FEBRUARY 1, 1972

Full News Archive

• Headline: Dublin Protests Against Londonderry Shootings. Impact: The protests in Dublin led to a greater awareness of civil rights, but also to a long-standing tradition of shouting at British flags in pubs. Who knew that yelling would become an Irish pastime?. Fact: Dubliners have since perfected the art of protest coffee, ensuring they can sip their lattes while passionately waving banners..
• Headline: NYS Tax Increases Hit Hard Today. Impact: With each tax increase, more people learned creative ways to avoid or hide their spending habits. This ultimately led to the flourishing underground economy we know and love today, where cash is king and tax evasion is an art form.. Fact: The tax on cigarettes was so high that it inspired an entire generation of 'smokers' to start their own black-market operations, which turned into a reality show called 'Undercover Smokers'..
• Headline: SOVIET SENDING CUBA NEW MISSILE BOATS. Impact: The Soviet Union sending missile boats to Cuba led to a tense game of naval chess that made everyone realize the ocean is not just for swimming. It spurred the phrase 'Cuban Missile Crisis', which was later adopted as a name for overly dramatic family dinners.. Fact: The boats were so heavily armed they could have easily been mistaken for a floating casino on 'The Price is Right'..
• Headline: U.S. Planes Raid Foe in North;. Impact: The heavy airstrikes in North Vietnam turned 'protective-reaction' into a new term for overreacting in everyday life, leading to a generation of people who freak out at the slightest inconvenience.. Fact: The U.S. Air Force's motto of 'leave no trace' took on a whole new meaning when people started using it at BBQs, leading to the invention of the Tupperware party..
• Headline: Proposals by Two Sides Compared. Impact: Comparing peace proposals became a trendy pastime, leading to annual events where people compare everything from vacation spots to sandwich recipes. The art of negotiation became akin to arguing over who has the best pizza.. Fact: Peace proposals were so dry that they inspired the invention of 'peace proposal bingo', where people mark off buzzwords while trying to stay awake..
• Headline: Metropolitan Briefs. Impact: The extension of unemployment benefits ultimately led to the rise of the professional 'benefit gamer', who studied the system like it was an Olympic sport, paving the way for future generations of benefits strategists.. Fact: Emergency Fed financed benefits inspired a whole new genre of self-help books titled 'How to Thrive While Surviving on Chips and Dreams'..
• Headline: Park Bill Voted in House. Impact: The bill for the national park system kicked off a long-standing debate about nature vs. development, causing future generations to camp out in front of city hall every time a new condo was proposed.. Fact: The $26.5 million ended up being just enough to fund a year’s worth of park ranger coffee, which is actually the most important part of park management..