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 January 30, 1983
Full News Archive
- Headline: Micah Williams: Self-Taught Pastel Portraits. Impact: Micah Williams's pastel portraits inspired a future generation of self-taught artists, leading to an underground movement where aspiring Van Goghs create masterpieces in their basements, often while wearing pajamas and eating Cheetos.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'self-taught artist' is often just a fancy way of saying they didn’t want to pay for art school?.
- Headline: Asparagus: A Gardener's Delight. Impact: The discovery of easy asparagus growing led to an asparagus boom, resulting in a bizarre 2040 fad where people only wore clothes made from asparagus fibers. Fashion designers were perplexed.. Fact: Did you know that asparagus can make your pee smell funny? Now that’s what I call a fragrant garden!.
- Headline: Iceboat Championship Prepares in Mecox Bay. Impact: Thomas Halsey’s iceboating victory launched a series of increasingly ridiculous competitions, culminating in a global iceboat Olympics where participants skated on actual frozen syrup.. Fact: Did you know that iceboating is basically just sailing, but with a higher chance of falling through the ice? Sounds like a win-win!.
- Headline: NEW JERSEY GUIDE; ACCLAIMED QUARTET. Impact: The Guarneri String Quartet’s acclaim sparked a classical music renaissance, leading to a world where every coffee shop had a string quartet playing while you sipped your overpriced latte.. Fact: Did you know that the 'almost too good to be true' label is often used to describe relationships as well? Just ask anyone who's been on a dating app..
- Headline: CRAFTS; A SHANGRI-LA FOR WEAVERS. Impact: The Craft Skella's tranquil vibe inspired a national movement of students abandoning exams to pursue weaving, leading to a fabric shortage and a rise in the popularity of pants made from old concert t-shirts.. Fact: Did you know that weaving is just another word for 'pretending to be productive'? Look at those threads go!.
- Headline: A CITY CONSIDERS PRIVATE FIRE SERVICE. Impact: The approval of private fire services resulted in the bizarre phenomenon of firefighters wearing branded uniforms, leading to sponsorships from fast food chains. 'Flame-grilled burgers, extinguished fires!'. Fact: Did you know that if you call fire services and they don’t respond, it’s usually just because they’re too busy taking selfies with the flames?.
- Headline: GARDENING; YEARS OF ASPARAGUS FROM LITTLE LABOR. Impact: The asparagus craze not only made it the favorite vegetable of the decade but also led to asymmetrical asparagus hairstyles in the '80s, proving that everything is cyclical, even bad fashion.. Fact: Did you know that asparagus was once considered an aphrodisiac? Maybe that explains all those awkward dinner dates!.
- Headline: THE TALK OF MERRICK ROAD; WHERE DEVOTION TO THE CAR IS A WAY OF LIFE. Impact: The obsession with cars on Merrick Road resulted in a future where people communicate exclusively through car horns, leading to the invention of a 'Horn Language Dictionary.'. Fact: Did you know that auto repair shops are just a front for secret car cults? They worship the holy engine!.
- Headline: SCHOLARS WITHOUT SCHOOLS. Impact: Tom Adams's basement workshop became the birthplace of a new educational movement, where students learned through hands-on science experiments, eventually leading to a nation of mad scientists.. Fact: Did you know that basement workshops are the original 'maker spaces'? Just add a few beakers and you’re ready to take over the world!.
Wall Street Time Machine
WMT
Walmart
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1983, it would be worth $784,047 today (784.0x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1983, it would be worth $188,194 today (188.2x return)