FEBRUARY 4, 1979

Full News Archive

• Headline: The Iranian Oil Gap Impact Explained. Impact: The Iranian Oil Gap led to a chain reaction where gas prices spiked, causing people to invent carpooling and ultimately leading to the creation of the 'carpool karaoke' phenomenon. Thanks, Schlesinger!. Fact: Did you know that Exxon once tried to brand themselves as 'the good oil company'? Spoiler alert: it didn’t work..
• Headline: Mr. Teng's Historic US Visit. Impact: Teng's triumph was the spark that ignited a thousand memes in the future, leading to a global obsession with political handshakes that somehow became more significant than actual policies.. Fact: Fun fact: 'dexterity' in politics often refers to how well you can dodge questions in a press conference..
• Headline: REGIONS. Impact: Trudeau's reluctance for a parliamentary election resulted in the eventual rise of social media influencers who would later use politics as a backdrop for their latest skincare routines.. Fact: In Canada, the unemployment rate differences are so stark that it's basically the national sport of 'who's got it worse?'.
• Headline: LEGAL TANGLES MIRE CALIFORNIA CHURCH. Impact: The California church dispute led to a divine intervention where churchgoers invented potluck dinners to distract from their legal woes, thus saving countless casserole recipes from extinction.. Fact: Legal tangles in churches often involve more drama than a reality TV show, minus the cameras. Or maybe with them, who knows?.
• Headline: REGIONS. Impact: The mishandling of Iran's economic priorities became a classic cautionary tale that led future politicians to avoid taking economic advice from anyone who wears sunglasses indoors.. Fact: Mishandled priorities in Iran set off discussions about economic disparities that still echo in policy debates today—like a broken record, but with more tea..
• Headline: Sugar Refinery Reaches Accord For 7 Percent New Orleans Raise. Impact: The sugar refinery's agreement was the beginning of the sweet tooth revolution, which led to an increase in candy consumption and the eventual establishment of 'National Chocolate Day.'. Fact: Amalgamated Meat Cutters? Sounds like a group of butchers who decided they needed a cooler name for their union..
• Headline: U.S. and Iran Seeking To Cancel Arms Deals Of at Least $8 Billion. Impact: The cancellation of arms deals with Iran prompted a series of awkward diplomatic dinners where everyone pretended that the elephant in the room was actually just a really big appetizer.. Fact: Cancelling an $8 billion arms deal is like breaking up with someone but still having to see them at family reunions—awkward and expensive..
• Headline: Number of Strikes in ‘78 Reached a 13‐Year Low. Impact: The record low strikes in '78 led to the rise of workplace wellness programs, which included yoga classes that were often just a ruse to get everyone to stop complaining.. Fact: 39 million working days lost to strikes sounds like a lot, but it's just the universe's way of telling us to take a break. Or a very long coffee break..