FEBRUARY 18, 1944

Full News Archive

• Headline: Historic Victory for Negro Ship Workers. Impact: This court decision not only allowed Negro ship workers to keep their jobs, but it also inspired a nationwide movement for civil rights that led to the phrase 'I can't believe it's not union' becoming a popular slogan during labor negotiations.. Fact: The union's original name was 'The Union of Really Important People Who Think They’re Better Than Everyone Else.'.
• Headline: Major Naval Victory in Empress Augusta Bay. Impact: The destruction of these Japanese ships was like a maritime game of whack-a-mole, causing the Japanese to rethink their naval strategies. This eventually led to the invention of the world's first underwater 'do not disturb' sign.. Fact: 51 enemy planes were wrecked, but they still insisted they were just 'parked.'.
• Headline: Dr. Harry S. Berman's Contributions. Impact: Dr. Berman's involvement with the Hoover Food Commission meant that his ideas on food distribution echoed through time, eventually leading to the modern-day debate on whether pineapple belongs on pizza.. Fact: He once tried to create a food pyramid, but it ended up looking more like a food slice..
• Headline: NEW LABOR RULING IMPOSED IN CANADA; Collective Bargaining Is Made Compulsory During War. Impact: The ruling on collective bargaining during wartime changed the labor landscape, proving that even during chaos, people can still argue about wages. This set the stage for future 'debates' over coffee breaks that last longer than actual work.. Fact: Parliament's meetings were often interrupted by spontaneous sing-alongs of 'We Shall Overcome' - such productivity!.
• Headline: INSIST ROOSEVELT WILL VETO TAX BILL; Observers Say He Will Reject Measure as Inadequate on Advice of Vinson, Byrnes. Impact: Roosevelt's expected veto on the tax bill became a classic case of 'the more things change, the more they stay the same,' paving the way for generations of politicians to dodge tough decisions like they were playing a game of political dodgeball.. Fact: Sen Vandenberg was so worried about small businesses that he started a petition to rename 'tax day' to 'business appreciation day.'.
• Headline: COL-F W. HINRICHSI LIEUT.; California Tech Professor ofI Mschaa n. Impact: Lieutenant Hinrichs' contributions to California tech may have inadvertently led to the creation of the first tech support line, where people could call in to complain about their 'gold-plated' typewriters.. Fact: His lectures were known for having more technical jargon than a software manual written in ancient Greek..
• Headline: Books of the Times. Impact: The book review section sparked a literary revolution that resulted in the rise of 'unread books' as a status symbol, leading to every hipster cafe having a shelf of dusty volumes no one ever touched.. Fact: One of the books reviewed was actually a collection of post-it notes; the author claimed it was 'minimalist literature.'.
• Headline: AD[RAL GEORG JAKTCfI. Impact: Admiral Jaktchin's legacy would influence future naval tactics, leading to the invention of the 'surprise attack while wearing sunglasses' maneuver, which is still debated in military circles today.. Fact: He once tried to rename his ship 'The Unsinkable' but was vetoed after a rather embarrassing incident involving a large iceberg..