Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
HEADLINES ON December 24, 1971
Full News Archive
- Headline: Shift to Grass-Roots Activism by Common Cause. Impact: This grassroots movement led to an explosion of local activism, culminating in a bizarre 2045 'Potato Parade' where citizens protested against genetically modified spuds. Who knew potatoes could unite the masses?. Fact: Grassroots activism is just a fancy way of saying 'we're too broke for lobbyists.'.
- Headline: Impact of Fed Reserve Loan Rates. Impact: This seemingly mundane adjustment in bill rates set off a chain reaction leading to the infamous 'Penny Stock Crash of 2025,' where everyone thought they could get rich off old baseball cards. Spoiler: they didn't.. Fact: Bill rates are like that one friend who constantly fluctuates between being 'available' and 'busy.' You never really know what to expect..
- Headline: 2d Bus Driver in 2 Days Is Robbed in Morrisania. Impact: This unfortunate trend led to a new wave of reality shows where bus drivers become unlikely heroes, facing off against robbers with nothing but a can of pepper spray and a lot of bad jokes.. Fact: In Morrisania, it's not just the bus routes that are dangerous; apparently, it's also the ride itself!.
- Headline: China Keeps Sterling Parity And Revalues Against Dollar. Impact: This decision sparked a centuries-long debate about currency valuation, ultimately leading to the establishment of the 'Currency Olympics' in 2080 where nations competed for the best exchange rates. Spoiler alert: No one won.. Fact: Keeping currency parity is a lot like keeping peace in a group chatβimpossible without regular updates and a lot of patience..
- Headline: Article 2 β No Title. Impact: The hiring of G Teaff as a football coach not only revitalized Baylor's football team but also created a minor time loop where every coach thereafter could only be named 'G.' This resulted in a bizarre world where every sports team had a coach named G.. Fact: Naming a football coach is like naming a new pet. You just hope they donβt embarrass you in public!.
- Headline: From Artist's Soup to Publisher's Pie. Impact: This cookbook revolutionized the culinary arts, giving rise to a bizarre trend of artists competing to create the most aesthetically pleasing yet inedible dishes, leading to the annual 'Artistic Food Fight' in 2030.. Fact: Cookbooks are essentially the Pinterest of their timeβlots of great ideas, but most people just end up making toast..
- Headline: U. S. Hopeful on Trade Talks. Impact: This optimistic statement from U.S. officials resulted in a never-ending cycle of trade talks that eventually led to the creation of a new sport: Competitive Negotiation. Spoiler: itβs as boring as it sounds.. Fact: Hopeful trade talks are just like blind datesβeveryone pretends to be optimistic until they realize it's a total disaster..
- Headline: Patrolman Is Suspended After Gun Duel in a Bar. Impact: This incident sparked a nationwide movement advocating for stricter regulations on off-duty police behavior, ultimately leading to the establishment of the 'Bar Bouncer Patrol' in 2035, where bouncers wielded more power than the police.. Fact: Gun duels in bars are actually a lot less common than you'd thinkβmost people prefer to settle their differences over karaoke..
- Headline: Red Smith. Impact: Red Smith's commentary on long jump champion B Beamon inspired a new generation of sports commentators who believed they could change the world with their witty remarks. Spoiler: they mostly just changed the channel.. Fact: Sports commentary is the only profession where you can announce that a player just tripped over their own feet and still get paid for it..
Wall Street Time Machine
INTC
Intel
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1971, it would be worth $199,890 today (199.9x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1971, it would be worth $590,335 today (590.3x return)
PG
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1971, it would be worth $373,578 today (373.6x return)