SEPTEMBER 12, 1943

Full News Archive

• Headline: Federal Reserve Developments in New York, 1943. Impact: The Federal Reserve's decisions on this day inadvertently led to a series of economic bubbles, which eventually resulted in people using their life savings to invest in pet rocks in the 1970s. Thanks, guys!. Fact: Did you know that the Federal Reserve was initially created to prevent bank runs? Instead, it often just runs away with our sanity.
• Headline: Rowland Vance's Leatherneck Memoir. Impact: Rowland Vance's book inspired a new generation of 'leathernecks' who thought they could handle combat just by reading. Spoiler alert: they couldn't. Fact: Fun fact: 'Leatherneck' is a nickname for U.S. Marines, but in the 1940s, it was also a popular term for anyone trying to wear leather jackets without realizing they looked ridiculous.
• Headline: Reflections on the Home Front in 1943. Impact: The impressions of home front life led to a surge in popular sitcoms in the 1950s that glorified domestic life, setting unrealistic expectations for future generations. Thanks for those awful tropes!. Fact: Did you know that the 'home front' was so influential that it inspired entire genres of television? Because who wouldn’t want to base their life on a script?.
• Headline: IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. Impact: This article on duck hunting spawned an entire subculture of hunting enthusiasts who now think they are the next great philosopher kings because they can quote Nietzsche while wearing camo. Fact: Did you know that duck hunting is often seen as a rite of passage for men? Meanwhile, women are over here just trying to pass basic math.
• Headline: HUNT FOR 22 FLIERS LOST OVER GULF ENDS; Men Were in Crews of Two Fortresses Which Crashed in Air. Impact: The tragic loss of these 22 fliers led to a future where military protocol became so overbearing that you needed a 12-step program just to file a report about a missing sock. Priorities, people!. Fact: The search for lost military personnel has changed dramatically over the years, but it’s still a mystery how they were all lost in the first place—was there a 'Find My Plane' app?.
• Headline: TIME TO ROUT CRABGRASS; Vigorous Action Now Will Help Good Grasses Fight the Pest Next Summer. Impact: The campaign against crabgrass ignited a nationwide obsession with lawn care, leading to the development of the first suburban dad who felt an emotional connection with his grass. It's a slippery slope to garden gnomes. Fact: Did you know that crabgrass is often referred to as a 'weed'? Ironically, it's the only plant that seems to thrive on neglect, much like that one friend who never returns your calls.
• Headline: TWA OFFICIAL IS HEARD; Says Boston Would Be Served Better by His Line. Impact: The TWA executive’s comments about Boston led to the eventual rise of airport wars, where airlines compete not just for routes but for the title of 'Most Ridiculous Airline Perks.'. Fact: Did you know that TWA used to be an airline that people actually liked? Now, it's mostly a nostalgic memory for anyone who's ever flown with them in the 1970s.
• Headline: History From the Source; DOCUMENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY. Edited by Henry Steele Commager. Third Edition. Crofts American History Series. 648 pp. New York: F.S. Crofts & Co. $4.. Impact: The editing of documents on American history meant future generations would argue about the Founding Fathers over brunch, forever solidifying the stereotype of hipsters in plaid shirts and thick glasses. Fact: Did you know the Founding Fathers were actually quite divided on many issues? Kind of like your friends trying to decide where to eat—just as contentious, but with more wigs.
• Headline: ASTERS. Impact: The focus on asters led to a floral revolution in home décor, eventually resulting in a bizarre trend where people would name their children after plants. Yes, 'Aster' is a name now. Fact: Did you know that asters are often seen as symbols of patience and elegance? Meanwhile, your average houseplant is just trying to survive your questionable watering habits.