JUNE 12, 1977

Full News Archive

• Headline: Record Freshman Enrollment at UMass. Impact: The influx of 4,000 freshmen meant that the UMass cafeteria had to double its pizza supply, leading to a national pizza shortage that sparked a decade-long debate about cheese rationing in the US. Yes, all because students couldn't decide between pepperoni and veggie.. Fact: Did you know that the average UMass student consumes enough pizza in a year to fill a small swimming pool? Just kidding, it's more like a hot tub..
• Headline: End of Martial Law in Pakistan. Impact: The lifting of martial law in Pakistan was like opening a can of soda that had been shaken for years. This event set off a chain of political soda geysers that would eventually lead to a series of fizzing instability and occasional eruptions throughout the region.. Fact: Did you know that lifting martial law doesn’t come with a manual? Apparently, no one told Bhutto that the first rule is 'don’t leave the lid off'..
• Headline: Animal Importer in New Rochelle. Impact: Frederik J Zeehandelaar's big-game stalking in New Rochelle led to a bizarre trend of suburban residents adopting exotic pets, which culminated in a neighborhood that resembled a low-budget zoo. This eventually inspired a reality TV show that is still embarrassing to this day.. Fact: Did you know that importing animals for zoos is not as glamorous as it sounds? It mostly involves a lot of paperwork and the occasional angry giraffe..
• Headline: Corruption In a Prison. Impact: The contraband scandal in Brooklyn's House of Detention caused a ripple effect that led to stricter cookie regulations in prisons nationwide. Yes, inmates got really creative with their cookie smuggling, and now we have 'Oreo bans' to thank.. Fact: Did you know that contraband in prisons can sometimes be more valuable than gold? Apparently, a pack of smuggled gum can be traded for a small fortune..
• Headline: WASHINGTON REPORT. Impact: Efforts to control international commodity prices resulted in a global auction where countries started bidding for basic necessities. This led to the bizarre situation of countries being outbid for toilet paper, which is still a sore subject in several nations.. Fact: Did you know that controlling commodity prices is basically like trying to tame a wild cat? It always ends in chaos and someone getting scratched..
• Headline: The Power Of Jet Noise. Impact: The study linking jet noise to mental illness led to numerous 'silent zones' being established, which ironically resulted in a rise in people moving to those areas just to complain about the lack of excitement in their lives. Who knew silence could be so loud?. Fact: Did you know that there’s actually a thing called 'noise pollution'? I guess living next to an airport is one way to get constant reminders of your sanity’s fragility..
• Headline: Inside Young Jack Kennedy's World. Impact: The release of JFK's personal letters revealed that he was not only a political figure but also a meticulous budgeter. This sparked a trend among politicians to start keeping diaries, leading to the first-ever political memoir written entirely in doodles.. Fact: Did you know that JFK's letters were so detailed they could have been published as a budgeting guide? 'Kennedy’s Guide to Financial Freedom'—a bestseller, if only it existed..
• Headline: Student Leaders Arrested,. Impact: The arrest of student leaders in South Africa sparked international outrage that led to the creation of a global 'Student Activist' brand. This brand would go on to sell overpriced t-shirts that would ironically fund the very systems they were protesting.. Fact: Did you know that student protests often lead to the creation of movements that look great in theory but end up with a lot of merchandise? Talk about capitalism at its finest!.
• Headline: SCIENCE GROUP FEARS SEA RESEARCH LIMITS. Impact: The fight over ocean research rights eventually led to a massive underwater conference where nations argued over who had the best marine selfies. This ridiculous competition resulted in a series of treaties based entirely on who could take the best fish picture.. Fact: Did you know that the ocean covers over 70% of the Earth? So when nations argue over it, they’re essentially fighting over a giant wet selfie stick..
• Headline: $6,498,117 Track Handle 2d Highest at Belmont. Impact: The massive betting handle at Belmont sparked a frenzy of horse betting that led to the first horse-racing reality show, where horses competed in more than just speed—think obstacle courses and talent shows. Yes, horses could sing too.. Fact: Did you know that betting on horses is basically the horse version of reality TV? The only difference is that the horses are actually more interesting than most contestants..