FEBRUARY 11, 1943

Full News Archive

• Headline: Atlantic Sinking: Survivors Share Their Tales. Impact: The sinking of the Atlantic caused a series of naval policy changes that led to the eventual creation of the Coast Guard's 'Sinking Ship Survival Guide'. Because who doesn’t need a guide for that?. Fact: Survivors often get the best stories, but they never get free drinks. Funny how that works!.
• Headline: Cuban Sugar Deal Negotiations Begin. Impact: The Cuban Sugar Deal was the first step toward Cuba becoming the go-to destination for all things rum, leading to a global cocktail renaissance. Who knew sugar could be so sweet?. Fact: This agreement paved the way for the phrase 'You can never have too much sugar' to be taken literally..
• Headline: Death of Warwick's Mother in London. Impact: Marjorie Warwick's death, while tragic, generated a wave of interest in the lives of aristocrats, leading to a resurgence of reality TV shows about the elite. Thank you, Marjorie!. Fact: Anthony Eden was at one point the British Prime Minister, which makes you wonder if family gatherings were just filled with political debates and awkward silences..
• Headline: Fats Collected Sets a Record. Impact: The record-setting salvage drive led to a newfound appreciation for junk, eventually giving rise to the 'one person's trash' mantra that fueled thrift stores everywhere.. Fact: If it weren't for these salvage drives, we might still be hoarding old Fats instead of turning them into trendy decorations..
• Headline: TALKS ON GARDEN PESTS; Dr. Cynthia Westcott Lectures -- Vegetable Films Shown. Impact: Dr. Cynthia Westcott's gardening lecture sparked a nationwide obsession with vegetables, forever changing the way Americans view salad. How did lettuce become the new kale?. Fact: Victory gardens were all the rage during the war years, but let's be honest, most of us just wanted to grow tomatoes for our sandwiches..
• Headline: Congress Makes Plans To Hear Madame Chiang. Impact: Madame Chiang's talks led to an unexpected surge in the popularity of Chinese cuisine in America, eventually giving birth to the ubiquitous takeout menu. Thanks for the dumplings!. Fact: This was around the time when people started realizing that 'chop suey' isn’t actually a dish in China. Surprise!.
• Headline: OLD TUBES SAVE MUCH TIN; U.S. Agency Cites Aid to War in Reclaiming the Metal. Impact: The reclaiming of tin from old tubes not only helped the war effort but also inspired a generation of DIY enthusiasts who began hoarding everything that might be useful someday.. Fact: If only people had known that those old tin tubes would one day be the centerpiece of a hipster art installation!.
• Headline: ALEX L. SCHLOSSER; Author, 54, Once Assistant City Editor of The World. Impact: Alex L. Schlosser's career as a city editor led to the rise of sensationalist journalism, paving the way for clickbait headlines that we all love to hate today.. Fact: Being an assistant city editor sounds glamorous until you realize you're just the person who fixes everyone else's typos..
• Headline: Democrats Ask New State Tax Cut Of $11,500,000 to Ease War Cost; DEMOCRATS ASK A STATE TAX CUT. Impact: The Democrats' call for a tax cut during wartime led to years of political debates over budget appropriations, resulting in politicians becoming experts at dodging questions.. Fact: Tax cuts in a war? Sounds like a great way to fund a new reality show called 'Budget Battles: The Politician's Edition'!.