Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON November 2, 1950
Full News Archive
- Headline: Twin Babies Hijack Medal Ceremony. Impact: If those mischievous twins hadn't distracted President Truman, he might have forgotten to mention their heroic father, leading to a bizarre alternate timeline where the President becomes a motivational speaker for military family values instead.. Fact: These twins went on to create an underground movement of sibling rivalry that would shape family dynamics for generations. Talk about sibling goals!.
- Headline: Truman's Security Heightened in St. Louis. Impact: The heightened security measures led to an overzealous increase in Secret Service agents, resulting in a future where every public official has an entourage that rivals that of pop stars, causing budget crises nationwide.. Fact: Truman's new security detail was later immortalized in a reality TV show called 'Guarded Lives,' which was just as riveting as it sounds..
- Headline: PRESIDENT RESTING; Excitement in Front of President's Residence, During Yesterday's shooting Attempt. Impact: This assassination attempt resulted in Truman becoming a symbol of resilience, inspiring countless movies and TV shows, where the President always manages to escape danger, usually with a witty one-liner.. Fact: Truman's knack for dodging bullets led to him being the first President to be depicted as a superhero. His cape? A standard issue suit jacket..
- Headline: SENATE INQUIRY SET; O'Mahoney Orders Investigation of Attack on Truman. Impact: The Senate inquiry not only turned into a lengthy saga of bureaucratic bickering but also laid the groundwork for future Congress sessions that were more like soap operas than legislative meetings, complete with cliffhangers.. Fact: Senator O'Mahoney later starred in a documentary titled 'Investigating the Investigators,' which was ironically never investigated..
- Headline: REDS DENY ANY LINKS TO ATTACK ON TRUMAN. Impact: The denial from the Communist Party resulted in them becoming the most paranoid group in history, leading to a bizarre trend where they started blaming their shadow for every mishap, including a rise in social media conspiracy theories.. Fact: The Communist Party's PR team later suggested that they were just misunderstood introverts. Their slogan? 'Weβre not plotting, weβre just socially distancing... from you.'.
- Headline: LORD JESSEL DIES; BRITISH LEADER, 84; Figure in London Municipal Politics for Many Years Was Long a Conservative M.P. Elected to Commons in 1896. Impact: Lord Jessel's death marked the end of an era in British politics, leading to the bizarre situation where his ghost is now rumored to haunt the House of Commons, providing unsolicited advice on debates.. Fact: Jessel was known for his love of peculiar hats; it's said that wearing one of his famous hats could grant you a moment of political wisdom. Too bad they were all lost at a Conservative party event..
- Headline: G.E. HITE JR., HEADED ARNOLD CONSTABLE. Impact: Hite's leadership at Arnold Constable led to a chain reaction in the retail world, resulting in the phenomenon of 'store loyalty' that later transformed into an obsession with discount coupons and loyalty cards.. Fact: Hite was once mistaken for a famous actor, resulting in a brief but confusing career as a stand-in for romantic leads in cheesy 50s films..
Wall Street Time Machine
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1950, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)
PG
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1950, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
MO
Philip Morris
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1950, it would be worth $23,651,330 today (23651.3x return)