MARCH 23, 1992

Full News Archive

• Headline: Litchfield Arts Beginnings in 1981. Impact: Had Vita Muir not hosted that living room concert, the world might have been deprived of countless awkward small talk moments about classical music at parties. Imagine a universe where people could only converse about pop hits. Scary, right?. Fact: Vita Muir's living room concert was the first of many. It eventually led to the Litchfield Arts Festival, where people gather annually to argue about the true meaning of modern art while sipping overpriced wine..
• Headline: New Jersey Waterworks Protection Victory. Impact: This vote against developers could have led to a chain reaction. If those watersheds had been developed, who knows? The entire state might've turned into a concrete jungle, leading New Jersey to rename itself 'New Concrete.'. Fact: In New Jersey, 'watershed' doesn’t just refer to land but also to the collective sigh of relief from residents who enjoy not having their views obstructed by yet another fast-food franchise..
• Headline: Rise of Cellular Phones and Their Critics. Impact: As cellular phones became ubiquitous, it paved the way for countless awkward social interactions where people stare at their phones instead of talking to each other. Truly, the real winner here is social anxiety.. Fact: Cell phones have evolved so much that they now have more computing power than the systems that sent humans to the moon. Yet, we still have people who can't figure out how to use the 'mute' button on conference calls..
• Headline: State Burns Tall Reeds To Preserve Wetlands. Impact: The burning of the tall reeds likely ensured that the wetlands stayed intact, creating a delicate balance in the ecosystem. If they hadn't, we might be living in a world where alligators roam the streets of South Oyster Bay.. Fact: Wetlands are nature's way of saying, 'Please stop building houses here!' But humans, being humans, often respond with, 'Nah, we’ll just build a golf course instead.'.
• Headline: Streetwise Friends Offer Young People Hope. Impact: John Lewis's journey from street hustler to community leader could inspire future generations. If he didn't turn his life around, we might be watching a reality show about 'The Real Hustlers of New Haven' instead.. Fact: The phrase 'streetwise' was coined to describe people who make poor life choices but somehow manage to turn them into a motivational TED Talk years later..
• Headline: MUSIC; Symphony Reaches Out With Jazz and Country. Impact: The decision to blend genres in the symphony likely opened the floodgates for today's mash-up culture. If it hadn’t happened, we might be stuck listening to orchestras play nothing but Beethoven on repeat.. Fact: Jazz and country together could be the perfect metaphor for America: a little bit of heartache mixed with improvisation and a lot of cowboy hats..
• Headline: Taxpayers Cling to Small School Districts. Impact: The push for small school districts could lead to a future where personalized education thrives. If they’d disappeared, we might be living in a dystopian world where everyone learns the same way and no one ever questions why they have to memorize the periodic table.. Fact: Small school districts often act like that one friend who refuses to let go of middle school friendships, believing that personal connections can somehow counteract the pressure of state testing..