FEBRUARY 16, 1947

Full News Archive

• Headline: Truman Visits Ailing Mother in 1947. Impact: Truman's visit to his mother sparked a chain reaction of presidential visits, leading to future presidents scheduling regular family visits. This eventually resulted in a bizarre tradition where every time a president goes home, a national holiday is declared, leading to a proliferation of 'Take Your Family to Work Day' events, which nobody asked for.. Fact: Did you know that Truman's mother was so relieved by his visit that she later started a 'Mom's Against Stress' movement, which never gained traction, but hey, it had a catchy name!.
• Headline: Broomhall Wins National Ski Championship. Impact: Broomhall's ski victory inspired a generation of milkmen to take up professional skiing, creating an underground milkman-skiing circuit. This led to the invention of the 'Ski Milkshake,' which was just as terrible as it sounds.. Fact: Fun fact: W. Broomhall's victory lap after the race was so legendary that it became the basis for a sitcom pilot, 'Skiing with Milkmen,' which was mercifully never aired..
• Headline: Tasks Noted on February Day. Impact: The mundane notes from around the garden eventually led to a global gardening epidemic where people started planting their own vegetables, resulting in a shortage of store-bought lettuce and a spike in hipster farmers' markets.. Fact: Did you know that one of the chores noted was 'not letting your neighbor's cat use your flowerbed as a litter box'? It's a timeless struggle!.
• Headline: LABOR, BUSINESS RULE OUT STRIFE; AMA Survey Shows Both Sides Favor Solution of Differences Without Resort to Strike LABOR, BUSINESS RULE OUT STRIFE. Impact: The labor and business harmony was so shocking that it caused a ripple effect of optimism, leading to the creation of the world's first 'Happy Labor Day' where everyone had to wear smiley faces instead of work uniforms. Naturally, it fell apart within a week.. Fact: Did you know that the survey was actually conducted via smoke signals? Because who needs modern communication when you can just set off a few bonfires?.
• Headline: The Real Delinquents -- Parents or Society?; Parents are often blamed; here is a case in their defense, with the onus on society. The Real Delinquents. Impact: This article on juvenile delinquency shifted the blame onto society, leading to a nationwide debate that eventually resulted in every parent in America investing in parenting classes, which turned into a reality show called 'Who’s the Real Delinquent?'.. Fact: Fun fact: The judge in question later claimed he was just trying to be edgy and didn’t really think society was to blame. Classic judge move!.
• Headline: GI'S TO GET MORE SURPLUS; WAA Says New Plan Will Ease Buying by Veterans. Impact: The GI surplus initiative led to an unexpected surplus of everything else, causing a nationwide shortage of basic needs, which ironically turned veterans into black market entrepreneurs. Who knew they had business acumen?. Fact: Did you know the original plan was to give veterans a free lifetime supply of pizza? Yeah, that didn’t happen either..
• Headline: Documented Misery; WITH FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT. American Diplomatic Action Affecting Jews, 1840-1945. By Cyrus Adler and Aaron M. Margalith. 489 pp. New York: The American Jewish Committee. $4.. Impact: This document on diplomatic action influenced future U.S. foreign policy so much that it led to a series of convoluted treaties, including one where the U.S. agreed to host the world's first 'International Blame Game' competition.. Fact: Did you know the authors of the document were later invited to give a TED talk on 'How to Avoid Accountability'? It was a best-seller!.
• Headline: ' Planless' Economy Here Outworks Ordered Rivals; American Crises Called Those of Abundance, Against Scarcities, Shortages Abroad PLANLESS' SYSTEM OUTWORKS RIVALS. Impact: The 'planless' economy became a hot topic, leading to an entire generation of economists who wrote self-help books on how to thrive without a plan, resulting in a pop culture phenomenon of 'winging it' workshops.. Fact: Fun fact: The phrase 'winging it' was trademarked by an economist who later regretted it when it became the catchphrase of every college student ever..