DECEMBER 15, 1946

Full News Archive

• Headline: Iowa's First Underground Electric Well. Impact: When that electric well was found in Iowa, it sparked an entire generation of conspiracy theorists who believed that buried wires were the key to contacting extraterrestrial life. Spoiler alert: they weren't.. Fact: Did you know that electric wells are just like regular wells, but instead of water, they bring you a shocking surprise? Literally..
• Headline: Truman Solidifies Democratic Leadership. Impact: Truman's grip on party leadership led to the invention of the term 'political limbo'—how low can you go while trying to keep your party from falling apart? Spoiler: pretty low.. Fact: Did you know that Truman once said, 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the White House'? No wonder he was so focused on keeping a grip on things!.
• Headline: Capetown's Response to Race Criticism. Impact: The reaction to race criticism in Cape Town led to a global movement that eventually had people questioning if their couches were as comfortable as they thought—because social justice suddenly became a hot topic.. Fact: Did you know that the U.N. once thought about sending out 'Get Well Soon' cards to countries struggling with race issues? They decided it was a bit too passive..
• Headline: THE DANCE: MAJORITY; Young Artists of Ability Coming of Age With Honors in Spite of Obstacles. Impact: The emergence of young artists led to the inevitable rise of art critics who would later argue about the meaning of a blank canvas for hours—because clearly, nothing says talent like confusion.. Fact: Did you know that many young artists initially thought an art degree was just a fancy way of saying 'I can’t draw a straight line?'.
• Headline: 'Coming, Senator!'; Congressional page-boys earn $196 a month, but they don't get out of going to school.. Impact: The congressional page-boy salary debate inevitably led to a new generation of kids who thought they could earn a living just by running errands and getting coffee for politicians. Spoiler: it didn’t turn out great.. Fact: Did you know that being a congressional page-boy is like being a glorified intern, but with less coffee and more political drama?.
• Headline: 1 DEAD, 1 HURT IN FIRE; Blaze, Starting as Fuel Oil Is Delivered, Is Fatal to Man. Impact: The tragic fire reminded fire departments everywhere to double-check their oil delivery protocols, leading to an entire industry of safety regulations and the birth of the 'Safety Dance.'. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'fire in the basement' was once a popular party theme? Just kidding, it never was..
• Headline: 'Jato' Will Speed Big Cargo Planes. Impact: The introduction of JATO on cargo planes led to an unexpected surge in aviation accidents—because who wouldn't want to see how fast a plane can go when strapped with rocket boosters?. Fact: Did you know that JATO stands for 'Jet-Assisted Take Off'? It sounds cool until you realize it’s just a fancy way of saying 'let’s make it faster and more dangerous.'.
• Headline: LIQUOR CURB IRKS SWEDES; Anti-Buying Strike and Burning of Ration Books Planned. Impact: The liquor curb protests in Sweden led to a worldwide movement advocating for the right to drink responsibly, which later inspired countless memes about drinking and thinking.. Fact: Did you know that anti-buying strikes are just like regular strikes, except with more drunken debate and fewer picket signs?.
• Headline: Contest Winner Is Sought. Impact: The search for the essay contest winner turned into a national obsession, leading to the rise of ghostwriters who now charge exorbitant fees for their 'insightful' wisdom.. Fact: Did you know that most contest winners are just people who know how to Google really well? It's true!.
• Headline: Police Parlance. Impact: The introduction of 'police parlance' in NYC led to an explosion of cop shows and movies that made 'bad cop' a popular career choice in Hollywood—because who doesn’t love a good antihero?. Fact: Did you know that police jargon sounds cool until you realize it's just a sophisticated way of saying 'I have a lot of paperwork to do'?.