AUGUST 5, 1971

Full News Archive

• Headline: Brazil's Cruzeiro Exchange Rate Shift. Impact: The devaluation of the Cruzeiro triggered a series of financial crises that inspired a group of Brazilian poets to start writing sonnets about inflation. This led to a renaissance of Brazilian literature, which somehow influenced the plot of a famous sitcom decades later, proving that everything is connected through the magic of currency.. Fact: Did you know that devaluing a currency can lead to a sudden increase in the price of caipirinhas? Yeah, just what you need for a night out in Brazil..
• Headline: Athens Imposes Ethics Code for Journalists. Impact: The Greek government's attempt to control the press led to a secret society of journalists who became ninjas, infiltrating government offices to expose corruption. This clandestine group later inspired a series of action movies where the hero was always a disgruntled reporter.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Hellenic-Christian traditions' is code for 'we don’t want you to print the embarrassing stuff.'.
• Headline: Peking Critiques U.S. U.N. Positioning. Impact: Peking's denunciation of the U.S. over the U.N. seat sparked a series of diplomatic misunderstandings which ultimately resulted in a game of telephone that lasted decades. By the time it reached a resolution, the world had accidentally invented a new sport: competitive diplomacy.. Fact: Did you know that calling something a 'clumsy trick' is just diplomatic code for 'we really don’t like your face?'.
• Headline: Japan's G.N.P. Expands. Impact: Japan's G.N.P. expansion set off a wave of imitation by other countries, leading to a global frenzy of G.N.P. measuring. Eventually, everyone forgot what G.N.P. even stood for, and it became a popular trivia question at parties.. Fact: Did you know that Japan’s G.N.P. growth was so impressive that even sumo wrestlers started to wear suits to work? True story..
• Headline: 14 PAKISTANIS QUIT AT MISSIONS IN U.S.. Impact: The resignation of 14 Pakistani diplomats led to an unexpected increase in the number of coffee shops in Washington, D.C., as they all decided to start their own consultancy firms. Who knew that politics and lattes would mix so well?. Fact: You know it’s serious when diplomats start applying for political asylum. It’s like a really intense game of musical chairs, but with consequences..
• Headline: RECORD IN RESERVES REPORTED BY CANADA. Impact: Canada's record reserves led to a long-standing tradition of Canadians apologizing for their wealth, which became a running joke in international finance circles. It’s now a thing—'Sorry for being rich, eh?'. Fact: Did you know that Canada’s economy is so polite, it sends thank-you notes to its own reserves? True story..
• Headline: Transcript of the President's News Conference on Foreign an Domestic Matters. Impact: Nixon's news conference comments about U.S. casualties led to a new wave of conspiracy theories, including one that claimed he was secretly working with aliens to reduce the punch of the enemy. This set the stage for decades of sci-fi movies.. Fact: Did you know that Nixon once considered running for intergalactic president? The campaign slogan was 'A punch for every planet!'.
• Headline: RCA Computer Unit Plans To Lay Off 510 Employes. Impact: RCA's layoffs triggered a chain reaction in the tech industry, leading to a phenomenon known as the 'Silicon Valley Sadness,' where tech workers began writing poetry about their existential dread over job security.. Fact: Fun fact: The term 'employee morale' was invented right after this layoff announcement. Coincidence? I think not!.
• Headline: BOOK CLUB ADDS SPECIALTY LIST. Impact: The addition of specialty lists to the Book Club led to an underground movement of book lovers who believed they could replace all art with books. This eventually resulted in a bizarre art installation featuring only novels, confusing everyone.. Fact: Did you know that some people actually thought lithographs were a type of fancy book? They were quite disappointed when they found out otherwise..