NOVEMBER 15, 1952

Full News Archive

• Headline: George M. Vail's Legacy. Impact: If George M. Vail had never existed, we might have never discovered the impact of middle initials in American names—leading to a world where we just call everyone by their first names, and chaos ensues.. Fact: Middle initials are often just fancy little squiggles that make your name look more important. Who knew George M. Vail was the reason for such pretentiousness?.
• Headline: Stalin Marx's Bold Escape from Reformatory. Impact: Stalin Marx's escape from reformatory set off a bizarre trend of people changing their names to avoid being associated with their childhood mistakes. Eventually, this led to a rise in 'renaming parties' where adults throw themselves a birthday party just to reintroduce themselves.. Fact: Many believe naming your child after infamous figures is a bad idea, but apparently, some think it's their ticket to fame—or infamy..
• Headline: MET' INAUGURATES NATIONAL COUNCIL; 50 Members Meet to Hear Talk by Bing and Elect Steering Committee for Opera. Impact: The inauguration of the National Council for Opera led to an unexpected renaissance of opera-themed reality shows. Yes, it turns out that watching people sing while belting out dramatic life stories is a recipe for TV gold.. Fact: Bing's talk was probably the first time anyone thought opera and committee meetings could be equally boring. Spoiler alert: they were wrong..
• Headline: JOHN J. M'GOWAN. Impact: John J. McGowan's existence likely contributed to the exponential growth of people with the last name McGowan, leading to inevitable family reunions that no one wants to attend.. Fact: McGowan is a name so common, it’s basically the 'John Doe' of surnames. Sorry, John J..
• Headline: ERICKSON GETS YEAR IN JERSEY BETTING; Bookmaker Also Fined $1,000 -- Judge Ascribes Leniency to 16-Month Term Here Erickson Gets Year on Jersey Bets; Jail Term Here Cause of Leniency. Impact: Erickson's betting scandal may have inspired future generations of gamblers to think they can outsmart the system—newsflash: they can't. This eventually led to the rise of online betting and a national obsession with fantasy sports.. Fact: Betting is a lot like playing the stock market, except with more beer and fewer spreadsheets. Cheers!.
• Headline: Hunter Is 10th Maine Fatality. Impact: The 10th fatality in Maine during hunting season probably led to an increase in hunter safety courses—because apparently, people need a reminder that shooting things should be done with caution, not casual recklessness.. Fact: Hunting is one of the few activities where it's perfectly acceptable to wear orange from head to toe. Fashion statements? Not a priority..
• Headline: RAYMOND C. GRAY. Impact: Raymond C. Gray's name may have contributed to the theory that people with the name 'Raymond' are statistically more likely to be bland and forgettable, leading to a crisis in personal branding for all Raymolds worldwide.. Fact: Having a middle initial often signifies that your parents were trying to avoid you blending into the crowd. Spoiler: It rarely works..