NOVEMBER 12, 1942

Full News Archive

• Headline: Guadalcanal Gains and Air Support. Impact: The victories on Guadalcanal led to a massive boost in morale, possibly inspiring future generations to take up air guitar instead of actual guitars. You know, because who needs actual talent when you can pretend to rock out?. Fact: The Grumman Wildcats were named after a cat that could actually fly. Just kidding, but wouldn’t that be a sight? 'Look, it's a flying cat!'.
• Headline: Audubon's 'Birds of America' Fetches $3,900. Impact: The sale of Audubon's 'Birds of America' for $3,900 set off a frenzy of rare book collecting, leading to a modern-day obsession with hoarding books that no one reads. Libraries everywhere shuddered at the thought.. Fact: The book's illustrations are so detailed that they could probably convince a bird to pose for its portrait. Quite the feather in the cap for Audubon!.
• Headline: Florida Peonage Indictment of 1942. Impact: The peonage indictment in Florida made everyone rethink the concept of 'working for a living' – leading to the creation of the phrase, 'I work hard, so I can afford my Netflix subscription.'. Fact: Peonage is basically a fancy way of saying 'you owe me your life for a few bucks.' Sounds like college tuition, doesn't it?.
• Headline: Nicaragua Breaks With Vichy. Impact: Nicaragua breaking ties with Vichy France was like a dramatic breakup on a reality show – it caused ripples in the diplomatic world and forced everyone to consider their 'friend group' more carefully.. Fact: The term 'Vichy' actually refers to a city in France, not a new trendy coffee drink. Sorry, hipsters!.
• Headline: Warns on Post-War Problems. Impact: H.D. Pomeroy’s warnings about post-war problems foreshadowed decades of political debates, which still continue today, proving that some problems really do love to hang around like that one friend who never takes the hint.. Fact: Post-war democracy was a hot topic back then, much like avocado toast is today. Everyone loves it, but not everyone can afford it..
• Headline: FIGHTING MEN WIN CHEERS OF WOMEN; R.C.A.F. Flier and U.S. Navy Veteran Tell Experiences to Overseas Service League. Impact: The stories shared by the fighting men not only won the cheers of women but also initiated the first-ever 'war stories' competition – which eventually devolved into 'who can tell the biggest fish story.'. Fact: The Overseas Service League sounds like a secret club, but really it was just a bunch of guys trying to impress women with tales of bravery and heroism. Classic!.
• Headline: ARMISTICE DAY FETES SUBDUED IN JERSEY; Parades Held, but War Plants and Draft Boards Are Busy. Impact: Armistice Day fetes being subdued indicated that even celebrations could be interrupted by the realities of war, leading to the eternal struggle of balancing work and play – oh, the irony!. Fact: Parades are meant to be festive, but nothing says 'let's celebrate' like a busy draft board. Talk about a party pooper!.
• Headline: SOLVAY PLANT GETS ARMY-NAVY 'E' FLAG; 24 More Production Centers Are Named for Honor. Impact: The Solvay Plant receiving the Army-Navy 'E' flag became the gold standard for production centers everywhere, leading to a competition that made Olympic athletes look lazy.. Fact: The 'E' flag was basically the military’s version of a participation trophy – but hey, at least they got a flag!.
• Headline: Churchill Reveals Order to 8th Army. Impact: Churchill revealing orders to the 8th Army stirred up excitement that echoed through history, eventually leading to the realization that sometimes, saying 'we're going to invade!' is more motivating than actually doing it.. Fact: Churchill's speeches were so powerful that they could probably rally a group of cats to form a marching band. Now that's a sight!.