often decided by who had the best snacks? Apparently, Doritos were the secret weapon of choice..
• Headline: U.S.C. DEFEATS DePAUL; Triumphs, 44 to 42, in Overtime --Carnegie Tech Wins. Impact: This nail-biter of a game inspired a new sport where teams fight to the death over a single basketball. Just kidding, but it did inspire an entire generation of sports commentators to exaggerate every detail.. Fact: Did you know that overtime was originally just a ploy to sell more popcorn? True story..
• Headline: Leopold's Sub-Par Golf Against Davies Brings Him Rights to Burning Tree Links. Impact: Leopold's dubious golf skills somehow opened a portal to a dimension where golf is played with flamingos instead of clubs, leading to a strange but lucrative tourism boom.. Fact: Did you know that golf was originally invented as a method to keep people off the streets? And now look at it—it's a billion-dollar industry where people pay to hit balls into holes..
• Headline: 100 YEARS FOR DODD, MEAD; Publishing House to Celebrate Anniversary Today. Impact: The century mark for Dodd, Mead catalyzed the rise of hipster bookstores, where you could find a first edition of a book that was also a trendy coffee table piece. Who knew publishing could be so fashionable?. Fact: 100 years old and still going strong? That's more than most marriages last these days..
• Headline: LEHIGH FIVE BOWS, 50-32; Setback in Penn A.C. Game Is Worst in Three Years. Impact: The loss for the Lehigh team not only knocked their spirits down but also led to the creation of a motivational poster industry that thrives on the phrase 'You win some, you lose some.' Thanks, Lehigh!. Fact: Lehigh's mascot is a mountain hawk. Nothing says 'we're tough' quite like a bird that can barely lift a twig..
• Headline: PERSONAL COMPANY UPSET IN TAX CASE; Supreme Court Rules Chicago Man Cannot Utilize Device in Deferred Settlement FLOOD CONTROL ISSUE UP Arguments Set for Jan. 29 on Oklahoma's Effort to Halt Denison Dam Project Deferred Payments Called For Hot Springs Bath Case Decided Flood-Control Question Raised. Impact: This Supreme Court ruling set off a wave of legal innovations, ultimately leading to the modern-day 'lawyer survival kits' that include coffee, stress balls, and a lifetime supply of aspirin.. Fact: Supreme Court justices once debated whether to allow cats in the courtroom. Spoiler alert: they decided against it. Too much purring would disrupt the proceedings..
• Headline: OREGON IS VICTOR OVER TEMPLE, 46-36; Wins on Philadelphia Court-- Oklahoma Aggies Defeat La Salle Five, 33-16. Impact: Oregon's victory over Temple led to a furious debate about whether or not to include a 'best loser' trophy, which subsequently inspired hundreds of participation trophies that still plague us today.. Fact: Oregon's mascot is a duck. So, really, they were just quacking their way to victory..
• Headline: Tennessee Head Upholds Decision Not to Take Full Squad to Coast; Band Also Will Stay Behind, President of University Rules--Southern California Starts Work for Rose Bowl Game Conferred With Others Contrasts on the Field. Impact: This decision not to take the full squad to the Rose Bowl ultimately led to the invention of virtual reality sports, where teams can play without even leaving their homes—thanks, Tennessee!. Fact: The Rose Bowl is the only bowl game where you can actually smell the roses... or the regret from not sending the full squad..