DECEMBER 10, 1966

Full News Archive

• Headline: Affordable Housing Initiative on West Side. Impact: The approval of 2,500 apartments for low-income families inadvertently inspired future urban planners to create even more complex zoning laws that could confuse even the most seasoned of real estate agents. Thanks for the mess, guys!. Fact: Fun fact: The term 'urban renewal' is actually just a fancy way of saying 'we're going to build a lot of stuff and hope it works out.' Spoiler alert: it usually doesn’t..
• Headline: El Crash Cause Revealed. Impact: The cause of the 'El' crash being linked to a broken emergency mechanism led to the invention of even more complex safety features in public transport. Now we have trains so safe they could survive a zombie apocalypse – if only they were actually on time.. Fact: Did you know that sometimes, the most dangerous part of riding the subway is actually trying to find a seat during rush hour? Good luck with that!.
• Headline: 10% Here Suffered Effects of Smog, Private Study Finds. Impact: The smog study revealing that 10% of residents suffered ill effects helped spark a wave of environmental awareness. Fast forward a few decades, and now we have hipsters in artisanal gas masks. Progress?. Fact: Fun fact: Smog was once considered a trendy backdrop for romantic walks. Who knew lung damage could be so… fashionable?.
• Headline: Two Essays by Mao and Excerpts From Third That Chinese Are Urged to Study; In Memory of Norman Bethune [1939]. Impact: Mao's essays urging study inadvertently sparked a global fascination with revolutionary texts. Who knew that encouraging the youth to read would turn into social media influencers quoting Marx at brunch?. Fact: Did you know that Mao’s Little Red Book was once the hottest accessory? Even more popular than the fanny pack – and that’s saying something!.
• Headline: Senate Unit to Investigate Theft of Autos by Youths. Impact: Senate investigations of youth auto thefts eventually led to the rise of GPS tracking technologies in cars. So, thanks to juvenile delinquency, we can now track your car better than you can track your own children.. Fact: Fun fact: If auto theft rates keep rising, we might soon have a reality show called 'Teen Car Thieves Gone Wild.' Stay tuned!.
• Headline: Tito Pardons Rankovic, Ousted Heir-Apparent. Impact: Tito's pardon of Rankovic set a precedent for political pardons that would echo throughout history, leading to some very questionable decisions in future administrations. Apparently, 'pardon me' became a literal get-out-of-jail-free card.. Fact: Did you know that Tito's pardons were so popular that they inspired future politicians to think they could pardon their way out of anything? Spoiler: they can’t..
• Headline: Ruby Seriously Ill In Dallas Hospital; JACK RUBY IS ILL WITH PNEUMONIA. Impact: Ruby's illness and subsequent treatment (or lack thereof) brought to light the failures of the prison healthcare system, leading to a long-standing debate that continues today. So, thanks for the drama, Ruby – healthcare is still a hot mess.. Fact: Fun fact: Jack Ruby's medical drama was so gripping that it could have been a soap opera. 'As the Jail Cell Turns' – it just needed more plot twists!.
• Headline: VIETCONG ATTACK U.S. ARMS DEPOT; Strike at Site Near Saigon for 3d Time in 6 Weeks Fliers Elude MIG's VIETCONG ATTACK U.S. ARMS DEPOT. Impact: The Vietcong's repeated attacks on U.S. arms depots not only escalated military tensions but also inspired a plethora of action films in the '80s. Because nothing screams 'patriotism' like explosions and one-liners.. Fact: Did you know that if Hollywood had a dollar for every Vietnam War movie made, they could probably fund a college education for a dozen aspiring screenwriters? And we'd still be stuck with sequels!.
• Headline: Rusk, in Saigon, Starts Conferences. Impact: Rusk's conferences in Saigon helped shape U.S. foreign policy in a way that led to decades of military engagement. Who knew a series of meetings could spiral into a historical quagmire? Talk about overachieving!. Fact: Fun fact: The term 'diplomatic conference' is actually code for 'let's sit in a room and pretend we know what we’re doing while drinking bad coffee.'.