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 March 31, 1945
Full News Archive
- Headline: Dr. Shapley Awarded Franklin Medal. Impact: Dr. Shapley's medal win set off a cosmic chain reaction where future astronomers felt an overwhelming need to wear shiny medals. This resulted in a 2042 phenomenon known as the 'Astrophysical Bling Crisis' where telescopes were replaced with disco balls.. Fact: Did you know that Dr. Shapley once claimed he could see the future? Spoiler alert: he was just looking through a telescope..
- Headline: Samuel Sloan: Pioneer of Book Publishing. Impact: Samuel Sloan's book publishing career inadvertently inspired an entire generation of bookworms, leading to an underground society that would later overthrow the government with the power of literature. Watch out, Shakespeare!. Fact: Sloan's books were so popular that they were used as currency in some book clubs. Who knew chapter headings could be so valuable?.
- Headline: Ittelman Critiques Curran's Surpless Case. Impact: Ittelman's fiery rebuttal actually sparked the 'Laughable Politics Movement' of 2023, where citizens began to treat politicians' statements as stand-up comedy routines. The resulting laughter made governance much more tolerable.. Fact: The phrase 'laughable explanation' has now been officially recognized as the most used term in political debates. Guess we're all comedians now!.
- Headline: MSGR. RAYMOND CURTIN; Vice Chancellor of Diocese of Buffalo for 14 Years Dies at 50. Impact: Msgr. Raymond Curtin's untimely death sparked a reevaluation of clergy health standards, leading to the 'Holy Health Initiative' which mandated priests to take yoga classes. Now, they can bless you while doing the downward dog.. Fact: Msgr. Curtin was famously known for his love of card games. Ironically, he always said he was 'playing for keeps.'.
- Headline: APRIL AUTO QUOTA IS 1,500; Only 5,000 New Cars Are Left for Civilian Sales. Impact: The auto quota fiasco led to a secret society of car enthusiasts who hoarded vehicles, leading to a black market for vintage models. Future generations will refer to this as the 'Great Car Hoarding Incident of 2023.'. Fact: Only 5,000 cars left? Good luck explaining that to someone in 2023 who's trying to buy a Tesla!.
- Headline: Named to Allied Jurist Panel. Impact: Sir M Myers's appointment to the Allied Jurist Panel caused a ripple effect where every legal decision henceforth had to be made while wearing a powdered wig, resulting in a fashion trend that baffled the legal profession for decades.. Fact: Sir M Myers once tried to introduce a new legal term: 'wiggle room.' It didn't catch on, but it did make for some amusing court cases..
- Headline: Path to Berlin Is Now Open, German Officer Tells Third; AN INFORMAL MEETING OF OUR GENERALS IN GERMANY. Impact: The announcement that the path to Berlin was open prompted a series of misunderstandings, leading to a 'Berlin Wall' of paperwork in future diplomacy. Bureaucrats everywhere rejoiced at the additional job security.. Fact: Every time someone mentions 'Berlin,' a historian somewhere rolls their eyes, thinking of the endless paperwork that followed..
- Headline: PRODUCERS DEPICT PARADOX IN MEAT; Declare Livestock and Feed Plentiful While Supplies for Consumers Are Dwindling BLAME OPA FOR SHORTAGE They Contend That Regulations Upset Price Balance and So Cause Loss on Operations. Impact: The paradox of meat supply led to a culinary revolution where chefs began serving 'air sandwiches' as a trendy alternative. This culinary choice sparked debates that could rival philosophical discussions.. Fact: The term 'air sandwich' was coined during a particularly hungry meeting where no one could agree on lunch. Now it's a gourmet delicacy!.
- Headline: DEWEY TO OPEN DRIVE; To Speak Here May 2 on Behalf of Greater New York Fund. Impact: Dewey's drive launch resulted in a bizarre trend where every governor felt the need to 'drive' for something, leading to an era of political road trips that produced more memes than policies.. Fact: Governor Dewey's speeches are now studied in comedy classes, proving that sometimes, politics and humor are just two sides of the same coin..
Wall Street Time Machine
GE
General Electric
General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1945, it would be worth $487,501 today (487.5x return)
PFE
Pfizer
Pfizer - If you invested $1,000 in 1945, it would be worth $168,691 today (168.7x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1945, it would be worth $3,433,942 today (3433.9x return)