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 March 27, 1958
Full News Archive
- Headline: Eisenhower Pushes for Economic Recovery. Impact: Eisenhower's spending spree triggered a frenzy of economic activity. Little did he know, this would lead to the invention of the spork, the most versatile utensil of all time! Who knew that $840 million could inspire a culinary revolution?. Fact: Did you know that sporks are the ultimate symbol of human ingenuity? They combine the worst of both worlds: a spoon that can't hold soup and a fork that can't stab meat!.
- Headline: Explorer III Expected to Provide Varied Data. Impact: Explorer III's data on cosmic rays opened the door to the future of space exploration, inadvertently leading to the rise of conspiracy theories about aliens. Thanks to that little satellite, half the internet is now convinced weβre being watched by little green men.. Fact: Did you know that if you play the right frequencies backward, some believe you can contact extraterrestrials? Or maybe itβs just the sound of your sanity slipping away..
- Headline: Conflict Over Travel Pay Rulings. Impact: The FCC's fight over travel expenses laid the groundwork for endless bureaucratic red tape. Fast forward to today, and we have a government so bogged down in regulations that even a snail could file faster than they can approve a coffee run.. Fact: Did you know the phrase 'red tape' originated from the actual red tape used to bind legal documents? Itβs almost like they were trying to keep us from getting anything done!.
- Headline: Air Academy Contract Let. Impact: The Air Academy's contract for housing was the start of a housing boom that would someday lead to the vast suburban sprawl we love to hate. Thanks, Rubenstein Construction Co., for paving the way for cookie-cutter homes and endless traffic!. Fact: Did you know that the average American spends 38 hours a year stuck in traffic? That's right β you could have watched all the seasons of your favorite show instead of sitting in your car!.
- Headline: Youth Outbreaks Traced To Turbulence in Family; Juvenile Outbreaks Traced to Turbulence in Family and Upheaval in Migration HOME FOUND WEAK AS A SOCIAL FORCE Dilemma in Evictions From City Housing Cited -- Conflict in Mores. Impact: The identification of family turbulence as a cause for youth outbreaks led to a slow evolution of social services. Ironically, this means that todayβs youth are more likely to tweet about their problems than talk to their parents, thanks to a legacy of social upheaval.. Fact: Did you know that the average teenager spends about 7 hours a day on their phone? Maybe theyβre just texting their family therapist instead of talking it out!.
- Headline: U. S. TO INVITE REDS TO SEE ATOM TESTS; Soviet Scientists Included in Bid to Pacific Trial of a 'Cleaner' Bomb REDS WILL GET BID TO U. S. ATOM TEST. Impact: Inviting Soviet scientists to witness atomic tests was a bold move that surprisingly didnβt end in World War III. Instead, it led to awkward cocktail parties where nobody knew whether to discuss science or sabotage.. Fact: Did you know that the original atomic bomb tests were so secretive that the scientists had to throw parties just to see if anyone would show up? Talk about radioactive social anxiety!.
- Headline: Space Author a Mystery. Impact: The White House's decision to keep the author of a space-related piece a mystery led to endless speculation and conspiracy theories. To this day, people are more likely to believe that aliens wrote our space programs than to think it was the government.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'space author' could also refer to anyone who writes about space? So, technically, anyone who has ever written about the stars is now a 'space author' β including that guy who wrote the cosmic romance novel!.
- Headline: 4-Day Moon Round Trip Is Called Safe For a Man Using Available Equipment. Impact: The concept of a safe four-day moon round trip helped kick-start the space race. Who knew that a simple declaration could lead to an entire generation dreaming about moon vacations, even if they still canβt afford a trip to the local beach?. Fact: Did you know that moon trips are still on the bucket list for many? But letβs face it, the only thing more expensive than a trip to the moon is a wedding!.
- Headline: SENATORS QUESTION MILITARY PAY ITEMS. Impact: Senators questioning military pay items led to the modern military budget debates that make Congress look like a bunch of kids arguing over who gets the last slice of pizza. Spoiler alert: nobody ever gets the pizza.. Fact: Did you know Congress has been debating military budgets since the dawn of time? Or at least since the last time they remembered to take out the trash!.
- Headline: Bank Replaces Astor As Park Ave. Builder; BANK TO REPLACE ASTOR AS BUILDER. Impact: The bank taking over the Astor project set a precedent for big banks to dominate real estate, leading to the modern-day struggle of finding affordable housing while living in a city where rent prices rival the gross domestic product of small countries.. Fact: Did you know that the Astor family was one of the wealthiest families in America? I guess they could afford to build a plaza, unlike the rest of us who can barely afford a cup of coffee!.
Wall Street Time Machine
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1958, it would be worth $3,433,942 today (3433.9x return)
PG
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1958, it would be worth $586,656 today (586.7x return)
MO
Philip Morris
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1958, it would be worth $23,651,359 today (23651.4x return)