MAY 17, 1971

Full News Archive

• Headline: Democratic Contenders Gather in Wisconsin. Impact: Sen Bayh's promise to withdraw all American troops from Vietnam inadvertently led to an increase in the production of anti-war bumper stickers. Who knew the best way to protest was to slap a sticker on your car?. Fact: Ironically, the strongest approval for ending the war was often found in the same places that hosted the best BBQs—proof that politics and food are the ultimate unifiers..
• Headline: The Legacy of Chief Higgitt. Impact: Chief Higgitt's leadership would later inspire a fictional Canadian superhero known as 'The Mountie Avenger,' who fought crime with a horse and a strong sense of justice. Because, why not?. Fact: If you thought being a Mountie was all about the cool uniforms, think again! Apparently, they also had to know how to make a mean maple syrup..
• Headline: Navajo Leader Exhorts Indians To End Dependence on Others. Impact: The exhortation to end dependence on others eventually sparked a nationwide movement for self-sufficiency, leading to an explosion in the popularity of DIY home improvement shows. Thanks, Navajo leaders!. Fact: The irony? While promoting independence, many ended up heavily dependent on YouTube tutorials for their home improvement projects..
• Headline: Republic in Soviet Regains A District From Neighbor. Impact: Kazakhstan's reclamation of the cotton district kicked off a bizarre cotton war in the region, with neighboring countries competing in increasingly ridiculous cotton-based challenges on social media.. Fact: This event led to the first-ever 'Cotton Olympics,' where athletes competed in events like speed-spinning and the cotton ball toss..
• Headline: Missiles Fired at Gunship. Impact: The US plane's bombing mission over Laos would unwittingly result in the creation of an underground network of 'missile enthusiasts' who would later turn their hobby into a wildly popular board game.. Fact: The board game was called 'Missile Madness,' and it featured more explosions than the average Michael Bay film..
• Headline: SAIGON CUTS OFF CAMBODIAN NEWS. Impact: The news cutoff by Saigon led to a surge in amateur journalists, who took to social media decades later to fill the void with increasingly sensational stories about their cats.. Fact: In a twist of fate, the cats eventually became more popular than the actual news, leading to the rise of 'feline journalism.'.
• Headline: G.I.'s Find It All in Saigon's Scag Alley. Impact: The discovery of 'Scag Alley' led to a cultural phenomenon known as 'The Great Saigon Scavenger Hunt,' where servicemen sought to find the best hidden spots for illicit activities, ultimately becoming a popular reality show.. Fact: The show was canceled after the first season when the producers realized that the ratings were lower than the average Sunday church service..
• Headline: CHILEANS DONATE ONE DAY OF WORK. Impact: Allende's national day of voluntary labor inadvertently influenced future political leaders to consider social media campaigns as a modern replacement for traditional labor days. #WorkForFree. Fact: Allende's efforts to promote labor without pay led to an unexpected surge in volunteerism, which is just another way to say, 'Let's work for free while pretending we're changing the world!'.
• Headline: Le Duan Leaves China. Impact: Le Duan's departure from China marked the beginning of a series of diplomatic missteps that would later inspire a popular TV series about clueless world leaders.. Fact: The series was entitled 'Diplomatic Disasters' and featured an episode where Le Duan accidentally sent a love letter to the wrong country..