MARCH 31, 1979

Full News Archive

• Headline: Nuclear Risks at Three Mile Island. Impact: The 'remote' meltdown risk at 3 Mile Island prompted an increase in public fear over nuclear power, leading to the creation of more stringent safety regulations that ultimately slowed down nuclear energy development. Who knew that a hydrogen bubble could bubble up a whole new era of energy debates?. Fact: Did you know that after this incident, some people actually believed that 'Three Mile Island' was a new roller coaster? Spoiler: it wasn't..
• Headline: Explore Casino Gambling at Baruch College. Impact: This course on casino gambling gave birth to a generation of professional gamblers. Many of them probably went on to become financial analysts, proving that knowing how to count cards can be just as effective as knowing how to count money.. Fact: Gambling courses are basically adult education's way of saying, 'Hey, at least you're learning something while losing your life savings!'.
• Headline: F.B.I. Spied on Brecht For 13 Years, File Shows. Impact: The FBI spying on Brecht shows the lengths governments will go to monitor dissenting voices. This event rippled through time by fueling the paranoia that led to countless conspiracy theories—many of which are still being discussed in basements today.. Fact: Did you know Brecht's real crime was being way too avant-garde for the FBI? I mean, who needs spies when you have artistic integrity?.
• Headline: Delay on U.S. Debt Ceiling Hurts Treasury and Financial Markets. Impact: The delay in raising the national debt ceiling sent shockwaves through financial markets, causing panic and leading to the 'Great Nervous Breakdown of Treasury Departments'—an event that still haunts financial analysts at 3 AM.. Fact: Did you know that Congress delaying the debt ceiling is basically like a kid refusing to clean their room until their parents go out? Spoiler: it never ends well..
• Headline: Lynn Anderson Tries to Go Pop. Impact: Lynn Anderson's attempt to go pop may have inspired countless country artists to crossover into pop music, forever altering the landscape of music genres and leading to the existence of songs that make your ears bleed.. Fact: Did you know that her career shift was fueled by the belief that 'pop' is just a fancy name for 'pandering to the masses'?.
• Headline: Books of The Times; Between Yes and No. Impact: William Trevor's book review could be seen as a catalyst for the literary community to embrace more profound themes of love and existentialism, which in turn led to a surge in book club meetings where everyone pretended to read the book.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Lovers of Their Time' was actually just a guide on how to avoid awkward small talk at parties. Spoiler alert: it didn't work..
• Headline: Crying With Denise. Impact: The story of Denise highlights systemic failures in education, leading to reforms that tried (and still try) to address the issues of passing students without proper skills—an ongoing saga that makes for great reality TV.. Fact: Did you know that some schools believed that promoting students without skills was a way of ensuring they could still attend prom? Because that’s how education works, right?.