DECEMBER 27, 1961

Full News Archive

• Headline: Eisenhower Enjoys Disneyland with Grandchildren. Impact: Eisenhower's visit to Disneyland sparked a national obsession with theme parks, leading to the creation of a pop culture phenomenon where adults dress like children and spend their life savings on overpriced mouse ears.. Fact: Did you know that Disney originally wanted to call Disneyland 'Eisenhowerland' but changed it after realizing that might scare away the children?.
• Headline: Transit Workers Consider Strike Action. Impact: The strike threat by transit workers inadvertently led to the rise of Uber and Lyft. If only they knew their walkout would eventually allow tech bros to take over public transport!. Fact: Did you know that the last time the subway workers went on strike, the city discovered that walking was still a thing?.
• Headline: The Thames Freezes Over in History. Impact: The freezing of the Thames inspired a generation of artists and poets, leading to an arts movement that would forever change the way we view rivers—mostly as places to avoid in January.. Fact: Did you know that the Thames is actually known to freeze over once in a blue moon—much like my motivation to exercise?.
• Headline: Alabama Power Units Started. Impact: The launch of new power units in Alabama marked the beginning of the state's rise to energy prominence, leading to the eventual development of the world's most famous 'power outage' memes.. Fact: Did you know that Alabama Power's slogan is 'We make electricity, you make excuses for not paying your bill'?.
• Headline: Top Executive Officer Chosen by Greyhound. Impact: M.C. Frailey's election as president of Greyhound led to an increase in bus travel, which inadvertently created a new genre of music: road trip ballads sung by tired travelers.. Fact: Did you know that Greyhound buses are the main reason people still believe in 'the journey being more important than the destination'—especially when stuck in traffic?.
• Headline: U.S. Foresees Difficult Talks With Lisbon on Azores Bases; U.S. IS WORRIED ON AZORES BASES. Impact: The U.S.'s difficulties negotiating with Portugal over the Azores bases foreshadowed future diplomatic struggles, proving that making friends is harder than asking for directions.. Fact: Did you know that negotiating with Portugal is like trying to get a cat to take a bath? Good luck with that!.
• Headline: Tunisian to Confer on Base. Impact: The Tunisian conference on military bases led to a series of diplomatic meetings, ensuring that everyone involved could endlessly debate the merits of a donut-shaped base over a square one.. Fact: Did you know that 'base negotiations' is just a fancy term for 'let’s argue over snacks and real estate'?.
• Headline: Coast and Geodetic Aide Picked. Impact: The appointment of a Coast and Geodetic aide meant that maps were about to get a whole lot more complicated, paving the way for GPS—and the inevitable frustration of every driver.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more confusing than a map is a map that was drawn by a geodetic aide after a long night of drinking?.
• Headline: Admiral Appointed Aide Of McDonnell Aircraft. Impact: The appointment of an admiral as McDonnell Aircraft's chief representative in Europe signaled a shift in military-industrial relationships, eventually leading to the creation of fighter jets that could outsmart most politicians.. Fact: Did you know that an admiral in the aerospace industry is like putting a cat in charge of a dog show? Chaos ensues, but it's entertaining!.
• Headline: Rambler Sales Above '60 Rate. Impact: Rambler's record sales led to an increase in American car culture, where people began to believe that owning a car was equivalent to winning at life—until gas prices hit the roof.. Fact: Did you know that Ramblers became so popular that they almost convinced everyone that 'road rage' was just a sign of passion for driving?.