JANUARY 7, 1951

Full News Archive

• Headline: Defense and Supply Dynamics in 1951. Impact: If the government had just estimated correctly, we might have had a thriving building supply industry instead of a '51 cutback that led to a nationwide shortage of everything, including common sense.. Fact: In 1950, the only thing more inflated than material output was the price of a cup of coffee!.
• Headline: Decline in Paper Output Ratio. Impact: The decline in paper output ratio led to a massive increase in people writing their memoirs on napkins, ultimately leading to the rise of Instagram influencers.. Fact: This was the start of a paper shortage that would later lead to the invention of digital paper... also known as screens..
• Headline: MAO PLAYS HIS PART IN A VAST COMMUNIST PLAN; 'KEEP GOING'. Impact: Mao’s commitment to the communist cause led to a domino effect of revolutionary fervor that made the phrase 'world domination' an everyday dinner conversation.. Fact: This plan was so vast that even the paper it was written on was considered a 'classified document'!.
• Headline: AMERICANS AID WOUNDED BRITON. Impact: This act of kindness made people realize that helicopters could be used for more than just military operations, paving the way for air ambulances, which are now used for pizza delivery.. Fact: This Briton was probably just trying to get a selfie with the helicopter; the real heroes are the pilots..
• Headline: Samoa Is Different. Impact: Samoa being different was the beginning of tourism marketing, leading to countless brochures promising 'paradise' that never quite delivered (hey, at least the drinks were strong!).. Fact: This was back when the only thing different about Samoa was the amount of sunscreen used!.
• Headline: 'LAME DUCKS' STAYING ON; 'YOUR DEADLINE IS UP'. Impact: 'Lame ducks' staying on is what ultimately inspired the phrase 'politics as usual,' ensuring that no one ever takes a break from the circus.. Fact: If deadlines were as serious as they claim, we'd have seen a lot more politicians actually leave office on time!.
• Headline: RED CROSS RISING TO WARTIME LEVEL; Chapter Calls for Volunteers and Bigger Fund--City 14% Short of Coal Last Year. Impact: The Red Cross rising to wartime levels turned into a perpetual state of fundraising, ensuring that they were always just one bake sale away from saving the world.. Fact: They say a city is only as strong as its coal supply – which makes most cities quite weak during winter!.
• Headline: What L.A. Means to Him. Impact: This article about L.A. showcased the beginning of the long tradition of people thinking they can make it big in Hollywood, leading to millions of 'talents' and just as many failed auditions.. Fact: Muscatel at noon? Sounds like the perfect drink for all those aspiring actors waiting for their big break!.