DECEMBER 18, 1973

Full News Archive

• Headline: Buber's Letter to Gandhi: A 1939 Dialogue. Impact: M Buber's letter ignited passionate debates, leading to a ripple of conflicting ideologies throughout the 20th century. This one correspondence could be blamed for countless coffee shop arguments over hummus and pitas.. Fact: Did you know that Gandhi once tried to settle disputes with a diet of lettuce and a lot of optimism? Spoiler: it didn’t work out too well..
• Headline: Kissinger's Tribute in Israel. Impact: Kissinger's memorial speech was the catalyst for every future politician thinking they could solve global issues with a good soundbite. Spoiler alert: they can't.. Fact: Kissinger might have been the only person at that memorial who thought ‘victims’ could be a great name for a rock band..
• Headline: Survivors of the Pan Am Attack. Impact: The list of survivors became a grim reminder that aviation safety was still a fledgling concept. This event led to increased security checks, which eventually resulted in your shoes being scanned at airports.. Fact: Fun fact: before this incident, the most dangerous thing about flying was the in-flight food!.
• Headline: Honor for Volpe Reported. Impact: The naming of the terminal triggered a series of airport renovations around the world, leading to the modern-day airport experience where we now get to enjoy overpriced coffee and 3-hour security lines.. Fact: Logan Airport's new terminal was such a big deal that it was rumored to have its own fan club. Membership included frequent flyers and anyone who just really liked terminals..
• Headline: U.N. IS CONFIDENT OF GENEVA ROLE. Impact: The UN's optimism for the Geneva conference turned out to be a classic case of ‘hope springs eternal’—resulting in decades of diplomatic efforts that were about as effective as using a paper towel to fix a leaky faucet.. Fact: The UN has been confident about many things, including that one day, someone will invent a time machine. We’re still waiting..
• Headline: FED VOTED EASING IN MONEY POLICY. Impact: The Fed's indecision became a hallmark of central banking, leading future economists to develop a sense of humor about monetary policy—because who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh while discussing interest rates?. Fact: The Fed's meetings are basically a bunch of people in suits arguing while pretending they understand graphs—it's like a corporate version of a toddler’s tantrum..
• Headline: 2 New Stewardesses On Lufthansa Airliner. Impact: The hijacking incident led to stricter regulations around air travel, making sure that no future stewardess would have to deal with a flying circus of terror. So, thanks to this chaos, we now enjoy our peanuts with a side of peace.. Fact: Being a stewardess during this era was like being on a reality show where the stakes were literally life or death—talk about dramatic!.
• Headline: Wrong People. Impact: R Baker's witty comment became a rallying cry for those who believe that humor can solve complex issues, proving once again that laughter is the best medicine… until you need actual medicine.. Fact: Baker’s solutions were so humorous that even the energy crisis started giggling. Too bad it didn’t help with the actual energy bills..
• Headline: ARAB THREATENS ATHENS MASSACRE. Impact: The threats from Arab guerrillas set off a wave of security measures that would make even the most paranoid of us feel like we were living in a spy movie. Thanks to this, we now have metal detectors everywhere.. Fact: The phrase 'massacre in Athens' was so dramatic that it could have been the title of a B-movie. Spoiler: it didn’t have a happy ending..
• Headline: Shapiro Confirmed as du Pont Chief. Impact: Shapiro's ascension to du Pont's top position led to a series of corporate reshuffles that would eventually inspire a generation of CEOs to think they could fix anything with a PowerPoint presentation.. Fact: Being the CEO of du Pont means you probably get to play with more chemicals than a high school science lab. Just remember: safety goggles are not optional!.