SEPTEMBER 9, 1951

Full News Archive

• Headline: Senate Votes for Tax Increase in 1951. Impact: The Senate's tax increase paved the way for future politicians to exploit tax codes, leading to the intricate web of loopholes that allow billionaires to pay less tax than your average barista. Thanks, 1951!. Fact: The phrase 'taxation without representation' is now frequently used by those who are merely upset about their Starbucks bill..
• Headline: ENEMY SAID TO MASS TANKS IN TRUCE CITY; Reports in Korea Put Division Near Kaesong--Ridgway Scorns Latest Red Notes U. N. Air Destroys Six Tanks REDS SAID TO MASS TANKS IN TRUCE CITY Demand "Defensible" Line Statement by U. N. Command. Impact: The massing of tanks in Korea was a classic case of 'more is more,' leading to an arms race that could have been avoided if someone had just suggested a game of chess instead.. Fact: In the Korean War, the phrase 'truce city' was a bit of a misnomer—turns out, calling a place 'truce city' doesn't actually guarantee a lack of hostile tanks..
• Headline: Frontier Magic. Impact: The publishing of 'Frontier Magic' led to a surge in interest in magical realism, which eventually inspired a generation of hipsters to drink artisanal coffee while claiming to commune with spirits. Thanks, Wetherell!. Fact: The Glorious Three is not just a book; it’s also what your friends will call themselves when they form a band that nobody wants to hear..
• Headline: Cliff-Dwellers. Impact: Hubbell's 'Cliff-Dwellers' sparked a nationwide obsession with dwelling in odd places, leading to the modern-day trend of tiny homes. Who knew living in a shoebox would become a status symbol?. Fact: Cliff-dwellers were real people who lived in the cliffs of the American Southwest, proving that home is where the heart is—even if it’s also where the rock slides are..
• Headline: The United States and Spain; Cooperating With Tito Price for Security U. N. Action Queried Implications of Aid Anti-Soviet Stand Seeking a Fascist Ally Views Called Unsupported Bargaining With a Dictator Fighter Against Communism Basque View To Defeat Socialism Losing the Peace Marxist Peril Authoritative Answers Needed MATTHEW F. BLISS. WILLIAM ROBERT KAPP. THOMAS A. KIRBY. ADELAIDE N. BAKER. JAMES F. LOUGHLIN. GEORGE W. GRAY. New York, Aug. 30, 1951. JOSEPH P. CLIFFORD. MARY GRAY PECK. EDGAR R. SMOTHERS, S.J. JESUS DE GALINDEZ, BERNARD J. O'DEA. E. POLLE. ALBERT HOFMAN. JAMES P. WARBURG.. Impact: The debate over cooperation with fascist regimes set the stage for decades of diplomatic gymnastics that would leave future historians with a headache trying to untangle it all. Spoiler: it rarely worked out.. Fact: The irony of asking a dictator for help in fighting communism didn’t escape anyone—except maybe the people who actually wrote the letter..
• Headline: NEWS OF THE WORLD OF STAMPS; Final Vignettes for U.N.'s Forthcoming Series Are Made Public Rush of Orders To Be Sold in Paris. Impact: The rush of orders for UN stamps in Paris caused a temporary spike in stamp collecting, leading to a resurgence of people hoarding items that would never be worth anything. Thanks, collectors!. Fact: In the world of stamps, 'limited edition' is the new 'I promise it’ll be worth something one day'—but it usually isn't..
• Headline: John Sloan, Artist, Dead at Age of 80; JOHN SLOAN, ARTIST DEAD AT AGE OF 80 Sold First Work at 49 Turned to Portraits. Impact: John Sloan's death signaled the end of an era in American art, prompting future artists to grapple with the existential question: 'Can I sell my work before I die?' Spoiler alert: No.. Fact: John Sloan sold his first painting at 49, proving that it's never too late to become a successful artist—or to realize that your talent might just be a passing phase..
• Headline: Air Force Using Impact Recorder. Impact: The Air Force's use of impact recorders was a groundbreaking moment that would eventually lead to the invention of 'smart' shipping containers, paving the way for future shipping companies to lose track of your Amazon orders.. Fact: Impact recorders: because sometimes you just need to know how many times your package was dropped before it got to your door..