NOVEMBER 18, 1942

Full News Archive

• Headline: Two New Directors Elected at NY Fed. Impact: The election of W.W. Clute Jr. and C.C. Conway as directors at the NY Fed Reserve led to a series of questionable decisions in monetary policy that ultimately resulted in a 21st-century meme about 'the mysterious workings of the economy.' Who knew that two guys in suits could inadvertently spark a global trend in confusing financial jargon?. Fact: Did you know that the Federal Reserve is often compared to a secret society? Because who really understands what they do, anyway?.
• Headline: Roosevelt on Darlan Agreement: Temporary Measure. Impact: Roosevelt's characterization of the Darlan deal as a 'temporary expedient' set off a chain reaction of political maneuvering that led to an infinite loop of backroom deals, eventually resulting in modern-day politicians being experts at saying 'Trust me' while doing the exact opposite. Fact: Fun fact: 'temporary expedient' is just a fancy way of saying 'we're winging it.'.
• Headline: Shipyard Refunds Confirmed by House Inquiry. Impact: The refund from the shipyard inquiry not only restored some funds but also inspired a generation of accountants to become overly zealous in their pursuit of financial justice, ultimately leading to the birth of the 'audit' as a form of torture. Fact: Did you know that 'audit' and 'party' are rarely used in the same sentence? Unless you’re talking about an accountant's sad attempt at socializing.
• Headline: Japan Has Lost 321 Ships Against Our 86; Ratio of Sunken Cruisers Is Almost 5 to 1. Impact: Japan's loss of ships compared to the U.S. sparked a naval rivalry that drove technological advancements in warfare, ultimately leading to the creation of those cool submarines you see in movies, while also inspiring countless bad action flicks. Fact: Did you know that the ratio of sunken ships is often used to explain how not to run a navy? Just ask Japan!.
• Headline: WOMAN PUSHES LEVER, TAKES A SOLO FLIGHT; Illinois Novice Lands Safely on Second Try in 15 Minutes. Impact: Mrs. B A Freed’s solo flight might seem trivial, but it ignited a wave of women daring to take to the skies, leading to eventual roles in aviation and inspiring a generation of female pilots, while also giving birth to countless 'You Go, Girl!' moments. Fact: Did you know that flying a plane is 90% confidence and 10% skill? Just ask any pilot who has ever taken off in an old Cessna!.
• Headline: Westchester Doctors Elect. Impact: The election of new officers in the Westchester County Medical Society led to the establishment of stricter medical ethics guidelines, which eventually resulted in the modern-day practice of doctors charging $200 for a five-minute consultation and calling it 'specialized care.'. Fact: Did you know that the average doctor spends more time filling out paperwork than actually diagnosing patients? Welcome to the future of healthcare!.
• Headline: New Survey of '42 Vote; Results in Many Low-Income Districts Fail to Support Wallace's Analysis. Impact: The survey of the 1942 vote that contradicted Wallace's analysis led to a political backlash that created more divide among voters, inspiring future generations to ignore surveys altogether in favor of social media polls, which are way more accurate, right?. Fact: Did you know that political surveys are often about as reliable as your friend's opinion on the best pizza place? Spoiler alert: Everyone has a different answer!.
• Headline: STOPS DEFERRING OF U.S. EMPLOYES; Roosevelt Directs Agencies to End Delays to Drafted Men and Ask for No More SKILLED MEN EXCEPTED Those Who Are Irreplaceable by Women or Older Men Would Get Individual Hearing. Impact: Roosevelt's order to end deferments for drafted men set off a ripple effect that led to a workforce shortage at home, ultimately resulting in the invention of the term 'work-life balance'—which is just code for 'please, can I have time off to binge-watch my favorite show?'. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'work-life balance' was actually invented by someone who never had a job? Truly a genius move!.
• Headline: GEORGE RECEPTIVE TO TAX DEFERMENT; On Eve of Joint Meeting on Revenue Issue He Sees No Objection to Proposal PAYING AS EARNED IS AIM Levy on 1942 Income Would Be Put Off to End of War, While 1943 Would Be Current. Impact: Sen George's support for tax deferments during the war made tax evasion a popular pastime, leading to future generations always looking for creative ways to avoid paying taxes, including some rather dubious schemes that would make a pirate blush. Fact: Did you know that tax day is the only day of the year when people actively look for loopholes as if they're treasure maps? Arrr!.
• Headline: LAKE WILL YIELD VAST IRON DEPOSIT; Cyrus S. Eaton Believes Steep Rock on Ontario Will Answer War Production Problem TEST OF ORE SUCCESSFUL Mining of 1,000,000 Tons in 1944 and 2,000,000 in 1945 Is Predicted. Impact: Cyrus S. Eaton’s prediction about iron deposits at Steep Rock Lake set off a mining frenzy that contributed to post-war industrialization, ultimately leading to today's 'Iron Man' suit as the pinnacle of human engineering triumph—or just really expensive cosplay. Fact: Did you know that real-life superheroes are often just people with a lot of money and questionable fashion choices? Iron Man, I'm looking at you!.