NOVEMBER 20, 1971

Full News Archive

• Headline: Labor's Opposition to Nixon's Policies. Impact: The analysis of labor's role towards Nixon led to a massive surge in political cartoons featuring Nixon in a laborer's cap. This, in turn, inspired generations of artists to depict politicians in absurd costumes, forever altering the art of political commentary.. Fact: If you thought labor relations were complicated now, just wait till you see the next five decades of politicians trying to navigate them while wearing clown shoes..
• Headline: Four Men Advocating Human Rights in USSR. Impact: The existence of the human rights committee in the USSR prompted an underground movement of cats who secretly advocated for feline rights. This unassuming revolution eventually led to cats being the unofficial rulers of social media.. Fact: Andrei Sakharov wasn't just a human rights advocate; he was also a pro at making cat memes long before the internet was a thing..
• Headline: Chisholm Challenges Black Caucus Leadership. Impact: Chisholm's complaint about not being allowed to lead workshops sparked a trend of political infighting, ultimately leading to the creation of the 'Workshop Wars' – a series of events where politicians fought over who could run the most pointless seminars.. Fact: This incident also led to the invention of the 'political workshop bingo' card, which is still used by frustrated aides to survive such events..
• Headline: U. S. Catholic Bishops Call For End to Indochina War. Impact: This call to end the Indochina War inspired similar movements worldwide, leading to countless war protests. Interestingly, it also inspired the 'Peace Pigeon' mascot that was adopted by various peace organizations, which then became a symbol of irony when used in pro-war rallies.. Fact: Fun fact: The Catholic Bishops' resolution included a bonus round of 'What Would Jesus Do?' – a popular catchphrase that surprisingly still resonates today..
• Headline: Liberia Hangs Nigerian. Impact: The execution of Prof J Obi sent shockwaves through academia, leading to a temporary increase in the popularity of philosophy classes that focused on the ethics of punishment. Ironically, this also resulted in more students asking, 'Is it too late to drop this class?'. Fact: The case became a pivotal moment in discussions about justice in Liberia, ultimately becoming a cautionary tale told in law schools about what not to do..
• Headline: PHILIP CHO SINGS WITH SENSITIVITY. Impact: Cho's sensitive singing inspired a whole genre of soft rock that emphasized emotional vulnerability. Interestingly, this led to the rise of countless artists who took sensitivity to an extreme, resulting in the 'crying artist' phenomenon.. Fact: It’s said that Cho’s voice was so soothing that even the most hardened critics found themselves weeping uncontrollably at his concerts..
• Headline: CHINA DENOUNCES INDIA AT THE U.N.. Impact: This denunciation was the catalyst for a series of diplomatic rants that eventually led to the invention of the 'U.N. Roast Battle' – a competition where representatives try to out-sarcast each other in the most passive-aggressive way possible.. Fact: Who knew that diplomatic tension could spark such artistry? The U.N. has since considered adding 'Best Roast' as an award category..
• Headline: M.T.A. IS BLOCKED IN RAIL TAKE‐OVER. Impact: The blockade of the M.T.A.'s takeover ended up causing a ripple effect that led to a nationwide rail system that was, shockingly, still late and over budget. This set the standard for all future infrastructure projects, forever cementing the phrase 'on time' as a mere suggestion.. Fact: This incident also spurred countless memes about public transport delays that are still shared today – because nothing unites a city like shared suffering on a subway..
• Headline: Campbell's Net Off; Botulin Cause Found. Impact: The botulin toxin discovery led to a temporary surge in home canning as people tried to avoid processed foods, which ironically resulted in a new form of culinary competition: 'Who Can Make the Most Dangerous Jar of Preserves?'. Fact: Campbell's Soup Company later released a limited edition 'Botulin Soup' just to capitalize on the buzz – because why not turn a health scare into a marketing opportunity?.