MAY 17, 1943

Full News Archive

• Headline: WNYC's Financial Impact on New York City. Impact: If WNYC hadn't saved the city a few bucks, we might have ended up with a reality show called 'Survivor: Municipal Budget Cuts' - and nobody wants to see the mayor try to outwit the local pigeons.. Fact: WNYC is actually one of the oldest radio stations in the U.S., proving that some things should stick around longer than your last relationship..
• Headline: Jubilee Mass Celebrates Canon Law Milestone. Impact: The jubilation surrounding the Canon Law Code led to a surge in lawyer jokes. Little did they know, the ripple effect would inspire a whole new genre of comedy.. Fact: Canon Law is essentially the original 'law and order' - but with more incense and fewer car chases..
• Headline: Search for Missing Yonkers Teenager. Impact: The disappearance of the Yonkers girl sparked countless 'missing persons' campaigns, unknowingly leading to the invention of the 'Find My Phone' app—a true modern-day triumph.. Fact: The actual number of people who have gone missing is staggering; it’s almost like they were auditioning for a reality show..
• Headline: RATION BOOK CARDS OUT ON THURSDAY; 4,000,000 Applications for New Food Coupons in State to Be Handled by Postoffice. Impact: The ration book cards were so effective that they almost sparked a black market for coupon trading, leading to a future of extreme couponing that would make even the most frugal weep with joy.. Fact: 4 million applications for food coupons? At least someone's getting rich off of the 'hunger games' of the 1940s..
• Headline: War Worker Is Voted Tanks' Miss Armorette. Impact: Voting a war worker as 'Miss Armorette' inadvertently started a trend of beauty contests for inanimate objects, eventually leading to the bizarre 'Miss Conch Shell' pageant.. Fact: Being voted as 'Miss' anything usually comes with a tiara, but in this case, it probably came with grease stains and a helmet..
• Headline: SUBMARINE'S TOUR A HIT; War Bond Sales in Area in 7 Days Aggregated $1,180,289. Impact: The submarine tour's success ignited a craze for military-themed attractions, paving the way for Disneyland's future 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride - because nothing says fun like a sunken ship!. Fact: War bond sales were like the original Kickstarter, but with less hipster coffee and more tanks..
• Headline: BRITISH BELLS HAIL VICTORY IN TUNISIA; Celebration at Its Peak When von Arnim, Axis Commander, Arrives as a Prisoner. Impact: The British celebration in Tunisia laid the groundwork for a series of over-the-top victory parties in future wars, eventually resulting in a global competition for the most ridiculous victory dance.. Fact: Celebrating victory in war is a time-honored tradition - just ask anyone who's ever thrown a party after finishing a long project..
• Headline: MME. WEI IS HONORED; Wife of Chinese Envoy Initiated Into Legal Sorority. Impact: Honoring Mme. Wei in a legal sorority paved the way for future diplomatic spouses to crash parties, inadvertently leading to the popularization of the phrase 'networking event'.. Fact: Legal sororities are basically the adult version of a book club, but with more legal jargon and fewer snacks..
• Headline: 'Date Booths' for Girls' Halls. Impact: The introduction of 'date booths' in girls' halls might have accidentally started the speed-dating phenomenon, causing future generations to wonder how they ever survived without Tinder.. Fact: Imagine if dating booths had become a thing – we might have skipped straight to 'The Bachelor' long before reality TV existed..