JULY 11, 1993

Full News Archive

• Headline: Revolutionizing New Jersey Libraries. Impact: This entrepreneurial librarian inspired a generation of librarians to embrace technology. A few decades later, library patrons were insisting on virtual reality book tours, which inadvertently led to the creation of a VR book series about cats that took over the internet. Cats, of course, ruled the digital world.. Fact: Libraries were once considered the ultimate escape from reality, until Netflix decided to ruin that by giving everyone a reason to never leave their couches..
• Headline: Produce for Victory Exhibition. Impact: The 'Produce for Victory' exhibition rekindled interest in WWII, leading to a resurgence of patriotic art. This eventually inspired a new generation of artists who decided to protest everything by painting giant murals of veggies in combat gear.. Fact: During WWII, people were so dedicated to the cause that they actually considered vegetable warfare. Spoiler alert: it didn’t catch on..
• Headline: Experience the Manitoba Sound Live!. Impact: The 'Manitoba sound' took off, leading to an unexpected bluegrass revival that caused an influx of banjo players in urban areas, resulting in a bizarre but brief trend of banjo-themed coffee shops. They, of course, went out of business quickly.. Fact: Bluegrass music was originally intended for serious reflection, but it quickly evolved into a way for hipsters to avoid eye contact at local cafes..
• Headline: DINING OUT; Victorian Charmer's New Sophistication. Impact: The refurbishment of the Virginia Hotel sparked a wave of 'Victorian chic' restorations across the nation, culminating in a bizarre trend where people believed wearing corsets while dining could enhance their experience. Spoiler: it only enhanced their discomfort.. Fact: The Victorian era was famous for its strict social etiquette, where a misstep could lead to social ostracization, or worse, a dinner party with no dessert..
• Headline: FILM; When a Movie Needs A (Very) Familiar Face. Impact: The unexpected success of 'Weekend at Bernie's' created a bizarre subgenre of films featuring characters who were, let's say, less than lively, ultimately leading to a renaissance of 'deadpan' humor in Hollywood. We owe a lot to that fictional corpse.. Fact: 'Weekend at Bernie's' was originally pitched as a documentary about office life. Clearly, a few things changed..
• Headline: DINING OUT; Generous Portions in a Spacious Setting. Impact: Focaccia's success sparked a nationwide movement toward 'generous portions', which eventually led to the Great Food Fight of 2025, where diners threw leftovers at each other in a quest for the ultimate 'full plate' experience.. Fact: The phrase 'You eat with your eyes first' was coined after someone tried to eat a plate of art instead of dinner..
• Headline: Portraying Idealized Childhoods With Her Children as Models. Impact: Betsy Cameron's idyllic photography inspired a movement that led parents everywhere to try creating picture-perfect moments. This ultimately resulted in a generation of children who believed every moment was Instagrammable and led to a rise in therapy.. Fact: The pressure to create 'perfect childhood memories' can lead to childhood nostalgia that is way more intense than anything the actual kids experienced..