MAY 19, 1979

Full News Archive

• Headline: Proposed Driveless Day for Gasoline Conservation. Impact: This one-day break from driving led to a nationwide movement of couch potatoes who discovered the joys of binge-watching TV instead of facing the existential dread of commuting. Who knew the Netflix era was just a driveless day away?. Fact: Did you know that the first 'driveless day' was actually just the day before everyone discovered online shopping? Coincidence? I think not..
• Headline: Novel Insights from Venice's Canals. Impact: Muriel Spark's novel, reviewed on this day, sparked a literary revolution, leading to an influx of authors trying to out-weird each other, inevitably culminating in the bizarre dystopia we now call 'the bestsellers list.'. Fact: Fun fact: 'Territorial Rights' is not about land disputes but rather about who gets the last slice of cake at a literary party. Spoiler alert: It’s always the author..
• Headline: Orchestre de Paris Plays Romeo et Juliette. Impact: The performance of 'Romeo et Juliette' not only solidified Barenboim's reputation but also inadvertently caused a spike in teenage heartbreaks across the globe, leading to an increase in sad playlists and dramatic poetry.. Fact: Did you know that Barenboim once tried to conduct a symphony with interpretive dance? It didn't go well, but the audience still gave it a standing ovation for the effort..
• Headline: Britain Is Said to Plan For a Rhodesia Envoy. Impact: Thatcher's decision to send an envoy to Rhodesia ultimately led to an endless game of political musical chairs, where everyone is confused about who’s in charge and why no one is dancing.. Fact: Did you know that Rhodesia was once so popular it had its own fan club? They met weekly until they realized they were just discussing the weather..
• Headline: Billy Carter Says Peaniit Money Wasn't Diverted to ‘76 Campaign. Impact: Billy Carter's denial about peanut money led to the greatest peanut butter conspiracy theory in history, where millions believed that sandwiches were being secretly funded by the government to distract from more pressing issues. Spoiler: they were.. Fact: Did you know that Billy Carter once ran for president? His campaign slogan was 'Vote for me, I’m nuts!' It didn’t go far, but it did lead to a rise in peanut sales..
• Headline: Lid on Spot Oil Price Rejected. Impact: The rejection of the lid on oil prices resulted in a ripple effect that caused the world to spiral into an eternal battle over gas prices, leading to a generation of people who will never know what 'affordable' gas truly means.. Fact: Fun fact: Oil prices have been like that one friend who always shows up late and expects you to pay for their drinks. You just can't get rid of them..
• Headline: Exxon Says It Has Major Energy‐Saving Invention. Impact: Exxon's 'energy-saving invention' led to a future where everyone believed they could save the world with technology, completely ignoring the fact that they were still leaving their lights on 24/7.. Fact: Did you know that this 'alternating current synthesizer' was just a fancy way of saying, 'We can make your old stuff work better'? It’s like putting lipstick on a pig, but with more wires..
• Headline: Ballet: Bostonians Present A Bournonville Premiere. Impact: The Boston Ballet's premiere of Bournonville's work sparked a dance revolution, where every other city tried to outdo Boston with their own ballet premieres, ultimately leading to way too many tutus in the world.. Fact: Did you know that Bournonville was once mistaken for a pastry chef? His name sounds delicious, and many were disappointed to find out there were no actual pastries involved in his performances..
• Headline: Fellini ‘Rehearsal’ Screened at Cannes. Impact: The umpire dispute settlement had a domino effect that led to a series of labor negotiations in sports, ultimately resulting in athletes becoming millionaires for just throwing balls—while the rest of us are still figuring out how to throw a decent dinner party.. Fact: Fun fact: Umpires once considered a strike to be a pizza topping. It never caught on, but it did make for some interesting menu options at ballparks..
• Headline: Umpires’ Dispute Is Settled, With Return Slated Today.