JULY 21, 1940

Full News Archive

• Headline: Roosevelt Welcomes Luxembourg Refugees. Impact: When Roosevelt welcomed those refugees, it inadvertently led to a surge in American hospitality that would eventually result in everyone thinking they're a five-star chef. Now, we have people bringing their 'world cuisine' to potlucks, which mostly means bland pasta salads with an exotic name.. Fact: Did you know that Roosevelt was such a fan of hospitality that he probably would have welcomed a herd of cats if it meant keeping up the morale?.
• Headline: BACKS CLEAN MAGAZINES; Legion Post Supports Mayor in His Campaign. Impact: The Legion's support for clean magazines led to an unexpected resurgence of people thinking they can judge what others read. This paved the way for book clubs that end up discussing why everyone gets their news from memes.. Fact: LaGuardia’s drive against obscene magazines was like trying to put a lid on a boiling pot; you know it’s going to spill over eventually!.
• Headline: LEAVEY GETS WPA POST; Former Official Here Appointed Assistant Commissioner. Impact: Leavey's appointment to the WPA post led to a wave of appointments by people who thought they could do it better. This eventually led to the phenomenon of every person on the internet believing they're an expert on everything.. Fact: WPA stands for Works Progress Administration, but it might as well stand for 'We're Praying for Appointments' given how much people farmed out their hopes..
• Headline: RIVAL CONGRESSES IN MEXICO EXPECTED; Almazan Aide Says His Will Be Legal, but That Camacho Will Set Up Another PLOT IN YUCATAN ALLEGED General Arrested on Charge of Trying to Seize Arms for Peasant Revolt. Impact: The rivalry between the congresses in Mexico not only led to chaos but also inspired future generations to think that political drama is the best form of entertainment. Hello, reality TV!. Fact: In Yucatan, 'plot' has a dual meaning: it can refer to a political conspiracy or the plot of a telenovela, which often ends in far more drama than real life..
• Headline: Minneapolis Pastor Drowns. Impact: The tragic drowning of a Minneapolis pastor made waves in the community, leading to an uptick in aquatic safety measures. Ironically, it also inspired a new trend in 'how to avoid water' seminars.. Fact: Drowning is a serious matter, and to this day, it serves as a reminder that maybe, just maybe, swimming with rocks in your pockets is not a good idea..
• Headline: Japan Cuts Cotton Cloth Export. Impact: Japan's cut in cotton cloth exports accidentally made everyone realize they could actually wear less in the summer. Who knew that a fabric shortage could lead to the invention of shorts?. Fact: This was a classic case of 'less is more,' proving that sometimes, deprivation leads to the most innovative fashion choices..