SEPTEMBER 17, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: Queens Voting Error Affects 1,000. Impact: This voting error led to a surge in conspiracy theories about ballot tampering, resulting in a decade-long obsession with voter ID laws that still haunts us today. All thanks to a misplaced comma and 1,000 bewildered voters!. Fact: Did you know that in the future, people will argue about voting machines like they currently argue about pineapple on pizza? Delicious!.
• Headline: Exploring South American Perspectives. Impact: This book is what sparked the fascination with South America that led to a wave of tourists bringing back questionable souvenirs and a newfound love for alpaca sweaters. Thanks, Crow!. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'meet the South Americans' was actually shorthand for 'prepare to be confused by their dance moves'?.
• Headline: President Delegates Power for Lend-Lease Signings. Impact: By delegating power, President Roosevelt inadvertently set a precedent for future leaders to delegate their decisions to interns. Some of those interns would go on to create viral cat videos that reshape the internet. Just saying.. Fact: Did you know that signing lease-lend papers was like sending a friend to borrow your car, but instead of a car, it was a whole lot of military supplies?.
• Headline: 7 BILLION IN SHIPS; 2-Ocean Fleet Greatest Ever Built by Any Nation, Navy Says. Impact: The construction of the 2-ocean fleet not only established naval supremacy but also inspired a generation of children to play with model ships in their bathtubs, leading to countless soggy battleships and a spike in bathtub sales.. Fact: Did you know that the term '2-ocean fleet' was originally coined by children arguing over who got to use the big boat in the bathtub?.
• Headline: WESTCHESTER VOTE GOES TO REGULARS; Mrs. Livingston, However, Is Defeated in New Rochelle for Supervisor Post. Impact: The regulars winning the Westchester vote set off a chain reaction of political campaigns where candidates would go to increasingly absurd lengths to gain voter favor—think pie-eating contests and interpretive dance-offs.. Fact: Did you know that political debates used to be more about who could juggle the most eggs rather than actual policies? Ah, simpler times..
• Headline: IRAN'S SHAH OUT; ALLIES ADVANCING; Anglo-Soviet Troops March on Teheran -- Son Succeeds Abdicated Monarch. Impact: The ousting of Iran's Shah paved the way for decades of political turmoil, leading to the rise of numerous memes about 'what ifs' that still circulate in hipster coffee shops today.. Fact: Did you know that the Crown Prince later became known for his impressive collection of vintage cars? Priorities, right?.
• Headline: NLRB Opens Puerto Rico Case. Impact: The NLRB case opened a can of worms that not only led to labor reforms but also inspired a long line of lawyers who would eventually argue that coffee breaks are a human right. Welcome to the future!. Fact: Did you know that labor disputes in Puerto Rico were often resolved over cups of coffee? Because nothing says 'let's negotiate' like caffeine!.
• Headline: 5-Day Week at Abraham & Straus. Impact: The introduction of a 5-day work week at Abraham & Straus revolutionized retail labor, leading to a nationwide movement for work-life balance that resulted in more Netflix binges and a surge in yoga classes. Namaste, indeed.. Fact: Did you know that before the 5-day work week, people actually thought 7 days was a reasonable expectation? Thank goodness for retail reform!.
• Headline: BALLOTING IS LIGHT; Mayor Gets Nomination by 18,000 Majority Over Davies RATNOFF DEFEATS RIVALS O'Dwyer Ticket Unopposed in the Democratic Primaries -- Big Police Force Out LA GUARDIA WINNER IN PRIMARY RACE. Impact: LaGuardia's overwhelming victory set the stage for future political races where candidates would employ increasingly bizarre tactics to secure a win, ultimately leading to a world where endorsements from cats become a deciding factor. Yes, really.. Fact: Did you know that LaGuardia once considered running on a platform of free pizza for everyone? Sadly, the idea never took off..