AUGUST 29, 1977

Full News Archive

• Headline: Mrs. Abzug Critiques NYC Park Conditions. Impact: Mrs. Abzug's passionate assault on park conditions inadvertently inspired a generation of eco-warriors. Fast forward to the 1990s, and suddenly everyone's hugging trees and chaining themselves to park benches, all because someone decided to complain about a broken swing.. Fact: In a shocking twist, the parks still haven't been fixed, but at least we have yoga classes in the grass now. Progress?.
• Headline: Disguise Deception at Sears Store. Impact: This daring robbery by a fake guard caused an unforeseen spike in security training. Little did the robber know, he created a new career path for ex-cops and paranoid parents everywhere.. Fact: Imagine being so bad at being a criminal that you have to impersonate someone else just to commit a crime. Talk about a lack of originality!.
• Headline: Clark Resumes His Walking Campaign in Iowa. Impact: Senator Dick Clark's walking campaign may have inspired future politicians to use exercise as a gimmick. One day, we might see a candidate jogging across America to earn votes—because nothing says 'I care' like sweating profusely.. Fact: Walking campaigns are great, but if only he had combined it with a dance-off, maybe he would have actually won!.
• Headline: 10 Women Are Due to Win Air Force Wings. Impact: The first women pilots receiving wings marked the beginning of a slow but steady rise in women in military roles, eventually leading to today's female fighter pilots. Who knew a few wings could change the skies forever?. Fact: Today, the Air Force is still trying to figure out how to deal with women in combat roles—spoiler alert: they can fly just as well as the men..
• Headline: Metropolitan Briefs. Impact: Linda Catapano's escape from Rikers Island led to an uptick in prison break movies. Thanks, Linda! Hollywood loves a good escape story almost as much as it loves remaking classic films.. Fact: Rikers is notorious for its escapes—who knew it was just a testing ground for future action heroes?.
• Headline: Cross‐Country Jogger Starting From City Hall Today for West Coast. Impact: Tom McGrath's cross-country jog inspired a plethora of road trip movies where characters discover themselves while running. Spoiler alert: nobody ever actually finishes the run.. Fact: This jog probably took longer than any marathon ever—let's just say the guy had a lot of time to contemplate his life choices..
• Headline: A Tenant Checks Out, Leaving 7,000 Library Books. Impact: Armando's discovery of 7,000 library books from an absconded tenant may have triggered the modern-day quest for overdue book accountability. Libraries everywhere are now just waiting for the next tenant to flee with the encyclopedias.. Fact: Meanwhile, the tenant probably had a great reason for bailing—like realizing that 7,000 technical books are a bit much for a one-bedroom apartment..
• Headline: Assad Favors Peace With Israel, But Rejects Any Closer Relations. Impact: Assad's lukewarm approach to peace with Israel created an endless loop of tense diplomacy that would echo through decades of Middle Eastern relations, ultimately leading to the phrase 'peace process' becoming a euphemism for stagnation.. Fact: In the world of politics, saying 'I favor peace' while simultaneously rejecting it is like saying you love pizza but refuse to eat it. Just a tad contradictory!.