APRIL 13, 1952

Full News Archive

• Headline: MIT Appoints New Engineering Dean. Impact: The appointment of Adm Cochrane as dean leads to an unexpected surge in engineering innovations. Little do they know, this one decision sparks a future where engineers are revered more than rockstars, resulting in the invention of the 'rockstar engineer' persona, complete with leather jackets and fan clubs.. Fact: Fun fact: Adm Cochrane’s favorite engineering project was a bridge built entirely out of spaghetti. Spoiler alert: it didn't hold up..
• Headline: Historic Heatwave: Berlin 1952. Impact: The record heat on April 12 in Berlin leads to a wave of new summer fashion trends, culminating in the world’s first 'sweaty chic' movement. This ultimately influences fashion week for decades—yes, folks, the sweatband was born.. Fact: In 1920, Berlin's hottest April 12 was marked by a sudden shortage of ice cream. A tragedy that haunts the city to this day..
• Headline: The Bolsheviks and Business; THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION, 1917-1923. Vol. II: The Economic Order. By Edward Hallett Carr. 400 pp. New York: The Macmillan Company. $6.. Impact: Edward Hallett Carr’s work on the Bolshevik Revolution creates a scholarly ripple that eventually leads to the meme 'Bolshevik Dad'—a trend where fathers everywhere embrace revolution-themed parenting styles. Because why not revolutionize bedtime?. Fact: The Bolshevik Revolution was actually started over a disagreement about the best way to make borscht. Just kidding, it was about way more than that..
• Headline: LAST D. P. FAMILY WELCOMED TO U. S.; Parents, 2 Children, Greeted at Pier, Blessed in Church -- Truman to Receive Them. Impact: The arrival of the last D.P. family in the U.S. sets off a chain reaction of immigration policies that eventually leads to a reality show about 'D.P.s in America,' showcasing their struggles and triumphs in a dramatic, overly scripted format.. Fact: Truman was known for his warmth and welcoming spirit. Little did he know, he was just one step away from inadvertently creating a family reunion reality show..
• Headline: RUSSIAN TRADE BID TO BRAZIL RELATED; Rio Hears Moscow Offered Million Tons of Wheat for Rice, Cotton, Other Items. Impact: The Russian trade bid to Brazil sets off a bizarre butterfly effect where future generations of Brazilians believe that all Russian wheat is magically infused with samba music, leading to an unusual cultural exchange that pairs borscht with samba dancing.. Fact: Wheat and rice have never been in a band together, but after this trade, they did consider a collaboration—under the name 'The Grains of Change.'.
• Headline: 37 Life Insurance Companies in This Country Boast Billion or More Protection in Force. Impact: With 37 life insurance companies boasting over a billion in protection, this suddenly encourages a surge in life-threatening stunts, as everyone feels immortal. Spoiler: The 'death-defying tricycle race' does not end well.. Fact: Life insurance companies once considered covering 'spontaneous combustion' as a legitimate risk. Can’t say they were wrong!.
• Headline: Restrictions on Output of Cars For Civilians Seen Easing More; EASING EXPECTED IN AUTO CONTROLS. Impact: The easing of output restrictions on civilian cars leads to an unexpected automotive boom, resulting in a future where people need three-car garages just for their impulse buys. Spoiler alert: it turns into a national pastime.. Fact: The first civilian car was basically a glorified horse carriage. Now look where we are—arguing about whether to upgrade to self-driving pizza delivery!.