FEBRUARY 11, 1965

Full News Archive

• Headline: U.S. Demands USSR Ensure Embassy Safety. Impact: If the White House had successfully trained the mob in Moscow to dance instead of riot, we could have seen a global shift toward interpretive dance as a form of protest. Imagine world leaders breaking out into spontaneous flash mobs instead of escalating tensions.. Fact: In a bizarre twist of fate, the term 'mob mentality' was actually coined during a particularly rowdy Russian ballet performance in the 19th century. Who knew art could be so chaotic?.
• Headline: Thailand's Crackdown on Alleged Communists. Impact: This crackdown on alleged Communist agents in Thailand sparked a worldwide trend of turning every local coffee shop into a makeshift interrogation room. Today, every barista is a part-time spy, just waiting to report on your latte choices.. Fact: The term 'Red Scare' was originally coined to describe the panic over undercooked beets in Eastern Europe. They were really just trying to avoid a vegetable uprising!.
• Headline: GENERALS IN SAIGON PLAN 'WAR CABINET'. Impact: The creation of a 'war cabinet' in Saigon ultimately led to the rise of many new board games that involved strategy, chaos, and a lot of yelling – all the fun of war without the actual danger! Monopoly, meet Warfare!. Fact: The first documented meeting of a war cabinet occurred during the Napoleonic Wars, which was less about strategy and more about who could bring the best snacks to the meeting..
• Headline: Britain Stands with U.S.. Impact: Britain's decision to stand with the U.S. in rejecting French proposals led to a long-standing tradition of British tea parties becoming a metaphor for diplomatic discussions. Tea, biscuits, and passive-aggressive comments about the French were born.. Fact: The phrase 'standing with the U.S.' was originally meant to imply 'standing in line for the restroom at a concert.'.
• Headline: Johnson Is Upheld On Food for Cairo; Johnson Is Given a Free Hand On Food for Nasser Government. Impact: By giving Johnson a free hand on food for Cairo, it inadvertently set the stage for future politicians to barter with pizza toppings rather than policies. Cheese over democracy? A classic trade-off!. Fact: The first food aid ever sent was actually a care package of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and it turned out to be a huge hit. Who knew that lunch could change the world?.
• Headline: City Brewers' Pact Bars Discrimination; BREWERS AGREE TO BAR JOB BIAS. Impact: This pact against discrimination among brewers led to a spike in craft beer popularity, inadvertently creating a culture where hipsters now drink their way through social justice issues. Cheers to that!. Fact: The first recorded instance of beer being used to negotiate peace occurred in ancient Mesopotamia, where two tribes settled their differences over a round of brews. History, it seems, is best served chilled..
• Headline: 15 MEN WOONDED; American Aides Hint at a New Air Strike Against North Vietcong Blow Up U.S. Barracks, Killing G.I. and Wounding Many; 24 Are Missing SAIGON'S TROOPS ROUTED IN BATTLE Defeat in Highway Ambush Is Called One of Worst for the Government. Impact: The tragic explosion at the U.S. barracks in Vietnam led to a series of unfortunate events that would inspire a generation of action movies, where every hero had to rescue someone amidst explosions and chaos, thus shaping Hollywood for decades.. Fact: The phrase 'blow up' was originally a gardening term used to describe overly enthusiastic plant growth. It's ironic how it ended up representing destruction instead..
• Headline: Beekman Hospital Opens $9 Million Campaign; 5-Year Drive Seeking Funds to Add an 8-Story Building With New Services. Impact: Beekman Hospital’s campaign for expansion inadvertently set the foundation for future hospitals to turn into mini-malls, complete with food courts and gift shops. Who knew healthcare needed a shopping experience?. Fact: The first hospital ever built had a 'no shopping' policy, but that quickly changed when someone decided to sell band-aids at a markup..