DECEMBER 8, 1991

Full News Archive

• Headline: Florida's Manatee Conservation Spot. Impact: The establishment of Florida's Refuge for the Manatee led to a nationwide obsession with manatees, resulting in the rise of 'manatee-themed' everything—think inflatable pool toys, coffee mugs, and birthday parties. Manatees became the unofficial mascot of lazy afternoons and procrastination.. Fact: Did you know that manatees are often called 'sea cows'? Because apparently, calling them 'gentle giants of the sea' wasn't catchy enough..
• Headline: More Grandparents Taking Over Custody. Impact: As more grandparents took over custody, society began to see an unexpected rise in hip grandparent roles in media, leading to the creation of the 'Cool Grandma' archetype—thanks for making us all feel inadequate, Fred and Alice!. Fact: Fun fact: Grandparents are statistically more likely to spoil their grandchildren than parents. So, if you're ever curious why kids are so sugar-crazed, just follow the grandparent trail!.
• Headline: Afoot in a State Not Known for Hiking. Impact: The revelation that Florida is home to hiking trails caused a minor existential crisis among hikers around the world, leading to a movement where they started reassessing their definitions of 'mountains' and 'real hiking.'. Fact: Did you know that Florida's highest peak is just 345 feet? That's not a mountain; that's a glorified speed bump!.
• Headline: FORUM; A Failure of Nerve on Banking Reform. Impact: The Bush Administration's failure to act on banking reform set off a chain reaction that eventually led to the 2008 financial crisis, where the only thing that made headlines more than the economic collapse was how many cats were rescued during it.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'too big to fail' was coined after banks had already failed? It’s like saying 'I'm too cool to trip' right before you faceplant..
• Headline: Fairfield Pins Hope on Basketball Coach. Impact: The hope pinned on the basketball coach at Fairfield University created a ripple effect of unrealistic expectations, resulting in generations of students who believed they could win a championship with just one good pep talk.. Fact: Fun fact: Basketball coaching is just like parenting—lots of shouting and occasionally wondering where you went wrong..
• Headline: OUTDOORS; A Trail for Those Seeking 'Friendship From the Wilderness'. Impact: The creation of a trail for those seeking 'Friendship From the Wilderness' gave rise to a generation of people who now think hiking is the solution to all of life's problems. Spoiler: it’s not.. Fact: Did you know that Dahlonega was once a gold-mining town? Now it’s just mining for tourists who want to take selfies with trees instead..