NOVEMBER 24, 1976

Full News Archive

• Headline: Ohio Votes Recount Demand. Impact: The Ohio recount sparked a trend of endless recounts that eventually led to the creation of the National Committee for Counting Every Possible Outcome, or NCCOPO, which ultimately concluded that everyone had lost track of who actually won.. Fact: Did you know that recounts are basically the adult version of a kid saying, 'I want a do-over'? Because nothing says democracy like a good ol' second chance!.
• Headline: The Controversy of Lysenkoism. Impact: Lysenko's scientific legacy created a ripple effect that turned agriculture into a game of roulette—resulting in crops that were either incredibly bountiful or utterly disastrous, leading to the phrase 'Lysenko's Lottery' among farmers.. Fact: Did you know that Lysenko's theories were so popular in the Soviet Union that they could have made for a great reality TV show? 'Survivor: Agricultural Edition' would have been a hit!.
• Headline: Swine Flu Victim, Back on Job, Asserts Regular Flu Was Worse. Impact: Hardison's assertion about the flu sparked debates over what constitutes a 'real illness,' leading to an epidemic of people dramatically claiming they were 'sicker than they've ever been'—often over mild allergies.. Fact: Did you know that the regular flu has a reputation for being the 'quiet killer'? I guess it just doesn't know how to make a dramatic comeback like swine flu!.
• Headline: Marlborough Gallery Takes Over Disco Stock of Rothko‐Suit Figure. Impact: Rothko's legal battles with the Marlborough Gallery turned into a 'who owns the rights to art' saga, which eventually gave rise to the Art Heist Reality Show genre, where contestants steal back famous paintings—with varying degrees of success.. Fact: Did you know that the Rothko heirs thought they could just paint a new piece and call it a day? Because, you know, art is all about intuition and not actual ownership rights!.
• Headline: About Education. Impact: Van Nostrand's 'functional writing' course inspired a generation of students to craft papers that were so functional they could probably build a house—if only they could get past the first sentence!. Fact: Did you know that 'functional writing' is just a fancy way of saying, 'Let’s make sure you can write something without sounding like a robot'? Because nobody wants to read a paper written by HAL 9000!.