APRIL 2, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: Election of Lafayette Editors. Impact: The election of Lafayette Editors sparked a chain reaction that led to the rise of modern journalism, eventually resulting in the infamous clickbait headlines we endure today. All because someone thought it would be a good idea to elect editors instead of just letting them fight it out in the street.. Fact: The first editor elected in Lafayette later tried to run for mayor on a platform of 'No More Puns'. Spoiler alert: he lost..
• Headline: Italian Skipper Reports Sabotage Order. Impact: This Italian skipper’s sabotage order might seem trivial, but it set off a series of events that inspired countless spy movies where boats engage in espionage while also delivering pizza. Thank you, Capt Tomicich!. Fact: The phrase 'sabotage' supposedly comes from a bunch of French workers tossing their wooden shoes into machinery. Apparently, they were very invested in their footwear..
• Headline: Phillips & Shedd Renamed. Impact: The renaming of Phillips & Shedd led to a naming convention revolution—sparking a global trend of companies creating bizarre and unpronounceable names just to stand out. You can thank them for the confusion at your local coffee shop.. Fact: The original name for Phillips & Shedd was 'Company of Things,' but they realized that was just too on the nose..
• Headline: Kills Ban on Liquor Price Copy. Impact: Hollowell's bill passed like a hot knife through butter, ensuring that liquor prices remained stable. This decision led to a dramatic increase in the number of people trying to figure out how to pay for their cocktails without using their credit cards.. Fact: The ban on price copying was so intense that some retailers started using interpretive dance to convey their pricing strategies. Not surprisingly, it didn’t catch on..
• Headline: SAYS ROOSEVELT BARS CENSORSHIP; Mellett Informs Senate Group Only Military News Would Be Guarded in War DEFENDS REPORTS AGENCY Members at Hearing Express Fear It Might Be Used to Curb Press or Radio. Impact: Roosevelt's stance on censorship ushered in an era of media that was more trustworthy than your average conspiracy theorist. However, it also led to a plethora of sarcastic memes about military news that would eventually break the internet.. Fact: L. Mellett’s warnings were so effective that they inspired the slogan: 'Only the military can keep a secret.' Too bad that didn’t hold true for everything else..
• Headline: COAL ACCORD NEAR; DISORDER FLARES; Steelman Expects Peace in 48 Hours -- Mine Guard Is Killed in Kentucky COAL ACCORD NEAR; DISORDER FLARES. Impact: The coal accord nearing peace was like trying to find the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle in a coal mine—possible but incredibly messy. This event helped to fuel the notion that peace could be negotiated over a game of poker.. Fact: The mine guard killed in Kentucky was later found to have a secret career as a stand-up comedian. His best joke? 'Why did the miner break up with his girlfriend? She took him for granite!'.
• Headline: BOOKINGS ARE SMALL AT LEATHER SHOWING; Attendance Heavy, but Tanners Decline Far Forward Orders. Impact: The leather show’s poor bookings foretold the rise of vegan leather—a trend that would confuse the fashion industry for decades. Who knew that tanners could be so picky about orders?. Fact: Historically, tanners had to fight for their orders, often leading to epic battles that involved an alarming amount of animal puns..
• Headline: 8-Vote Majority Defeats Sunday Shows in Britain. Impact: The ban on Sunday shows in Britain was the last straw for entertainment lovers, leading to an underground network of secret theatrical performances that would inspire future generations to rebel against boredom.. Fact: The final vote to ban Sunday shows came down to one guy who just really wanted to spend Sundays watching reruns of 'The Office.'.