MAY 23, 1979

Full News Archive

• Headline: Impact of Paper Shortage on Advertising. Impact: The paper shortage sparked an underground movement of magazine executives forming a secret society dedicated to hoarding paper supplies, leading to an eventual black market for glossy magazine pages.. Fact: Fun fact: in the world of print media, paper shortages can cause more drama than a reality TV show. Who needs plot twists when you have supply chain issues?.
• Headline: Sohio Rejects Pipeline Despite Oil Surplus. Impact: This refusal to build a pipeline set off a chain reaction, resulting in oil tycoons developing a new hobby: competitive whining. Today, they meet weekly to discuss their feelings over brunch.. Fact: Oil companies saying no to pipelines is like a teenager saying no to dessert—it's a big deal, but we all know they’ll eventually cave..
• Headline: `Gasoline Alley’ Fans Told Alley Lacks Gas. Impact: The gasoline shortage led to a cultural renaissance in Indianapolis where people began to embrace cycling and public transport, inadvertently giving rise to the hipster bike movement decades early. Thanks, gas crisis!. Fact: Ironically, the Indianapolis 500 became the Indianapolis 100—because that's about how many laps people could drive with the gas they had!.
• Headline: Witness Against Talmadge. Impact: The political intrigue surrounding this witness statement led to a series of dramatic courtroom shows in the future, inspiring a new genre of television: political thrillers based on real life. How riveting!. Fact: Witnesses in political cases often end up with more drama than a Shakespearean play. And just like Shakespeare, the audience is usually confused..
• Headline: Bombs Believed Planted by I.R.A. Destroy Ulster Real Estate Office. Impact: The bombings resulted in tighter security measures and a heightened sense of paranoia, leading to the creation of the world's first 'Keep Calm and Carry On' merchandise—only it was more 'Keep Calm and Hide Under Your Desk.'. Fact: In the world of real estate, nothing says 'location, location, location' like a firebomb. Talk about a hot property!.
• Headline: Small A‐War Is Called Survivable. Impact: This study became the basis for countless science fiction novels about nuclear fallout, eventually inspiring a generation of doomsday preppers who thought they could survive anything, even a bad hair day.. Fact: Survivable nuclear conflicts sound like a fun weekend project, right? Just add friends, some snacks, and a bunker!.
• Headline: COAST GAS SCARCITY HURTS LEISURE SPOTS. Impact: The shortage at amusement spots led to creative alternatives for entertainment, such as 'Gas-Free Fun Days' where families learned to enjoy nature, only to realize they didn't actually like it that much.. Fact: When gas is scarce, you find out just how much fun you can have with a picnic and a frisbee. Spoiler: it's not as much as you thought!.
• Headline: CARTER BIDS TO LIFT BANK‐INTEREST CURB. Impact: Carter's proposal to lift the interest curb led to a confusing jumble of financial jargon that still haunts bank tellers today; the phrase 'consumer loans' became synonymous with 'confusing paperwork.'. Fact: Proposing to lift interest curbs is like suggesting a buffet at a weight loss clinic—everyone's curious, but nobody really knows if it's a good idea..