JANUARY 6, 1956

Full News Archive

• Headline: Bryn Mawr Celebrates Wilson Centennial. Impact: The Wilson Centennial at Bryn Mawr inspired a plethora of women's colleges to host their own centennials, leading to a surge in 'centennial-themed' parties that resulted in a national shortage of confetti in 1972. Fact: Did you know that centennials are basically just an excuse for institutions to throw a fancy party and pretend they're relevant?.
• Headline: Israel Health Week Kicks Off in NYC. Impact: Israel Health Week set off a chain reaction, eventually leading to the creation of 'Health Weeks' around the world, culminating in 'Health Month' where people just post pictures of kale on social media. Fact: Fun fact: Health Weeks are the only weeks where you can gain weight just by looking at the salad bar.
• Headline: French-Spanish Diplomatic Talks Begin. Impact: The French-Spanish talks led to a revolutionary idea: the creation of 'French Fries' in Spain, which later caused confusion over what to call them in the USA—'Freedom Fries' was just a phase. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic talks often lead to culinary breakthroughs? Just ask the pizza makers in Italy.
• Headline: WEST'S BIG 3 SET 'STRONG' CENSURE OF ISRAEL ON RAID; However, They Do Not Favor Syrian Demand for U.N. Sanctions and Expulsion INDEMNITY PLAN IS SEEN Payment for Slain Civilians May Be Ordered--Arab and Israeli TalK to Russian Meeting Likely Next Week WEST'S BIG 3 SET ISRAEL'S CENSURE Syrian Document Cited Eban Presses U.S. on Arms. Impact: The West's censure of Israel on the raid sparked a series of increasingly dramatic diplomatic protests, leading to the first-ever 'Snarky Diplomatic Note' in 1975, which was essentially a strongly worded letter with emojis. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic censure is just a fancy way to say, 'We don't like what you did, but we're too polite to yell'?.
• Headline: AIDS LIGHT-DUTY POLICE; Patrolmen's Group Will Back Their Rights, Leader Says. Impact: The light-duty police policy for AIDS led to a national conversation about health in the workplace, which in turn inspired the rise of the 'Coffee Break' as a legitimate mental health day. Fact: Did you know that the only thing harder than being a police officer is explaining to your boss why you need a coffee break every hour?.
• Headline: 200 Show Cats Curl Up for 2-Day Doze As Owners Fret Over Details of Contest. Impact: The Empire Cat Show sparked an endless quest for the world's fluffiest cat, leading to the eventual founding of the International Cat Conspiracy to dominate the internet with cute cat videos. Fact: Did you know that cat shows are basically the Olympics for cats, but with way less physical exertion and a lot more napping?.
• Headline: SCHOOLS MESSAGE IS EXPECTED SOON. Impact: The anticipated schools message from Eisenhower inadvertently led to a nationwide obsession with secretive government messages, giving rise to conspiracy theories about school lunches being coded messages. Fact: Did you know that anyone who claims they don't love cafeteria pizza is just a liar? It's the true currency of school politics.
• Headline: PRESS INTENSIFIES ATTACKS ON EDEN; Labor Organ Calls Him 'Flop' --Backers' Support Mild PRESS INTENSIFIES ATTACKS ON EDEN. Impact: The press's intensified attacks on Eden created a media frenzy that eventually led to the invention of reality TV—proving that public humiliation is just as entertaining on-screen as it is in print. Fact: Did you know that calling someone a 'flop' in the media is just a polite way of saying, 'You really messed up, buddy'?.
• Headline: TITO FALLS SHORT OF GOAL IN EGYPT; Loses Bid to Join Asia-Africa Group--But He and Nasser Reach Policy Accord Bid by Tito Denied TITO FALLS SHORT OF GOAL IN EGYPT. Impact: Tito's failure to join the Asia-Africa group led to a series of 'Who’s Who' diplomatic faux pas, resulting in a long-standing tradition of awkward group photos where leaders pretend to like each other. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic meetings often look like a high school reunion where nobody knows why they’re there?.