JUNE 6, 1972

Full News Archive

• Headline: Postal Rate Recommendation Sparks Controversy. Impact: By reducing the postal rate hike, the Postal Rate Commission inadvertently set off a chain reaction leading to the creation of email, which ultimately caused your grandma to start sending cat memes instead of handwritten letters.. Fact: The last time the postal rates went up, it caused a nationwide shortage of stamps and a surge in post-it note sales. Just kidding, but wouldn’t that be amusing?.
• Headline: Reno Jet Hijacking Ransom Recovery. Impact: Recovering $155,000 in a hijacking case inspired a new generation of criminals who thought ransom was a great side hustle, leading to the rise of 'ransomware' decades later.. Fact: The original ransom note was just a sticky note with 'Pay up or else!' written in crayon. True story, or at least, it could be!.
• Headline: 6 Players Drafted In N.H.L.. Impact: The NHL draft in Montreal set off a hockey rivalry that would create the most passionate debates in bars, leading to the invention of 'hockey fan math' where every loss equals a new conspiracy theory.. Fact: No one actually knows how many players were drafted; they just keep adding names every year and hope no one notices..
• Headline: Cities Rushing to Impose Taxes on Air Departure. Impact: Cities imposing departure taxes inadvertently led to the creation of 'tax evasion travel packages' where people would travel just to avoid the airport fees, which then triggered a whole industry of travel loophole consultants.. Fact: The first person to complain about airport taxes was likely just trying to sneak a bag of chips through security without paying the fee..
• Headline: Minnesotan Won't Quit. Impact: Sen Humphrey's decision to minimize loss instead of seeking a win led to the famous saying, 'If you can't win, at least make it entertaining for the audience,' influencing future politicians to embrace their inner stand-up comedians.. Fact: Humphrey's campaign slogan was almost 'Vote for me, at least I’m not the other guy!' but it didn’t quite make the cut..
• Headline: German Surplus Narrows. Impact: The narrowing of the German surplus led to a ripple effect of economic policies that would baffle economists for decades, eventually resulting in the creation of the term 'German engineering' when they fixed it all.. Fact: This surplus was so narrow it could have been a contestant on a diet reality show – making all the other countries jealous..
• Headline: Troop Strength in Vietnam Drops 1,100, to 63,700. Impact: The drop in troop strength in Vietnam would go on to create a whole era of anti-war protests, leading to the rise of peace symbols that are still used by people who think they are being edgy today.. Fact: This drop was so significant that it inspired a whole generation to ask, 'Why can’t we just talk things out?' over a cup of coffee instead of a grenade..
• Headline: Suspect Linked to ‘Far Right’. Impact: The FBI's description of Hahneman as linked to the 'far right' led to countless conspiracy theories about secret societies, which eventually made conspiracy theorists the new rock stars of the internet.. Fact: The 'far right' may have been just a group of people who really loved right-handed scissors—seriously, who doesn't?.