NOVEMBER 27, 1949

Full News Archive

• Headline: U.S. Liability for Swedish Ship Damage. Impact: The U.S. being held liable for this collision sparked a chain reaction of maritime lawyers becoming the real sea captains of the future. Who knew that a ship crash could lead to a fleet of legal battles over maritime 'whoopsies'?. Fact: This incident set off a series of diplomatic debates that led to the creation of the first 'Don't Hit Our Ships' treaty. Spoiler alert: it was very popular..
• Headline: Remembering Stephen Balut Sr.. Impact: The name Stephen Balut Sr. became a legendary tale of a man who may or may not have invented the concept of 'seniority'—a term that would haunt workplaces for decades.. Fact: If you google Stephen Balut Sr. today, you might just end up in a rabbit hole of unrelated squirrel videos. Your time is valuable!.
• Headline: Kodak's Color Photography Breakthrough. Impact: The Kodak Pony 828 revolutionizing color photography led to the explosion of Instagram influencers decades later. You can thank this cute little camera for all the overly-filtered brunch photos that now clog your feed.. Fact: The 'Pony' in Kodak Pony 828 refers to the amount of patience one needs to achieve the perfect shot. Spoiler: it’s less than you think..
• Headline: BY CONTEMPORARIES; Recent Paintings by Paul Cadmus, Morris Kantor, Whitney Hoyt and Others. Impact: These artists' recent paintings sparked a resurgence in the art world, proving that even in the post-war era, people really just want to hang something on their walls that says, 'I’m cultured.'. Fact: Paul Cadmus was known for his provocative art, which definitely wouldn't make it past today’s 'content guidelines' on social media..
• Headline: Whale Fishing; AIR WHALER. By John Grierson. Illustrated. 243 pp. New York: Macdonald & Co. $4.. Impact: The Air Whaler book made people dream of whaling from the sky, leading to the eventual creation of the much-discussed but never realized 'Whale Air Force.' Talk about taking fishing to new heights!. Fact: Air Whalers were actually a thing at one point. The unfortunate part? They weren't very good at it, and whales were still very much in charge of the oceans..
• Headline: NEW ENGLAND'S RECREATION INDUSTRY. Impact: New England’s recreation industry push led to the rise of weekend warriors, who would later become the bane of every outdoor enthusiast's existence due to their questionable gear choices.. Fact: New Englanders once tried to promote the idea of 'couch recreation.' It didn’t catch on, but opinions on sports from one’s living room flourished..
• Headline: HOTELMEN ASK MORE MARSHALL PLAN FUNDS. Impact: Hotelmen asking for more Marshall Plan funds was a pivotal moment that foreshadowed the never-ending quest for government funding, leading to the creation of countless hashtags like #FundMyHotel.. Fact: If you think hotel rates are high now, just imagine what they would've been without this funding. You'd have to sell a kidney for a night in a motel!.
• Headline: HERMAN J. GAUL. Impact: Herman J. Gaul's name may not ring a bell, but he secretly inspired the 'Gauled It!' meme that would later sweep the internet, forever changing how we celebrate 'oops' moments.. Fact: Despite his profound impact, Gaul's greatest achievement was still losing a debate on whether 'Herman' or 'J.' was cooler. Spoiler: it's neither..
• Headline: OVERHAUL NEEDED IN RAIL OPERATION; Traffic Steadily Decreasing, Post-War Rises in Rates Mean Even More Losses. Impact: The call for an overhaul in rail operations initiated a wave of transportation reforms that eventually led to the invention of the express train, which is just a fancy way of saying 'we're still late, but at least we look good doing it.'. Fact: Railroads, once the pinnacle of modern transport, are now just another option for avoiding traffic. Thanks for the memories, trains!.
• Headline: Chitlins and Cheroots; A TREASURY OF SOUTHERN FOLKLORE. Stories, Ballads, Traditions, and Folkways of the People of the South. Edited with an introduction by B. A. Botkin. With a Foreword by Douglas Southall Freeman. 776 pp. New York: Crown Publishers. $4.. Impact: The publication of the Treasury of Southern Folklore preserved stories that would later become the backbone of every bad country song, ensuring that heartbreak and tractors would always have a place in music.. Fact: The book was so comprehensive that it accidentally included the blueprints for a barbecue pit, ensuring that folks in the South would always have a reason to gather and argue over the best way to cook meat..