JULY 11, 1952

Full News Archive

• Headline: Mrs. Edith S. Hetterick's Impact. Impact: Thanks to Mrs. Edith S. Hetterick's insistence on proper punctuation, future generations would adopt an obsession with grammatical accuracy, leading to the birth of the internet troll—who ironically can’t spell 'definitely'.. Fact: Mrs. Hetterick's name was so complicated it could fill a crossword puzzle. Did she have a middle name that was an entire thesis?.
• Headline: Public Unmoved by Cab Fare Increase. Impact: The public's apathy towards cab fare increases set a dangerous precedent. Fast forward a few decades, and people would accept paying $10 for a cup of coffee without batting an eye.. Fact: In a shocking twist, the cheapest cab fare in the U.S. still manages to be more than what politicians pay for lunch—just without the side of a moral hangover..
• Headline: Alaska and Hawaii Delegation Expansion. Impact: The Republican decision to increase Alaska and Hawaii's delegate strength would eventually lead to both states being forced to endure endless debates on whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza—thanks to the 'delegate pizza party' initiative.. Fact: The increase in delegates didn't make the weather in Alaska any warmer, but it did lead to an influx of Hawaiian shirts at political rallies..
• Headline: Critics of Public Education. Impact: Critics of public education sparked a chain reaction that would lead to the rise of alternative schooling methods, eventually resulting in the invention of 'unschooling'—where kids learn everything except math.. Fact: The criticisms were so harsh that some educators started teaching from the comfort of their own couches—talk about a home classroom!.
• Headline: Belgian Chamber Session Halted. Impact: The Belgian Chamber's session halt led to a ripple effect of walkouts in legislatures worldwide, inspiring the classic political maneuver known as 'the dramatic exit'—perfect for reality TV.. Fact: The session was halted so dramatically that it became the basis for countless soap operas. Who said politics couldn't be entertaining?.
• Headline: MARKET COSTS BLAMED; Farmer Defended in Rises of Recent Food Prices. Impact: Blaming market costs for food price rises led to a never-ending cycle of finger-pointing, which eventually created a thriving market for conspiracy theories about farmers hoarding corn.. Fact: Farmers were so confused by the blame they started selling their crops at prices that made them feel like the Kardashians. 'Marketing Costs' became the new 'It Girl'..
• Headline: FURNITURE SHOWING TO BE OPEN MONDAY. Impact: The furniture show opening got people so excited that it led to a massive surge in DIY furniture projects—resulting in more Pinterest fails than you can shake a saw at.. Fact: This furniture show was so popular that it inspired a whole generation of people to think they could build a chair. And that’s how IKEA was born..
• Headline: C. ALrENnRCH,ADE I SHING QuiP. Nr, 65I. Impact: The mystery surrounding Chas Altenkirch's name would inspire countless authors to create characters with equally baffling names, culminating in a literary trend that made people question their own identity.. Fact: Chas's name was so complex that it required a personal assistant just to introduce him—great for networking, terrible for small talk..
• Headline: Brown U. Names Controller. Impact: R.C. Pulling's appointment as controller at Brown U created a ripple effect that led to an influx of controllers named 'R.C.' across universities, proving that names can indeed be a trend.. Fact: R.C. Pulling became the only controller who could also pull off a good pun. Rumor has it he once controlled a budget with a joke..