Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
HEADLINES ON March 15, 1978
Full News Archive
- Headline: Bell Seeks Authority Over Government Lawyers. Impact: After Bell's power grab, the Justice Department became known for its overly enthusiastic interpretation of 'justice', leading to the formation of a secret society of government lawyers who held weekly karaoke nights where they would rewrite laws to fit their favorite songs.. Fact: In a stunning twist of fate, karaoke night was later cited in court as a groundbreaking legal strategy..
- Headline: Dayan Tells the Israelis That Egypt Does Not Require That Jordan Join in the Peace Talks. Impact: Dayan's announcement that Egypt didn't need Jordan to join peace talks caused a ripple effect, leading to a series of awkward family gatherings in the Middle East, where everyone had to explain why they weren't invited to the peace party.. Fact: The peace talks eventually became a popular reality TV show, 'Keeping Up with the Peace Process'..
- Headline: People and Business A.V . Shoemaker President of Blyth Eastman Dillon. Impact: A.V. Shoemaker's nomination of a diverse board for Blyth Eastman Dillon was the catalyst for a new trend in corporate governance, where companies began to hire outside directors based solely on their ability to bake the best cookies during board meetings.. Fact: The 'Cookie Vote' became a staple of corporate culture, leading to annual bake-offs that overshadowed actual decision-making..
- Headline: Wine Talk. Impact: The wine industry's opposition to warning labels on bottles led to a national movement called 'Drink Responsibly or Don't Drink at All', which ironically resulted in an increase in wine consumption among those who were determined to live dangerously.. Fact: This rebellion against warning labels ultimately led to the creation of the 'Wine Without Warnings' festival, which boasted record-breaking attendance..
- Headline: Technology. Impact: The panel's cautious approach to banning nitrites led to a prolonged debate that caused a meat preservation renaissance, where chefs began experimenting with bizarre preservation methods, including pickling steaks in soda.. Fact: This eventually resulted in a new culinary trend known as 'Soda-Cured Cuisine', which was loved by some and loathed by many..
- Headline: Rutgers Drops Plan To Appeal an Order To Readmit Student. Impact: Rutgers' decision to drop the appeal for a student's readmission became a symbol of the university's commitment to second chances, inspiring a wave of students to start applying to schools with their own unique admissions challenges, like 'Best Interpretive Dance'.. Fact: The trend of schools dropping appeals led to the rise of an underground movement known as 'Second Chance Academics'..
- Headline: Boston University Head Denies Admissions Are Sold. Impact: Boston University’s denial of selling admissions resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of colleges offering 'Pay-to-Play' scholarships, leading to a bizarre era where students were more likely to get into college based on their ability to finance a pizza party than their GPA.. Fact: The BU Exposure scandal ultimately inspired a documentary titled 'Admissions Gone Wild', which garnered more views than any educational program in history..
Wall Street Time Machine
WMT
Walmart
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1978, it would be worth $7,945,492 today (7945.5x return)
INTC
Intel
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1978, it would be worth $199,890 today (199.9x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1978, it would be worth $423,037 today (423.0x return)