Time capsule from 1966: When news froze in a different plane
ET copies preserved after a plane crash in the French Alps redefines glacial pace.
By ET Bureau |
AFP
The copies of ET were found in a much better condition than what you may have sold your kabadiwala.
A time capsule is a wondrous thing — while the world moves on, its contents remain fixed in time, waiting for the future to catch up, a day at a time. Its accidental discovery is even more wondrous, the ‘wondrousness’ spilling over to miraculous proportions when one finds something familiar buried in time.
Now, who would have thought that under a melting glacier of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Indian newspapers from 1966 — including your favourite The Economic Times — were buried waiting to be re-read?
A restaurant owner near a ski resort in Chamonix has stumbled across the remains of what are most likely to be items from a Mumbai-New York Air India plane that crashed on January 24, 1966, killing all 117 souls on board.
The copies of ET that have been found — intact, in a much better condition than what you may have sold your kabadiwala — carried news that included Indira Gandhi elected as India’s first woman PM (she would be sworn in a few days later).
Remember, this paper was then five years old, and was not your familiar pink. Finding newspapers preserved under ice like ancient flies caught in prehistoric amber isn’t just about being nostalgic about newspapers, but also about fondly remembering time.
In this case, the events of Thursday, January 19, 1966, encrusted in the fateful next day’s edition.
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Decoding Black Friday: A Glance At History, The Dark Side & India Connect Of The Shopping Festival
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If you like to indulge in retail therapy every now and then, it is important for you to know that several brands are coming up with a ‘Black Friday’ sale. While you might want to make the most of these offers, it is also essential for you to understand what this day stands for.
Back in the 1950s, when Thanksgiving was a national holiday (which falls on the fourth Thursday of November), several people in the US used to call in sick from work on Friday so that they could enjoy an uninterrupted four-day-long weekend.
Since Christmas was technically just a month away, several stores were open on Friday and people visited them to get a headstart on their Christmas shopping (hoping their bosses wouldn’t see them).
However, the term ‘Black Friday’ appeared in print for the first time in 1966.
If you like to indulge in retail therapy every now and then, it is important for you to know that several brands are coming up with a ‘Black Friday’ sale. While you might want to make the most of t..
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If you’re unfamiliar with Black Friday, it’s possible that at first, you thought the phrase has a negative connotation. Why else would it contain the word ‘black’ in it? The reason, though, is a bit complicated. Since the day after Thanksgiving used to be the busiest shopping day in America, it led to vehicular traffic jams and disruptive pedestrian traffic. Initially, the term was used in Philadelphia to describe the inconvenience it caused to the general public.
What’s more? The retailers and shopkeepers made a lot of profit on the day. As a result, they were going from being ‘in the red’ to being ‘in the black’. In business terms, being in the ‘black’ means making profits or enough money without having to worry about going bankrupt.
Being in the ‘red’, on the other hand, is used for showing a deficit and running into losses.
If you’re unfamiliar with Black Friday, it’s possible that at first, you thought the phrase has a negative connotation. Why else would it contain the word ‘black’ in it? The reason, though, is a bit ..
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Since Black Friday falls a day after Thanksgiving, it is regarded as the beginning of America’s Christmas shopping season. Several retailers, stores and huge brands offer massive discounts on the day, and as a result, a large number of people visit these stores. Most of these stores end up opening early (some even open at midnight or on Thanksgiving Day) to large queues of people.
Several reputed brands such as Apple, Morphe and OnePlus offer the best deals on Black Friday, and make lots of profit from the footfalls.
Since Black Friday falls a day after Thanksgiving, it is regarded as the beginning of America’s Christmas shopping season. Several retailers, stores and huge brands offer massive discounts on the day..
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While the origin of the term ‘Black Friday’ was free from negative connotations, over a period of time, it came to be associated with stampedes, violence and unfortunate incidents. Since the year 2006, there have been 12 reported deaths and 117 injuries on this day.
One reason why Black Friday leads to mishappenings is that the shoppers, in an effort to secure a place in front of the queue and buy their favourite items, put their safety at risk. This involves blocking fire exits and emergency access.
Black Friday has also been criticised for promoting consumerism and capitalism as people often end up buying things they don’t need. It is also argued that the overproduction of goods during this time leads to climate change.
While the origin of the term ‘Black Friday’ was free from negative connotations, over a period of time, it came to be associated with stampedes, violence and unfortunate incidents. Since the year 200..
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The Black Friday frenzy is catching up with Indians, and a large number of desi brands have started offering products on discounted rates on this day. Several international tech brands, too, have sales in India.
Tech giant Xiaomi, for instance, is starting its Black Friday sale from November 29, which will go up till December 2. The smartphone company is likely to launch a new product during the sale. With more brands capitalising on the occasion, it will be interesting to see how Black Friday is being celebrated in India with the same fervour and excitement.
The Black Friday frenzy is catching up with Indians, and a large number of desi brands have started offering products on discounted rates on this day. Several international tech brands, too, have sal..
