JANUARY 1, 1932

Full News Archive

• Headline: New Year's Celebration in NYC 1932. Impact: The outpouring of hope on New Year's Eve set off a chain reaction of optimism. This optimism led to the invention of the 'New Year's Resolution,' which has since caused countless gym memberships to go unused each January. Thanks a lot, 1932!. Fact: Did you know that the tradition of celebrating New Year's with parties dates back to ancient Babylon, where they partied so hard that they invented the concept of 'regret'?.
• Headline: British Unemployment Rate Declines. Impact: The drop in unemployment was like a cosmic wink at the job market, leading to a brief period where people actually thought they could find work. This eventually resulted in the invention of the phrase 'job security'—a mythical concept that still haunts the workforce today.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'unemployment rate' was coined to sound less scary than 'a lot of people without jobs'? Because who doesn't love a good euphemism?.
• Headline: Food Relief Measures During the Great Depression. Impact: By issuing food relief guidance, the government inadvertently sparked the rise of social media influencers who now promote diets that cost thousands. Thank you, 1932, for paving the way for avocado toast!. Fact: Did you know that cod-liver oil was once considered a superfood? Because who wouldn't want to be super while tasting like a fish market?.
• Headline: MOVIE MEN DENY GUILT.; 22 of Operators' Union Plead to Charges of Attacking Colleagues.. Impact: The denial of guilt by movie men led to the eventual rise of reality TV—because if they can deny, then surely everyone can just pretend to be someone else for fame and fortune. Thanks, Hollywood!. Fact: Did you know that the original idea for reality TV came from watching people deny their wrongdoings? It’s like a live-action soap opera, but with worse acting..
• Headline: Chicago Radio Strike Is Averted.. Impact: Averting the radio strike might have prevented an entire generation from experiencing what life was like without constant background noise. Thanks to this contract, we now have endless hours of podcast content to drown out our thoughts!. Fact: Did you know that before radio, people had to entertain themselves with actual conversation? The horror!.
• Headline: Brazilian City Runs Three Days On Gas From Low-Grade Coffee. Impact: Running a city on gas from low-grade coffee could very well have inspired today's coffee culture, leading to overpriced lattes and the need for caffeine-fueled productivity. Thanks, Nictheroy, for jumpstarting the coffee addiction industry!. Fact: Did you know that if coffee beans could talk, they’d probably complain about being roasted to a crisp before being brewed into a bitter cup of reality?.
• Headline: Would Defend Chinchow.. Impact: Defending Chinchow might have led to the modern concept of 'turf wars,' which we now see in everything from urban neighborhoods to social media arguments over cat videos.. Fact: Did you know that fines collected by traffic courts are just a fancy way of saying 'we're going to take your money'? It’s like a toll booth for making bad decisions..
• Headline: N.Y. Central Ends Free Parking at 6 Stations; Plazas Let to Concern Charging 25-Cent Fee. Impact: Ending free parking at stations was a bold move that set off a series of unfortunate events, including the rise of ride-sharing apps. Thanks, N.Y. Central, for making us all dependent on our smartphones!. Fact: Did you know that free parking is like the unicorn of urban planning? Everyone talks about it, but it rarely exists outside of fairy tales!.