MAY 9, 1942

Full News Archive

• Headline: Congressional Experts Address Surtax Rates. Impact: If Stam's plan had been ignored, we might have seen a world where the IRS was a friendly place instead of a source of dread. Instead, taxpayers began buying calculators in bulk, leading to a nationwide shortage in the 90s. Who knew math could cause such chaos?. Fact: Did you know that the IRS once considered hiring clowns to lighten the mood during audits? They decided against it, fearing the clowns might just juggle your tax forms..
• Headline: General Francisco Pinto's Military Leadership. Impact: General Francisco Pinto's leadership in Brazil could be seen as the butterfly that flapped its wings, leading to a revolution that changed Brazilian politics forever. Or maybe it just caused a few people to argue over coffee preferences at military meetings.. Fact: Fun fact: Brazil's military staff meetings often included debates on the best type of coffee. Spoiler: it was always strong enough to wake the dead..
• Headline: HARVEY BALDIVIN. Impact: Harvey Baldivin's contributions, though minimal in the grand scheme, inspired a generation of 'Harveys' to believe they could also achieve greatness. Spoiler: most just became accountants.. Fact: Harvey is often mistaken for a mythical creature in accounting circles, inspiring legends of the 'Baldivin Effect' which supposedly makes numbers add up perfectly..
• Headline: MAIL TO FLEET DELAYED; But Navy Urges Families of Men in Pacific to Curb Worry. Impact: The Navy's attempt to calm families during mail delays led to a nationwide trend of sending care packages with motivational quotes. Little did they know, this would also spawn the 'Inspirational Refrigerator Magnet' industry.. Fact: Fun fact: During WWII, families started sending their loved ones mail with glitter. The Navy had to issue a memo: 'No more glitter. We're fighting a war, not crafting a scrapbook!'.
• Headline: Girls Win Visit to Circus. Impact: The circus visit for the girls meant that they would be the future audience members who would pay exorbitant prices for cotton candy and overpriced tickets, thus ensuring that circuses could afford their own private jets decades later.. Fact: Did you know that the circus once hired goats as performers? They were let go after the goats took over the show and demanded better snacks..
• Headline: Abroad; The Spring Offensive Starts in the Pacific. Impact: The Spring Offensive in the Pacific could be seen as the catalyst for every action movie plot ever created. Thanks to these events, we got 'Rambo' and a host of sequels, which ultimately led to a global obsession with muscles and explosions.. Fact: Interestingly, during the Spring Offensive, soldiers joked that they were auditioning for the next big action flick. Turns out, they were just practicing their dramatic leaps into bushes!.
• Headline: OPA ACTS TO SPEED THE FLOW OF GOODS; Clarifies the Rules to Halt Interruption of Delivery of Piece Cloths EXACT PRICE MUST BE SET Some Converters Not Using Formula Properly, War Agency Discloses OPA ACTS TO SPEED THE FLOW OF GOODS. Impact: By speeding up the flow of goods, the OPA inadvertently set off a chain reaction of consumerism that led to the rise of online shopping. If only they had known, their next meeting might have included a discussion on the merits of two-day shipping.. Fact: Did you know that the first OPA meetings were held in a basement? They just wanted to clarify the flow of goods while avoiding any actual sunlight..
• Headline: A 'Bostonian' -- From Jersey!. Impact: The decision to crown a 'Bostonian' from Jersey could have led to a regional rivalry that changed the landscape of inter-state relations. Who knew a simple beauty contest could send shockwaves through history?. Fact: Fun fact: The title of 'Most Bostonian' was almost given to a cat named 'Chowder' until officials realized it would undermine their credibility..
• Headline: Latin Firm Gives Red Cross 10% of Commissions Here. Impact: The Red Cross receiving commissions from a Latin firm set the stage for future corporations to realize that philanthropy could be profitable. Thus began the trend of 'charity' events that were more about the free appetizers than the cause.. Fact: Did you know that the Red Cross once considered a bake sale? They quickly scrapped it after realizing they couldn’t compete with grandma's secret cookie recipe..