DECEMBER 21, 1940

Full News Archive

• Headline: Teen's Bold Accusation Against Broker. Impact: The broker's alleged actions set off a chain reaction leading to stricter regulations in the insurance industry, ultimately resulting in the invention of the world's first insurance policy for emotional trauma caused by bad customer service.. Fact: In 1920, insurance policies were so basic that they didn’t even cover injuries caused by your own poor life choices. Imagine that!.
• Headline: Governess Accuses Attorney of Assault. Impact: This unfortunate event led to a boom in self-defense classes, which then spiraled into the rise of reality TV shows about 'Real Attorneys of Long Island'—the original courtroom drama.. Fact: In the 1920s, many people believed that lawyers were just like superheroes—only instead of capes, they wore suits and carried briefcases full of paperwork..
• Headline: Tunnel Clash Injures Worker Amid Union Feud. Impact: The inter-union feud escalated, inadvertently inspiring a series of poorly executed sitcoms about workplace conflict that would leave future generations questioning their taste in entertainment.. Fact: Tunnel workers have been fighting each other since the dawn of time—mostly over who gets to take the first coffee break!.
• Headline: Religious Books Recently Published. Impact: The publication of religious books sparked a frenzy of spiritual self-help literature that would ultimately lead to the rise of Instagram influencers claiming to have the ultimate connection to the divine.. Fact: Religious books have historically outsold romance novels—because nothing says 'love' like a little divine intervention!.
• Headline: BOOKS OF THE TIMES; The Color and the Black and White. Impact: The release of these publications marked the start of a literary trend that would eventually lead to the rise of the 'book club'—where people gather to discuss everything except the actual book.. Fact: The 'U.S. Camera' magazine was so influential, it could convince you that a black-and-white photo of a cat was an art masterpiece..
• Headline: GETS 10 YEARS IN SUICIDE; Longshoreman Was Convicted of Helping Woman End Life. Impact: The longshoreman's conviction led to a nationwide debate on the ethics of assisted suicide, eventually inspiring a hit TV drama series, 'Law & Order: Euthanasia Unit', which didn't exist but probably should have.. Fact: Assisted suicide has been a hot-button issue for centuries, but it’s still way less controversial than pineapple on pizza!.
• Headline: AMERICAN FAMILIES KEEP ON SHRINKING; Census Bureau, Analyzing New Figures, Puts Average for the Country at 3.8 DWELLING UNITS THE BASE These Reveal a 16.3 Increase in 10 Years as the Population Was Going Up Only 7.2. Impact: The shrinking American family led to an unexpected rise in pet ownership, as people scrambled to fill the void with furry companions, leading to the first 'Pet Psychic' conventions.. Fact: Census figures in the 1920s were so inaccurate that they once counted a family of five as a family of three—and one of them was a goldfish..
• Headline: List of Yesterday's Contributors to the Appeal for the Neediest Cases; CASE 112 Plight of a Good Samaritan. Impact: The plight of the Good Samaritan inspired a surge in charity appeals, which eventually resulted in the modern-day 'GoFundMe'—where people raise money for everything from medical bills to dream vacations.. Fact: The original Good Samaritan story was so popular that it inspired a board game—'Monopoly: Charity Edition', where you could only collect money if you gave some away first..
• Headline: PRESIDENT NAMES A FOUR-MAN BOARD FOR DEFENSE DRIVE; KNUDSEN DIRECTOR Hillman for Labor and Knox and Stimson Are the Other Members FULL POWERS DELEGATED Three Elemants of Management, Worker and Army andNavy as User Held Vital. Impact: The formation of the defense board led to an increase in government bureaucracy, which in turn inspired the creation of the world's first office coffee machines—because someone had to keep the caffeine flowing during all those meetings.. Fact: The Office of Production Management was so influential that it could convince you that a conference call was a good idea—when everyone really just wanted to be at home in pajamas..