DECEMBER 28, 1969

Full News Archive

• Headline: Democrats Shift Focus for 1970 Elections. Impact: By deciding to focus on issues other than war, the Democrats inadvertently set the stage for a future where politicians would prioritize 'important' topics like which celebrity is trending on Twitter instead of actual policy, culminating in a nation that elects a reality TV star as president.. Fact: In 1970, the biggest issues for politicians included the Vietnam War and civil rights. Fast forward 50 years and we're still arguing about who's trending on social media. Progress!.
• Headline: Dockers Protest Union Assessment Decision. Impact: The dockers' protest against the assessment led to a decades-long debate on labor rights, culminating in a world where workers band together to demand fair wages, yet somehow still end up with the same pizza at every union meeting.. Fact: The ILA's '10% assessment' was like a bad haircut—nobody wanted it but everyone had to deal with it, and it left dockers feeling a bit raw for years to come..
• Headline: Decline in Bird Diversity at White House. Impact: The drop in bird variety on the White House grounds marked the beginning of a national concern for the environment; little did they know, this would lead to future generations obsessively counting every species in their backyards while ignoring the trash piling up in their streets.. Fact: In 2008, they counted 9 varieties of birds. Meanwhile, I can barely count how many times I've had to explain to people that starlings are not a rare species. Thanks, Roosevelt..
• Headline: Promising Twists Added By Carbon-Black Makers. Impact: The innovation in carbon black production would eventually lead to the creation of rubber tires, which revolutionized transportation. This set in motion a chain reaction that resulted in traffic jams, road rage, and the invention of the car horn as the world's most expressive language.. Fact: Carbon black is not just for tires; it’s also used in ink and coatings. So, basically, it's the unsung hero of every bad print job you’ve ever had..
• Headline: Would Anybody Sponsor 'I Am Curious (Yellow)'?. Impact: The discussion around sexually permissive films paved the way for a society that both celebrates and shuns adult content, creating a cultural paradox where everyone is curious but no one wants to talk about it, leading to awkward conversations at family gatherings.. Fact: The film 'I Am Curious (Yellow)' was so controversial it could have been a reality show in today's world. Talk about ratings!.
• Headline: House on Fire; By Arch Oboler. 249 pp. New York: Bartholomew House. $5.95.. Impact: Oboler's work highlighted the struggles of human emotion against the backdrop of disaster, leading readers to realize that sometimes our biggest fires are metaphorical, igniting a cultural obsession with self-help books and kitschy motivational quotes.. Fact: Arch Oboler was a pioneer in radio drama. So, yes, he was literally setting houses on fire long before it was cool..
• Headline: Film Deal Planned. Impact: The acquisition of United Productions of America set off a chain of events that would lead to the animation industry boom, which later resulted in animated films that are now just elaborate ways to sell toys. Thanks, capitalism!. Fact: In the world of film deals, it's always a surprise how quickly studios forget about original ideas in favor of reboots and sequels. Thanks for the creativity, guys!.
• Headline: Trans-Siberian Air Route Draws Bids. Impact: The interest in the Trans-Siberian air route opened up new avenues for global travel, inadvertently leading to the rise of budget airlines, which turned flying from a luxury into a game of who can survive the most uncomfortable seat.. Fact: The Trans-Siberian route is so long that by the time you land, you might have forgotten why you ever wanted to go in the first place..