JULY 14, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: Colombia's Fiscal Budget of 1941. Impact: If only the Colombian budget had been just a tad higher, perhaps the butterfly effect would have led to an alternate reality where coffee was declared the official currency, and baristas ruled the world.. Fact: Did you know that in 1942, $76,040,000 could buy you an impressive amount of coffee? Or, you know, just a couple of tanks for a world war..
• Headline: Luncheon for Royal Guests in Southampton. Impact: This lavish luncheon may have sparked the first-ever 'celebrity chef' movement, leading to the modern phenomenon of social media influencers cooking kale while wearing cashmere.. Fact: Let's be real, the only thing that has changed from 1942 to now is the price of avocado toast. Fancy lunches still exist, and so do rich people..
• Headline: Safety Stickers for Mail in 1941. Impact: The push for safety stickers may have inadvertently led to the invention of bumper stickers, which now clutter our roads with witty sayings—because nothing says 'I care about safety' like a 'Honk If You Love Peace' sticker.. Fact: Spoiler alert: Those stickers were ignored just like all the warning labels on your favorite snacks!.
• Headline: GERMANS FORESEE RED ARMY'S DOOM; Think Kiev's Fall Is Imminent, Leningrad Is in Peril and Big Forces Are Trapped GERMANS FORESEE RED ARMY'S DOOM. Impact: This prediction of doom for the Red Army might have caused a ripple effect that led to the creation of more pessimistic fortune cookies—'You will face great challenges ahead'—which, let’s be honest, is every fortune ever.. Fact: The Germans might have been wrong about the Red Army, but they definitely weren't wrong about their penchant for overconfidence..
• Headline: CHARLES E. CANF1ELD; Electrical Engineer, a Vermont Graduate, Dies in Pittsfield. Impact: The untimely death of Charles E. Canfield might have led to an alternate timeline where electrical engineers became the new rock stars, with fans screaming for their autographs at conventions.. Fact: Fun fact: Canfield's death was a reminder that even the most brilliant minds are mortal. Shocking, I know..
• Headline: BOAT BLOWS UP, 3 HURT; Cabin Cruiser Then Burns and Sinks at Ocean City, N.J.. Impact: This cabin cruiser explosion may have inspired a new genre of action movies where boats are the main characters, leading to a whole universe of aquatic explosions and heroic rescues.. Fact: Three injuries? That's just a Tuesday in the world of boat ownership. Who knew water could be this dramatic?.
• Headline: AYER SEES CHURCH TIRED OF ITS FIGHT; Asserts It Not Only Appeases but Cooperates With the Forces of Evil SAYS IT RESTS ON LAURELS Fosdick, Holding 'Nothing Is Easier Than to Berate,' Urges Building From Within. Impact: Ayer’s comments could have catalyzed a revolution in religious thinking, leading to a world where churches are more like self-help centers, complete with motivational speakers and a latte bar.. Fact: The church has often been accused of cooperating with the forces of evil—usually right after the collection plate is passed around..
• Headline: ARTHUR W. BETHEL; Los Angeles Detective Killed 2 Ex-Convicts After Wild Ride. Impact: Arthur W. Bethel's deadly encounter might have kickstarted a trend where detectives become action heroes, spawning countless cop films where every detective can outgun ex-convicts while delivering one-liners.. Fact: In a twist of fate, Bethel’s story is often overshadowed by the fact that every detective movie trope we know today was likely born from such wild rides..