SEPTEMBER 18, 1960

Full News Archive

• Headline: Norway Opens Kirkenes to Finnish Trade. Impact: Norway's generous port access led to an unprecedented rise in Finnish fish exports, which eventually caused a global sushi craze. Who knew a little kindness could turn into a worldwide culinary obsession?. Fact: Fun fact: The port of Kirkenes is so north, even Santa considers it too chilly for a vacation..
• Headline: Suburban Buyer's Market Trends Emerge. Impact: The influx of unsold homes caused a ripple effect that led to an underground market for lawn gnomes as homeowners tried to spruce up their properties. Because nothing says 'buy me' like a creepy ceramic creature.. Fact: In suburban America, the number of unsold homes is directly proportional to the number of DIY home improvement shows on TV. Coincidence? I think not..
• Headline: Temple University Police Science Courses Launch. Impact: Offering police science courses sent a wave of aspiring superheroes into the workforce, inadvertently leading to a spike in caped crusader sightings in the city. Talk about a real-life Gotham!. Fact: Temple U's police courses have been known to make students more familiar with donuts than actual policing techniques. Just saying..
• Headline: BOTH PARTIES EYE ECONOMY FOR SIGN OF BUSINESS DROP; Principal Pocketbook Issue Appears to Be Regional Job Dip, Survey Finds G.O.P. COULD BE HURT Autos, Steel and Lumbering Are Cited by Democrats -- Republicans Confident BOTH PARTIES EYE ECONOMIC SCENE. Impact: The economic anxiety of the time led to a nationwide obsession with coupon clipping, which eventually resulted in the rise of extreme couponers who can somehow make a grocery store pay them. Truly the American Dream!. Fact: Surveys show that economists are really just people who couldn't handle the pressure of being actual fortune tellers. They predict trends instead of futures..
• Headline: SACRED HARP SINGING; Old Shape-Note Tradition Is Still Very Much Alive in the Rural South. Impact: The revival of Sacred Harp singing sparked a rural renaissance that inspired hipsters to rediscover traditional music, launching a new genre: 'folk-ternative.' Prepare for ironic beards and artisanal harmonies.. Fact: Sacred Harp singing is so old-school that even the people who do it are probably wondering how they got roped into it in the first place..
• Headline: Orderly Transition. Impact: The doctrine of 'orderly transition' established a trend for politicians to use the phrase in every press release, leading to an endless cycle of political jargon that confuses the masses. Thanks, Judge Hoffman!. Fact: The term 'orderly transition' is often used interchangeably with 'we'll try not to mess this up too badly.'.
• Headline: SCIENTIST SHORTAGE WORRIES JAPANESE. Impact: The scientist shortage in Japan inspired a nationwide initiative that encouraged school children to become scientists, inadvertently leading to the rise of the next generation of mad scientists. We're all in for a wild ride!. Fact: In Japan, the shortage of scientists is so dire that they might actually start recruiting from high school chemistry classes. Science fairs could become a recruitment ground..
• Headline: Crisis and the Campaign; Focus on Eisenhower at U.N. Session Poses Problems for the Democrats. Impact: Eisenhower's role at the U.N. resulted in a political game of hot potato, which led to future leaders taking notes on how to dodge responsibility. The art of deflection was born!. Fact: Political cartoons during this period were so biting that they could literally draw blood if you weren't careful. Just ask any politician..
• Headline: INVESTMENT SPUR SEEN IN TAX LAW; Real Estate Trusts Benefit as Profits Are Exempted From Federal Levy METHOD SEEN GROWING Investors Have Advantages Not Offered by Other Forms of Participation INVESTMENT SPUR SEEN IN TAX LAW. Impact: The new tax law created a frenzy of real estate trusts, leading to a bizarre trend where people were more excited about taxes than their own weddings. Who knew finances could be so romantic?. Fact: Real estate trusts have become so popular that they might soon start hosting their own reality shows. 'The Real Housewives of Tax Benefits' anyone?.