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 June 7, 1953
Full News Archive
- Headline: Fraud Conspiracy Charges in Puerto Rico. Impact: This fraud conspiracy case led to numerous fraudulent schemes in the housing market, which eventually contributed to the Great Recession. All because someone thought it was a good idea to play Monopoly with real money.. Fact: Fun fact: The FHA was actually created to help people buy homes, not sell them the Brooklyn Bridge..
- Headline: ACTH Research and Aspirin Insights. Impact: Dr. Rinfret's groundbreaking research made ACTH a household name, leading to a bizarre spike in ACTH-themed merchandise ranging from T-shirts to coffee mugs—because who wouldn’t want a hormone on their morning cup?. Fact: Aspirin: the only thing that can cure a headache and cause one at the same time!.
- Headline: The French Family Boursier; In today's France of political and economic uncertainty, it mirrors the life of a 'representative' household on an average wage.. Impact: The plight of the Boursier family highlighted the struggles of the average wage earner, which ultimately led to a global movement for fair wages—though it took several decades and an infinite number of coffee breaks to get there.. Fact: Did you know that the average household has been approximately the same since the dawn of time? Just swap out the horse for a car and the candle for Wi-Fi..
- Headline: EISENHOWER MEETS ADVISERS ON KOREA; Diplomatic and Military Chiefs Consulted -- Rhee's Position Viewed With Concern. Impact: Eisenhower's consultations led to a diplomatic ballet that would ultimately keep Korea divided for decades, ensuring that awkward family reunions would remain a constant in the lives of many.. Fact: Korea's division is like that one awkward family member who shows up at every reunion—uninvited and causing tension..
- Headline: NEW TRIAL SOUGHT BY 2 ROSENBERGS; Atom Spies Say a Witness Against Them Had Stolen Uranium From Plant. Impact: The Rosenbergs' quest for a new trial sparked a series of conspiracy theories that led to an extreme paranoia about spies, resulting in everyone starting to look suspiciously at their neighbor’s garden gnomes.. Fact: In the world of espionage, the only thing more valuable than uranium is a good garden gnome—they're great for hiding secret documents!.
- Headline: Hi-Lo's Forbes Paces in 1:58.6, World Record on Half-Mile Track; PACING RECORD SET BY HI-LO'S FORBES. Impact: Hi-Lo's Forbes setting a record on the half-mile track led to an explosion of interest in equine athletics, paving the way for future horse racing betting scandals that would make even Wall Street blush.. Fact: Did you know that horses can't actually pace themselves? They just think they can, much like most of us at a buffet..
- Headline: Princeton, After 170-Year Search, Acquires Portrait of First Patron; PRINCETON OBTAINS BELCHER PORTRAIT. Impact: Princeton acquiring a portrait after 170 years created a ripple effect that inspired universities worldwide to dig through their attics, leading to the rediscovery of long-lost items like a petrified sandwich from 1953.. Fact: Fun fact: The average time spent searching for a lost item is directly proportional to how much you don’t want to find it..
- Headline: NEWS NOTES FROM THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. Impact: The increase in tax coupons for currency exchange led to a brief surge in travel, which then caused a shortage of airplane peanuts—an event that would spark the 'Great Peanut Wars' of the 1970s.. Fact: Did you know that airplane peanuts are basically the only thing standing between us and a full-blown riot in the sky?.
- Headline: VANISHING RIVER. Impact: The vanishing of the Rio Grande became a cautionary tale for future generations about climate change, leading to countless documentaries narrated by Morgan Freeman, because who doesn’t want a wise voice telling them about disappearing rivers?. Fact: Rivers don’t actually vanish overnight. It takes years of neglect, just like your New Year’s resolutions..
Wall Street Time Machine
CVX
Chevron
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1953, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)
GE
General Electric
General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1953, it would be worth $487,501 today (487.5x return)
IBM
IBM
IBM - If you invested $1,000 in 1953, it would be worth $205,272 today (205.3x return)