DECEMBER 21, 1946

Full News Archive

• Headline: Adding Brilliance to Costumes Event. Impact: The addition of rhinestones to costumes led to a global rhinestone shortage in the 1980s, resulting in a bizarre underground black market where glittering accessories were traded for snacks and friendship bracelets.. Fact: Did you know that rhinestones were originally made from rock crystal? Now they're just the cheap sparkle we all know and love!.
• Headline: Honoring Mrs. Neville Lawrence. Impact: Mrs. Neville Lawrence being feted sparked a series of extravagant receptions that eventually led to the invention of the 'bizarre themed party'—think disco dinosaurs and medieval sushi.. Fact: Fun fact: People have been celebrating achievements with receptions for centuries, but the cake has always been the star of the show. Sorry, Mrs. Lawrence!.
• Headline: THE SILENT INDICTMENT. Impact: The Silent Indictment became a philosophical discussion for generations, leading to a popular meme format in the 21st century where people silently judge others for their life choices.. Fact: As it turns out, silence can indeed speak volumes—especially in awkward family gatherings..
• Headline: 'WAR, PEACE' OPERA TO BE GIVEN HERE; Metropolitan Completes Deal for Prokofieff Work, Based on Novel by Tolstoy. Impact: Prokofiev's 'War and Peace' opera set the stage for future adaptations of Tolstoy's work, ultimately leading to the creation of the 'War and Peace' board game, which is just as tedious as reading the original novel.. Fact: Did you know that Tolstoy actually despised the idea of adapting his novels? Guess he wasn't into board games... or operas..
• Headline: FARLEY REPLIES TO FLYNN; Warns of Democratic Leadership Devoted to Personal Gain. Impact: Farley's warning about self-serving Democratic leadership caused a ripple effect, leading to generations of political memes that would make you weep... or laugh, depending on your coping mechanism.. Fact: Fun fact: Politics has always been about personal gain—it's like a soap opera, but with more scandals and fewer cliffhangers..
• Headline: Topics of The Times; Numbers Fly Thick. Impact: The topic of arithmetic in U.S. life eventually led to the creation of math-themed reality shows, where contestants compete to solve the world's most mundane problems in the most dramatic way possible.. Fact: Math: making people cry since ancient times, and yet somehow still not as entertaining as watching paint dry..
• Headline: ATOM BOARD VOTES U.S. PLAN BUT SEEKS TO RECONCILE VETO; THE RUSSIAN DELEGATE ADDRESSING THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. Impact: The Atomic Energy Commission's deliberations surrounding the U.S. plan ignited a space race that ultimately resulted in humanity's obsession with burning marshmallows on spacecraft. Thank you, nuclear energy.. Fact: Did you know the first nuclear reactor was built in 1942? But let's be real, it took decades for anyone to figure out how to make it fun..
• Headline: 1,000 Feared Dead in Japan As Quake, Tidal Wave Strike; Water, Rising Seven Feet, Inundates Cities on Shikoku, Wiping Out Hundreds of Homes --Honshu Is Also Heavily Damaged. Impact: The devastating quake and tidal wave in Japan led to improvements in disaster preparedness worldwide, but also a bizarre trend of people buying up all the rubber ducks for their emergency kits. Because priorities.. Fact: Tragedy often leads to innovation, but in this case, the rubber duck industry boomed. Quack!.