SEPTEMBER 27, 1979

Full News Archive

• Headline: Review of 'Love's Labour's Lost'. Impact: The successful production of 'Love's Labour's Lost' sparked a global renaissance of Shakespearean enthusiasm, leading to a bizarre fad where people started naming their pets after minor characters in the play. Congratulations, you now have a cat named Moth.. Fact: Did you know that Shakespeare originally wrote this play to confuse audiences into thinking they understood love? Spoiler: they didn't..
• Headline: Cubic's Success in Fare Collection Systems. Impact: Cubic's advancements in fare systems ultimately led to a world where people began to believe they could pay for anything with a swipe of their card, resulting in the infamous 'Swipe and Forget' epidemic where people forgot their wallets existed.. Fact: Fun fact: Walter J Zable once tried to pay for a coffee with a fare card. It didn't work, but he got a free lesson in reality..
• Headline: Met Opera's ‘Le Prophète’ Premieres. Impact: Meyerbeer's 'Le Prophète' became a viral sensation that led to opera being seen as the new rock 'n' roll, causing a sudden spike in leather jackets worn by opera fans across the globe.. Fact: Did you know that Marilyn Horne’s dramatic performances once convinced a pigeon to audition for a role in the opera? True story..
• Headline: New Suffolk Law Bars All Repricing of Items On a Grocer's Shelves. Impact: The Suffolk law against price repricing led to a black market for grocery items, with secretive exchanges happening in dark alleyways where people bartered for marked-down milk and bread.. Fact: Did you know that this law was initially proposed by a disgruntled shopper who just really hated changing prices? Now that’s commitment..
• Headline: Ford Opposes Arms Pact Unless U.S. Builds Strength. Impact: Ford's opposition to the arms pact caused a ripple effect in military spending, which led to the infamous 'War of the Budget' where Congress fought over who could allocate the most funds for tanks that no one actually knew how to operate.. Fact: Did you know that Gerald Ford once tried to lift weights to prove his strength? He lifted a budget report instead. Spoiler: it was heavy..
• Headline: Amid Urban Decay, Reflections on Pope's Visit. Impact: The reflections on the Pope’s visit sparked an unexpected movement for urban renewal, which was ironically fueled by the very decay it aimed to fix, resulting in hipster coffee shops popping up in abandoned buildings.. Fact: Did you know that when Pope John Paul II visited, he inadvertently blessed an entire generation of street art? Talk about divine inspiration!.
• Headline: ‘John Who?’ Gets Fast Start In New Hampshire Primary. Impact: 'John Who?' becoming a fast starter in New Hampshire led to the creation of a new political strategy known as the 'Mystery Candidate' approach, which encouraged politicians to campaign while wearing disguises to make themselves seem more intriguing.. Fact: Did you know that 'John Who?' was originally going to be named 'John Who Cares?' but they decided it was too on the nose?.
• Headline: Presidential Politics Rides the Subways. Impact: The politicking between Gov Carey and Goldschmidt over transit funds resulted in a series of subway-themed political cartoons that ultimately convinced New Yorkers that their subways were actually portals to alternate dimensions.. Fact: Did you know that the Westway project was almost renamed 'Westway to Nowhere'? It was a fitting title for a project that just never seemed to get off the ground..
• Headline: Goodyear Tire Shipments. Impact: Goodyear's winter tire shipments becoming 8% ahead led to an unexpected tire shortage in summer, creating a new subculture of 'summer tire enthusiasts' who proudly displayed their unused winter tires on their front lawns.. Fact: Did you know that Goodyear once considered making tires out of marshmallows? Turns out they couldn't handle the heat. Literally..