Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON January 7, 1942
Full News Archive
- Headline: Record Cold Hits New York City. Impact: The cityβs sudden freeze caused thousands to miss their trains, leading to a rise in coffee shop patrons. This inadvertently sparked a coffee craze that would later lead to the invention of the espresso machine, which is now considered a staple of hipster culture.. Fact: It's said that the only thing colder than that subway was the reception youβd get if you dared to complain about the delays..
- Headline: Elected to Sun Life Board. Impact: This election resulted in an unexpected chain of insurance policies that covered everything from alien abductions to zombie apocalypses, leading to a boom in the insurance industryβs creativity.. Fact: Meanwhile, the average person still believes their biggest life risk is stepping on a LEGO..
- Headline: HERBERT A. WAT.T.LCE. Impact: Herbertβs name misspelling led to a series of unfortunate events where every official document became a source of confusion, resulting in a national call for better spelling education that still echoes today.. Fact: In the future, children will be taught that 'Wat.T.L.C.E' is not only a name but also a warning to always double-check your spelling..
- Headline: Second Fire on du Pont Estate. Impact: The repeated fires led to stricter safety regulations, which would later inspire fire safety campaigns that inadvertently caused a boom in the 'firefighter chic' fashion trend.. Fact: It turns out that the du Pont estate is not just famous for its products, but also for its sizzling hot real estate value..
- Headline: Congress Moves Promptly To Consider War Measures; CONGRESS AT ONCE STARTS WAR BILLS. Impact: This prompt action by Congress led to an era of political theater where every debate was viewed like a reality show, ultimately leading to the rise of political influencers in the 21st century.. Fact: Yes, because nothing screams 'efficiency' quite like Congress jumping on a war bill faster than they can agree on a lunch menu..
- Headline: FINLAY INSTITUTE ORGANIZED IN CUBA; Basil O'Connor Is President -Batista Honors 7 Americans. Impact: The establishment of this institute inadvertently led to the rise of tropical research centers, which eventually became hotbeds for conspiracy theories about the origins of piΓ±a coladas.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Finlay' is actually Cuban for 'Letβs create a new way to avoid actual work while looking scholarly.'.
- Headline: Bill Sets Tire Theft Penalty. Impact: This bill set off a chain reaction of increased penalties for mundane crimes, leading to a dramatically increased interest in stealing tires β because if youβre going to prison, you might as well drive there in style.. Fact: Who knew tire theft could be so profitable? At this rate, criminals will need their own tire manufacturers..
Wall Street Time Machine
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1942, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)
CVX
Chevron
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1942, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)