JULY 17, 1983

Full News Archive

• Headline: Leonia's Crackdown on Drunk Driving. Impact: This crackdown on drunken drivers led to the invention of the Uber app a few decades later. Had the police not waved that car to the curb, ride-sharing might still be a twinkle in a tech entrepreneur's eye.. Fact: Did you know that in some countries, they don't even have a word for 'designated driver'? Just imagine the cultural confusion!.
• Headline: New FDA Guidelines for Prescription Drug Packaging. Impact: This push for better drug information could have led to the rise of the internet, where now everyone thinks they are a doctor after a quick Google search. Thanks, FDA!. Fact: Did you know that some people still think taking advice from their friends on social media is better than reading an FDA leaflet? Good luck with that!.
• Headline: Exploring Cape Cod's Unique Communities. Impact: The endless subdivisions of Cape Cod helped inspire the creation of GPS technology decades later, as people desperately tried to figure out where they were in this maze of 'Upper' and 'Lower'.. Fact: Did you know that Cape Cod is actually just one big marketing ploy to sell overpriced lobster rolls to tourists? Shh, don’t tell the natives!.
• Headline: REVAMPING NATURE TO SAVE BIRDLIFE. Impact: Revamping nature to save birdlife may have unintentionally sparked the entire environmental movement, leading to today’s discussions about climate change and recycling. All thanks to those little terns!. Fact: Did you know that least terns are called 'least' because they’re the smallest in their family? At least they don't have an identity crisis like some humans!.
• Headline: CUOMO INTERVENES IN L.I. ISSUE. Impact: Cuomo's intervention in local issues likely set a precedent for future politicians to 'pretend' they care about community concerns, which is still a popular tactic today.. Fact: Did you know that politicians meeting with constituents is often referred to as 'performative empathy'? It’s like acting but with more handshakes and fewer scripts!.
• Headline: WHAT'S NEW AT THE F.D.A.; GENERICS: GAME OF BEAT-THE-CLOCK. Impact: The battle between brand-name and generic drugs has only escalated, leading to a world where people are still confused about whether to pay $300 for a drug or $30 for the same thing with a different label.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'patent' is derived from a Latin word meaning 'to be open'? Ironically, it’s also how open the market is to confusion for consumers!.
• Headline: FOR SUNBATHERS, THREAT OF SKIN CANCER PERSISTS. Impact: The warnings about skin cancer led to an entire industry of sunscreen products, turning beaches into a bizarre mix of sunbathers and people slathered in SPF 1000 looking like ghosts.. Fact: Did you know that the average person thinks they can outsmart the sun? Spoiler alert: they can't, and that's why dermatologists have jobs!.
• Headline: ANTIQUES; QUILTS: GOOD ONES AND GREAT ONES. Impact: The evolution of quilts from basic to intricate designs inspired future artists to embrace textiles as a legitimate form of art, leading to what we now call 'craftivism'.. Fact: Did you know that quilt-making was once considered a domestic chore? Now it’s an art form, proving that everything can become trendy if you slap 'art' on it!.
• Headline: 'FREEZE GIRL' BACKED ON VIEWS. Impact: Ariela Gross's early reading habits are likely to have inspired a generation of overachievers who think reading at 3 is the key to world domination. Spoiler: it’s not.. Fact: Did you know that the European Center for Nuclear Research is often abbreviated as CERN? Because 'Nuclear Research Center' was just too long for a coffee mug!.