JULY 14, 1945

Full News Archive

• Headline: WPB Regional Chiefs Conference in 1945. Impact: The WPB meeting set the stage for countless bureaucratic meetings in the future, where decisions would be made by people who have never been in a real room together.. Fact: Meetings: where minutes are kept and hours are lost. Enjoy!.
• Headline: Vigilantes Seize Homes Amid Housing Crisis. Impact: The vigilante seizure of apartments led to a humorous trend of 'squatters' becoming the preferred alternative housing solution in London, paving the way for reality TV shows about modern-day squatters in the 21st century.. Fact: Vigilante action: it's like being a superhero, but without the leotard and decent health benefits..
• Headline: WESTERN ROADS AIDED; WMC Gives Them No. 1. Priority to Recruit 18,500. Impact: The WMC's decision to prioritize Western roads for troop movements inadvertently led to the rise of the 'Road Trip' as a cultural phenomenon, making it easier for people to get lost in the middle of nowhere.. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing more prioritized than troop movements? Your kid's soccer game, apparently..
• Headline: C. AUSTIN BUCK, 78, STEEL EXECUTIVE; Vice President of Bethlehem Co., 1913-42, Dies--Joined Predecessor Firm in '87 Once General Superintendent Served on War Committee. Impact: C. Austin Buck's death marked the end of an era in the steel industry, leading to a series of animated debates over who would take his place—much like 'The Office' but with more steel and less humor.. Fact: At 78, C. Austin Buck had seen more steel than most people see in a lifetime. You could say he was 'iron-willed'..
• Headline: PLANS $10,000,000 ISSUE; Western Pacific Railroad Seeks to Reduce Interest Payments. Impact: The Western Pacific Railroad's bond issue plans led to a series of financial strategies that would confuse investors for decades, ultimately resulting in the 'what was I thinking?' moment many call retirement.. Fact: Bond issues: because who doesn't want to invest in something that sounds like an action movie but is actually just a fancy way to say 'we need money'?.
• Headline: Warns Cotton Machine Must Replace Hand Labor. Impact: The warning about replacing hand labor with machines in the cotton industry foreshadowed the eventual rise of cotton-picking robots, putting a whole new spin on 'working smarter, not harder.'. Fact: Cotton machines: because who needs human labor when you can have a robot do it and still complain about the quality?.
• Headline: Espionage, Trickery and Bribery Unearthed in Farben Records; U.S. Department of Justice Agents Find Data Showing Huge German Combine Exercised Control of Plants in U.S. Flies to United States With Data Price-War Threats Used. Impact: The discovery of espionage and trickery in the Farben records led to tighter regulations on corporate practices, ultimately resulting in the creation of 'Corporate Espionage: The Game'—a board game that nobody plays.. Fact: Espionage: the only profession where you can be a complete failure and still be considered 'good at your job.'.
• Headline: Bamberger Promotes Hellman. Impact: Bamberger's promotion of Hellman resulted in a chain of promotions that would eventually lead to the ineffectual hierarchy we see in modern workplaces today, where everyone is a manager but nobody manages anything.. Fact: Promotions: the adult version of being picked first for kickball, but with more paperwork and less fun..