Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON September 5, 1975
Full News Archive
- Headline: Beane Supports Fiscal Revision Plans. Impact: As Beane backed the Carey plan, a chain reaction occurred where every fiscal revision since then has been filled with bureaucratic red tape, leading to the creation of the world's first 'Fiscal Crisis Day' where everyone pretends to care about budgets.. Fact: In the world of city finances, saying 'fiscal crisis' is just a fancy way of saying 'we need to borrow money from our friends.'.
- Headline: Pension Fund for Horse Racing Stablehands. Impact: The establishment of the pension fund for stablehands inadvertently led to the rise of the world's first horse racing-themed retirement community, where residents reminisce about their glory days of betting on horses that never won.. Fact: Stablehands are the unsung heroes of horse racing. Without them, horses would just be expensive lawn ornaments..
- Headline: SADAT SAYS SOVIET IS TRYING TO SPLIT ARABS OVER SINAI. Impact: Sadat’s accusations against the USSR caused a ripple effect that ultimately led to every Middle Eastern country arguing over who could throw the best diplomatic tantrum, achieving peak drama in the region.. Fact: The art of blaming the Soviets for everything is a tradition that has persisted through the ages, kind of like blaming your dog for eating your homework..
- Headline: MOVE TO CURB E.P.A. ON PESTICIDES LOSES. Impact: The defeat of the plan to curb the EPA on pesticides led to an explosion of DIY pesticide creation, resulting in more household experiments than a high school chemistry lab gone wrong.. Fact: Farmers have long believed that the best pesticide is just a mixture of 'whatever works' and 'please don't kill my crops'..
- Headline: WARM‐TONED MUSIC BY PEANUTS HUCKO. Impact: Peanuts Hucko’s warm-toned music inspired a generation of aspiring clarinetists to take up the instrument, leading to the infamous 'Clarinet Revolt' where silence was demanded in every neighborhood.. Fact: Clarinet performances are known for their ability to clear a room faster than a fire alarm—especially when played poorly!.
- Headline: U.S. Tells Schools They Must Assist Foreign‐Speaking. Impact: The HEW’s instructions for schools to assist foreign-speaking students sparked the creation of a revolutionary new language: 'School-ese,' which combines academic jargon with an unshakeable sense of confusion.. Fact: Keeping detailed discipline records is kind of like keeping a diary of all your bad decisions—at least it makes for interesting reading later..
- Headline: The Pop Life. Impact: The Sinatra-Basie-Fitzgerald engagement sold out so quickly it led to a national shortage of jazz, forcing people to start holding impromptu jazz sessions in their living rooms, complete with smoky air and questionable dance moves.. Fact: When it comes to jazz, the real secret isn't in the notes played, but in the swagger with which you play them. Or so they tell me..
- Headline: China Expected to Become A Major Producer of Oil. Impact: China's predicted rise as a major oil producer led to a global panic where every country began stockpiling oil, resulting in a bizarre reality where everyone started hoarding everything from motor oil to essential oils.. Fact: The phrase 'Black Gold' was originally coined for oil but now applies to that precious coffee you refuse to share with anyone..
- Headline: 22 Indicted in Bookmaking. Impact: The indictment of 22 individuals in a bookmaking network led to the rise of underground betting clubs, where your neighbor’s cat became the new 'house pet' of gambling odds.. Fact: Bookmaking is the only profession where you can lose money on a bet and still be invited to the party—if you're not in jail, that is..
Wall Street Time Machine
MO
Philip Morris
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1975, it would be worth $2,924,036 today (2924.0x return)
BA
Boeing
Boeing - If you invested $1,000 in 1975, it would be worth $1,159,830 today (1159.8x return)
WMT
Walmart
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1975, it would be worth $32,670,879 today (32670.9x return)