Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 10, 1952
Full News Archive
- Headline: Bayside Sewer Project Cost Overruns. Impact: This sewer project cost overrun led to the creation of a time-traveling sewer inspector who became a local legend, ensuring all future construction projects included a budget for unexpected expenses and, of course, coffee breaks.. Fact: Sewers: the true unsung heroes of urban infrastructure. Without them, weβd all be living in a very different kind of βquagmire.β.
- Headline: Nixon Critiques Democrats' Strength on Foreign Policy. Impact: Nixon's comments sent ripples through time, inspiring future politicians to develop a special skill set in name-calling and finger-pointing instead of actual governance, leading to a reality show about political insults.. Fact: βSpinelessβ was a popular term among politicians, right next to βcoherent policyβ and βhonest debateβ in the historical thesaurus..
- Headline: British Give Egypt Two Concessions; British Give Egypt 2 Concessions; Return Suez Bridge and Free Funds. Impact: These concessions led to a series of 'friendly' gestures that spiraled into a decades-long game of international chess, with Egypt and Britain forever trying to one-up each other with increasingly ridiculous demands.. Fact: Concessions: the diplomatic version of βIβll give you my cookie if you give me your candy.β.
- Headline: Bay State Hospital Expanded. Impact: This hospital expansion was so well-received that it inspired a nationwide trend in hospital wing namingβa practice that eventually led to the absurdity of naming wings after fast food chains.. Fact: Hospitals: where you can literally die from a lack of beds... or from the hospital food served in those very beds..
- Headline: ADMINISTRATION AIDE ASSAILS PRESS, RADIO. Impact: The assistant's rant triggered a media backlash that evolved into the modern-day practice of journalists fact-checking politicians, though it also birthed the age of βalternative factsββso, you know, swings and roundabouts.. Fact: Ranting about the media: a time-honored tradition thatβs somehow never gone out of style..
- Headline: TAFT WARNS G. O. P. ON TRUMAN ATTACK; Ohioan Says President Has Appeal for Persons Who Know Nothing of Politics. Impact: Taft's warning about Truman's appeal led to an endless cycle of politicians second-guessing their messaging, ultimately resulting in the emergence of the political consultant industryβbecause what could be more useful than overanalyzing every word?. Fact: Politics is just a game of who can be the most relatable while simultaneously being the least relatable. Good luck with that!.
- Headline: Eisenhower Favors Some Aid In Health and Schools by U. S.; EISENHOWER URGES LIMITED HEALTH AID. Impact: Eisenhowerβs advocacy for limited health aid started a trend in government spending that eventually led to debates over health care that would echo through the decades, resulting in a series of 'who can out-promise whom' competitions.. Fact: Health care debates are the adult version of βwho can hold their breath the longestββand sadly, no one ever wins..
Wall Street Time Machine
MO
Philip Morris
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1952, it would be worth $23,651,352 today (23651.4x return)
CVX
Chevron
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1952, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)
GE
General Electric
General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1952, it would be worth $487,500 today (487.5x return)