DECEMBER 12, 1950

Full News Archive

• Headline: Business Failures Decline in 1950. Impact: As businesses started to recover, a butterfly flapped its wings in the corporate world, leading to the endless growth of 'motivational' posters in offices everywhere. If only they knew that 'Hang in there!' wasn't going to save the economy in 2023.. Fact: Spoiler alert: Many of those businesses that survived this 'ease' eventually became the conglomerates that now own your favorite coffee shop and your soul..
• Headline: Exploring Psychoanalysis through Literature. Impact: The publication of this essay sent shockwaves through the literary community, causing a worldwide increase in therapists as people sought to understand why they cried during commercials.. Fact: Stephen Crane’s works are so intense that some readers have been known to schedule therapy sessions just to cope with the existential dread..
• Headline: Comedians Transition to Television in 1950. Impact: The rise of comedy on television resulted in an explosion of sitcoms, leading to the eventual creation of reality TV. Thanks a lot, funny guys. Now we have to endure people arguing over who ate the last slice of pizza.. Fact: This was the moment when television stopped being a place for serious news and started its long, slippery slide into showing people trying to find love in a house full of strangers..
• Headline: BRITONS HONOR CHURCHILL; He Tells Portsmouth Democracy Wins Wars and Loses Peaces. Impact: Churchill’s wisdom echoed through time, leading future leaders to ponder how many times they could declare victory before realizing they’d just caused more problems. Spoiler: A lot.. Fact: Churchill's speeches were so iconic that even today, politicians quote him to make a point—usually as they ignore the lessons he taught..
• Headline: SHIPMENTS OF RAYON ROSE 5% IN NOVEMBER. Impact: The surge in rayon shipments led to an explosion in synthetic fabrics, resulting in an entire generation of questionable fashion choices—thank you, 80s and 90s.. Fact: Rayon is often referred to as 'artificial silk,' which is just a fancy way of saying, 'You can look fabulous without breaking the bank...or your dignity.'.
• Headline: CHEMICAL SOCIETY ELECTS; Dr. Edgar C. Britton is Chosen for Presidency in 1952. Impact: Dr. Britton’s presidency sparked a chain reaction in chemical research, paving the way for everything from plastic spoons to questionable diet pills. Science: always a gamble.. Fact: Being president of the Chemical Society is basically the nerdy version of being prom king—except instead of popularity, you get to decide the fate of chemical research funding..
• Headline: Priest Gets Pyongyang Post. Impact: The appointment of Rev. McCarrol was a subtle reminder that diplomacy can sometimes wear a collar, leading to unexpected conversations about faith and politics in a region where both are often at odds.. Fact: This appointment amplified the ongoing struggle for religious freedom in North Korea, a place where you might need to hide your faith like it's a secret stash of candy..
• Headline: PLEVEN NOW LIKELY TO CALL ON TRUMAN; Premier's Associates Believe He Will Visit U.S. Next Month, Obliquely Rapping De Gaulle. Impact: Pleven's visit to Truman was like throwing a diplomatic grenade into the already complicated relationship between France and the U.S., leading to endless debates over who was the most misunderstood.. Fact: This meeting was so tense that it probably could have been the plot for a political thriller, if only they had added a car chase..
• Headline: BLACKLIST BEGUN ON GOODS FOR REDS; Preliminary 'Alert' Tabulation Puts 1,500 Foreign Traders Under Special Scrutiny. Impact: The blacklist set the stage for decades of mistrust and the creation of more conspiracy theories than you can shake a stick at. Thanks to this, even your grandma's favorite knitting club became suspicious of foreign yarn.. Fact: The blacklist was a precursor to modern-day cancel culture; only instead of social media outrage, it involved actual government scrutiny and a whole lot of paper..
• Headline: U.S. Union Backs Italian Factory. Impact: The support for the Italian factory was like a tiny bolt of lightning in the labor movement, sparking a series of international unions that eventually turned into the world’s largest ‘let’s all complain together’ club.. Fact: This union backing might have inspired the phrase 'Made in Italy'—which, let's be honest, is still a pretty great marketing strategy, especially if you want to sell pasta..