Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON April 7, 1944
Full News Archive
- Headline: Dewey Signs Historic Idlewild Project Bill. Impact: The signing of this bill led to a massive influx of travelers at Idlewild Airport, which later became JFK. This ultimately resulted in the creation of the world's most complex security linesβthank you, Dewey!. Fact: Idlewild Airport was renamed JFK in 1963, proving that even airports can have identity crises..
- Headline: Sailors Arrested for Car Theft. Impact: These sailors, upon their arrest, unknowingly sparked a nationwide debate on the need for better vetting of naval personnel, leading to the invention of a new Olympic sport: 'Car Theft Underwater.'. Fact: The Russian Embassy's cars have been the subject of many thefts, but none quite as audacious as a heist involving sailorsβtalk about a plot twist!.
- Headline: Charles C. Chapman: Citrus Pioneer. Impact: Charles C. Chapmanβs contributions to citrus growing not only influenced California's agriculture but also sparked a lifelong rivalry among orange juice brands, culminating in the ongoing battle of 'not from concentrate' vs. 'from concentrate.'. Fact: Chapman College isnβt just about citrus; it also produces some of the finest future citrus farmers who probably don't even like oranges..
- Headline: REN. LEVI g. ACHI. Impact: Levi G. Achi's renown in the political sphere was so illustrious that it led to a series of unfortunate events where every politician after him thought they could also be a 'renowned' figure but ended up as footnotes in history.. Fact: Achi's name may not ring a bell, but donβt worryβhis legacy is just as memorable as that forgotten snack you left in your car..
- Headline: SAYS AMERICA FIRST SUPPORTED M'ARTHUR; Zimmerman Holds It Did Not Defeat Willkie in Wisconsin. Impact: Zimmerman's statement about America First not defeating Willkie birthed a myriad of conspiracy theories, leading to the emergence of the most bizarre political memes in history, proving that politics is just a game of whispering 'what if.'. Fact: America First sounds great until you realize itβs just an excuse for a bunch of politicians to avoid global responsibilities..
- Headline: INVASION IS NEAR, GEN. HUNTER SAYS; Allies Achieving Mastery of Skies Over Europe Preparatory to It, He Tells Engineers. Impact: General Hunter's declaration about an imminent invasion inspired countless Hollywood movies, leading to the rise of war films that made action heroes out of regular folksβbecause who needs real-life heroics when you can just blow stuff up on screen?. Fact: The Allies did achieve air supremacy, which is just a fancy way of saying they were really good at playing aerial tag..
- Headline: CAA Designs Light Plane That Costs $700 And Can Be Built by High School Boys. Impact: This design for a light plane became the blueprint for countless high school projects that ended up as glorified paper airplanes, showcasing that innovation can sometimes end in utter failure.. Fact: If high school boys can build planes, why canβt they also clean their rooms? The world may never know..
- Headline: Kohn Loses in Court of Appeals. Impact: Kohn's defeat in the Court of Appeals didn't just seal his fate; it also inspired a generation of aspiring lawyers to write their own legal dramas, hoping to avoid the fate of 'the guy who lost with a decoy.'. Fact: Using decoys in detective work might sound clever until you realize itβs just a fancy term for getting caught being lazy..
- Headline: MI$$. ROBEO'lqEtLL, GRE/TOR OF KE/P1E; Artist, Novelist, Poet Diem ,Had Used. Dolls to Decorate j Her Magazine Verses I. Impact: Rose O'Neill's unique method of using dolls in her art led to an unexpected rise in doll-related merchandise, giving birth to an entire βcreepy dollβ subculture that still haunts us today.. Fact: O'Neill proved that if you canβt write poetry, just throw some dolls into the mix and call it artβbecause why not?.
Wall Street Time Machine
CVX
Chevron
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1944, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)
GE
General Electric
General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1944, it would be worth $487,500 today (487.5x return)
PFE
Pfizer
Pfizer - If you invested $1,000 in 1944, it would be worth $168,691 today (168.7x return)