Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON January 7, 1968
Full News Archive
- Headline: Philadelphia Soccer Team Disbands. Impact: The disbanding of Philadelphia's pro soccer league led to a nationwide drop in interest in soccer, allowing baseball to dominate the American sports scene. Little did they know, this would set the stage for a future where people would argue endlessly over which sport is superior, completely ignoring the existence of cricket.. Fact: Soccer in America was so influential that it literally caused people to take naps instead of watching thrilling matches. True story..
- Headline: New Store on Historic Baseball Grounds. Impact: This store opening sparked a chain reaction of retail establishments popping up in former stadiums, resulting in a bizarre trend where sports fans decided shopping was a more effective way to channel their emotions than actually watching the game.. Fact: If only the San Francisco Seals had sold merchandise instead of played baseball, they might still be around today. Who knew a stylish jersey could save a team?.
- Headline: Coastal Lawmakers Divided on Reagan's Leadership. Impact: The mixed ratings for Reagan became the template for future politicians to gauge public opinion, leading to an era of politicians mastering the art of saying absolutely nothing while pretending to care about everyone's feelings.. Fact: Mixed ratings? Sounds like a typical day on social media. Welcome to the age of politics where everyone's a critic!.
- Headline: Iraq Starts Atomic Reactor. Impact: This atomic reactor opening not only marked Iraq's entry into nuclear capabilities but also inadvertently inspired countless conspiracy theories about secret lairs and world domination plots, setting the stage for every B-movie villain's dream.. Fact: Fun fact: In the world of nuclear reactors, the only thing more dangerous than an atomic reactor is the paperwork involved in running one..
- Headline: Shrines of a Thousand Years Ago Enrich a Dusty Indian Village. Impact: The discovery of these ancient temples not only enriched the village but also turned it into a tourist hotspot, leading to an economy fueled by selfies and overpriced trinkets, as visitors flocked to marvel at the 'dusty' history.. Fact: The only thing older than the temples? The tourists complaining about the lack of Wi-Fi..
- Headline: U.S. Plywood Sells a Tract To Japan Representatives. Impact: Selling this vast tract of timber land to Japan not only changed the landscape but also inadvertently fueled a trend of land speculation that would have future investors dreaming of real estate empires built on trees rather than actual ideas.. Fact: Real estate is all about location, location, location! Unless you’re selling timber, then it’s just about cutting down trees and hoping no one cares..
- Headline: Farmers Expand to Non-Farm Units. Impact: Farmers expanding into non-farm units changed the agricultural landscape forever, leading to the creation of an entirely new class of farmers who were more interested in marketing than actually farming. This paved the way for the rise of the influencer farmer.. Fact: Remember when farmers just farmed? Now they're more likely to be found on Instagram than in a field. #FarmLifeGoals..
- Headline: '56 Soviet TV Film Omits Khrushchev. Impact: By omitting Khrushchev from the documentary, the Soviet Union inadvertently created more intrigue around him, ensuring that future generations would dig into conspiracy theories about his whereabouts and secret plots, making him a historical figure of mystery.. Fact: Nothing says 'we're in charge' like leaving out the guy who was in charge. It’s like a history book with a chapter missing—so much for accuracy!.
- Headline: Johnson Hanged in Effigy. Impact: Hanging Johnson in effigy became a symbolic act that resonated through time, leading to a trend of expressing political dissent through increasingly bizarre and creative means, proving that the art of protest can be as theatrical as it is serious.. Fact: Effigies: because sometimes, burning your neighbor's yard gnome just isn't enough to express your political dissatisfaction..
- Headline: The Silver Screen Is a Gold Mine. Impact: The introduction of three nights of movies led to an explosion of cinematic content that would eventually drown the world in a deluge of remakes, sequels, and reboots, creating a culture where originality became the rarest commodity.. Fact: In case you were wondering, the silver screen did become a gold mine—just not for originality. Hollywood is still digging through the same old plots!.
Wall Street Time Machine
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1968, it would be worth $1,150,821 today (1150.8x return)
PG
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1968, it would be worth $500,431 today (500.4x return)
MCD
McDonald's
McDonald's - If you invested $1,000 in 1968, it would be worth $1,093,100 today (1093.1x return)