Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON September 5, 1979
Full News Archive
- Headline: Carter Appeals for Help On Hospital Costs Plan. Impact: Carter's appeal for help on hospital costs led to the establishment of the first-ever 'Medicare Bake Sale', where cookies were sold at exorbitant prices to fund hospital bills, proving once and for all that sugar can’t fix health care.. Fact: Asking community leaders for help is like asking a cat for advice on how to train a dog—it's just not going to end well..
- Headline: Expansion Blocked, Aspen Institute Is Leaving Its Namesake City. Impact: The Aspen Institute's move prompted the creation of the 'Aspen Institute Lite', a streamlined version that only discusses ideas while sipping herbal tea in yoga poses, thus revolutionizing intellectual discussions.. Fact: Zoning fights are the adult version of playground disputes—only instead of fighting over swings, you're arguing about the square footage of upscale residences..
- Headline: Live Shows Pack Amusement Parks. Impact: The popularity of live shows in amusement parks led to the establishment of 'Theatrical Rides', where roller coasters would have dramatic plot twists mid-ride, making you question your life choices while upside down.. Fact: Live shows at amusement parks are basically the adult version of storytime, but with more screaming and less chance of napping on a comfy pillow..
- Headline: South Africa Oil Plan May Be Hard to Sell. Impact: South Africa's oil plan backfired, leading to the creation of a bizarre new trend where nations attempted to license their own 'secret sauce' for converting coal to oil, resulting in the Great Condiment Wars of the 1980s.. Fact: Licensing processes can be so complicated that they make a Rubik's Cube look like a game of tic-tac-toe—good luck figuring that one out!.
- Headline: Seoul's G.N.P. Growth Slows. Impact: The slowdown in Seoul's G.N.P. growth led to a nationwide panic that resulted in the invention of the 'K-Pop Economic Stimulus Package', which involved choreographed dance-offs to boost morale.. Fact: South Korea's economy has had more ups and downs than a K-Pop idol's hair color—just when you think you’ve grasped it, they change it all again!.
- Headline: Careers. Impact: The entrepreneurial spirit of the youth led to an explosion of start-up businesses, many of which were centered around the concept of 'remote work'—a term that initially meant working from bed and later evolved into 'the couch economy'.. Fact: Young entrepreneurs are the only people who can turn a coffee shop corner into a boardroom, a trend that has led to the invention of the 'business latte'..
- Headline: TITO, IN CUBA, BIDS THIRD WORLD AVOID TIES TO BIG POWERS. Impact: Tito's call for Third World nations to avoid ties with big powers led to an international dance-off, where countries showcased their cultural dances instead of signing treaties, proving that sometimes the best diplomacy is done on the dance floor.. Fact: The phrase 'third world' was coined in the Cold War era, but in today's world, it simply means countries with fewer Starbucks locations than the U.S..
Wall Street Time Machine
WMT
Walmart
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1979, it would be worth $6,997,064 today (6997.1x return)
INTC
Intel
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1979, it would be worth $199,890 today (199.9x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1979, it would be worth $417,979 today (418.0x return)