OCTOBER 17, 1973

Full News Archive

• Headline: Judge Questions IBM's Telex Damages Payment. Impact: This decision led to a series of courtroom dramas that inspired countless legal thrillers. The phrase 'insufficient evidence' became a favorite among lawyers, leading to a dramatic rise in coffee consumption in law offices nationwide.. Fact: Did you know that this case led to the phrase 'Telexed it' becoming shorthand for sending something with way too much drama attached?.
• Headline: Milestone Achieved: 600th Cosmos Satellite Launched. Impact: The launch of the 600th satellite was the real reason we have so many GPS apps today. Every time you get lost, remember to thank the USSR for their relentless pursuit of satellite supremacy.. Fact: 600 satellites, and yet, somehow, we still can’t get a signal in a basement!.
• Headline: PRINTERS LEADERS ARE FOUND GUILTY,. Impact: This ruling sent shockwaves through the printing industry, sparking a nationwide debate over union rights. In a twist of fate, it ironically led to the rise of digital media—where no one gets fined for printing mistakes!. Fact: The irony? The NY Times still had to deal with more printer delays than any other publication, even after this ruling..
• Headline: Sketches of Winners. Impact: Le Duc Tho's biography sparked a renewed interest in diplomacy, leading to a bizarre trend where politicians began hiring sketch artists instead of speechwriters. The results were... less than enlightening.. Fact: Did you know that Secretary Kissinger was actually more famous for his hairstyle than his diplomacy at the time?.
• Headline: Industrial Production Rose in September. Impact: This reported increase set off a chain reaction of optimism in the economy, leading to a brief misunderstanding that prosperity was just around the corner. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.. Fact: Fun fact: '0.7%' growth was just enough to keep economists awake at night, but not enough to buy a decent cup of coffee..
• Headline: BABY KIDNAPPED FROM A HOSPITAL. Impact: This tragic event heightened security measures in hospitals across the nation, resulting in a culture of paranoia. The term 'hospital gowns' became synonymous with 'keep your baby close!'. Fact: Kidnapping from hospitals became such a concern that some parents started hiring babysitters for their newborns—before they were even born!.
• Headline: WIDE GAINS MARK FLOW OF PROFITS. Impact: Lockheed's profit surge ignited a fervor for stock trading, leading to the birth of countless amateur investors who mistook 'profits' for personal gain. Many quickly learned that buying low and selling high was actually a thing.. Fact: Lockheed's profits made them the envy of every other company—especially when they realized they were still just a plane ride away from bankruptcy!.
• Headline: Iraqis and Syrians Continue to Resist. Impact: This ongoing conflict led to decades of geopolitical tension, shaping foreign policies and fostering a generation of peace activists who believed in the power of dialogue—though sometimes it felt like they were talking to a brick wall.. Fact: Interestingly, the Golan Heights have been the backdrop for so many battles that they’ve practically become a tourist attraction for historians..