FEBRUARY 11, 1962

Full News Archive

• Headline: Exploring the Impact of Webster's Dictionary. Impact: The publication of Webster's Third New International Dictionary not only solidified the concept of 'correct' English but also inadvertently led to millions of arguments over the proper usage of 'literally' in a figurative sense. Thanks, J D Adams, for starting a linguistic war!. Fact: Did you know that the dictionary has more definitions for 'set' than most people have friends? Talk about a complex relationship!.
• Headline: Redefining Profits in the Economy. Impact: The rebranding of 'profits' as respectable set the stage for corporations to become the high school prom queens of the economy—popular but often misunderstood, and always leaving us questioning their motives.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Profits' is just 'profits' in a tuxedo—still the same, but now it looks like it has a solid investment plan!.
• Headline: Survey of Private Carting Industry Complaints. Impact: The selection of J F Sonnett, T J Miley, and R Stebbins Jr. to study complaints foreshadowed an era where city governance would become synonymous with endless surveys and committees, setting a precedent for bureaucratic meetings that could have been an email.. Fact: Did you know that 'carting' is just another term for 'moving your junk from one place to another'? Sounds like my last move!.
• Headline: CUBA: The Communist Controls Are Tightened Despite Censure Voted at Punta del Este; Domestic Scene New Party Shortages Other Effects. Impact: As Castro tightened control over Cuba, the ripple effects led to a mass exodus, creating a culture of cigars and salsa that would someday dominate trendy cocktail parties. Thanks, Castro!. Fact: Did you know that Cuban cigars are so good that people are still trying to sneak them past customs? Talk about dedication!.
• Headline: Pro Skiers Hope to Overcome Lag in Crowds; Distance From Population Centers Is Problem Financial Success for Meets in 5 Years Is Predicted Distance Is Problem. Impact: The struggle of pro skiers to attract crowds led to the creation of extreme sports reality shows, where watching people fall down mountains became a lucrative entertainment avenue. Who knew skiing could lead to couch potatoes?. Fact: Fun fact: Skiing is one of the few sports where you can pay to fall down a mountain and still call it a 'thrill ride'!.
• Headline: U.S. TO PAY $866,121 IN IMPERIAL CRASH. Impact: The U.S. government's decision to pay out for the Imperial crash paved the way for a future of liability claims, where suing became as American as apple pie—or, as some would argue, more American than apple pie.. Fact: Did you know that if you add up all the payouts for accidents, you could probably fund a small country? Or at least a really extravagant party!.
• Headline: POLAND IMPRISONS WOMAN LIBRARIAN; She Gets Year as Attempted Smuggler of Manuscript Regime Sees Betrayals. Impact: The imprisonment of librarian A Rudzinska for attempting to smuggle a manuscript marked the start of a slippery slope where books became more valuable than gold, leading to the rise of the underground literary market—definitely not your local library's book club.. Fact: Did you know that librarians are basically the ninjas of the literary world? Silent, stealthy, and ready to defend a book with their lives!.
• Headline: Washington; Atmosphere or Substance? The Powers Case. Impact: The Powers case set a precedent for future political debates about substance versus theatrics, leading to decades of politicians mastering the art of saying a lot while meaning absolutely nothing. Bravo!. Fact: Fun fact: In politics, the phrase 'atmosphere or substance' is often just a fancy way of asking, 'Do you want the smoke and mirrors or the actual truth?'.
• Headline: MBOYA DEMANDS FREE KENYA IN '62; British Concerned Over Rift on Form of Government --Talk Set in London Mboya, in London for Parley, Demands a Free Kenya in '62. Impact: Mboya's demand for a free Kenya sparked a ripple effect that contributed to various independence movements across Africa, all while the British were left scratching their heads, wondering how they lost their grip on so many tea-drinking colonies.. Fact: Did you know that the quest for independence is often just a fancy way of saying, 'We want to be in charge of our own tea parties!'?.