JULY 14, 1996

Full News Archive

• Headline: Spinoff Surge: Trends of 1995. Impact: The explosion of spinoffs led to a corporate world where every company thinks it can be the next Apple. Spoiler: most can't. But hey, at least we have endless options for mediocre products!. Fact: Did you know that spinoffs are like that friend who always gets too attached to their new hobby? One minute they're into pottery, next they're starting a ceramics empire..
• Headline: School Finance: A Legislative Challenge. Impact: The Supreme Court's push for equitable school funding was the start of many a politician's career-long game of dodgeball with actual educational reform. Spoiler alert: the kids are still waiting.. Fact: Did you know that funding disparities in school districts are like that one rich kid who always gets the latest video games while his friends are stuck playing on a two-generation-old console?.
• Headline: MUNICIPAL BATTLEGROUND;Coney Island's Worn Welcome Mat. Impact: Coney Island’s decline is a cautionary tale for all amusement parks: if you don’t keep your rides thrilling and your hot dogs delicious, you might just become a ghost town of nostalgia.. Fact: Did you know that Coney Island was once the amusement capital of America? Now it's more like the 'what happened?' capital..
• Headline: Coney Island's Worn Welcome Mat. Impact: The nostalgia and decline of Coney Island led to a nationwide obsession with 'retro' experiences. So now we all pay extra to feel like we’re having a bad day in the past.. Fact: Did you know that people used to flock to Coney Island for fun? Now they flock for Instagram photos of their overpriced food. Progress?.
• Headline: OUT THERE: ATLANTA;Nightclub Olympiad Takes Shape. Impact: The nightclub culture that arose from events like the Nightclub Olympiad set the stage for today's endless stream of overpriced, neon-lit venues where everyone pretends to enjoy themselves.. Fact: Did you know that nightclubs are essentially adult playgrounds where the only thing you swing on is a bottle of overpriced champagne?.
• Headline: Between the Diner and the Belt: A Very Urban Farm. Impact: Ken Mondschein's dabbling in urban farming sparked a trend where city dwellers now think they can grow their own food while living in a shoebox. Spoiler: it's a lot harder than it looks.. Fact: Did you know that urban farming is basically a hipster's way of saying they want to grow their own kale in a tiny apartment?.
• Headline: NEIGBORHOOD REPORT: CANARSIE;Between the Diner and the Belt: A Very Urban Farm. Impact: The blending of urban life and farming led to a new breed of people who think they can just roll out of bed and become farmers. Welcome to the age of Instagram influencers who don't actually know how to plant anything.. Fact: Did you know that urban farming is all the rage now? Because nothing says 'I love nature' like a potted plant on a windowsill!.
• Headline: Perspectives;A Man's Road to Athens: Amateurism in Its Finest Sense. Impact: The debate over amateurism in sports led to the rise of endorsements, creating a world where athletes are as much brands as they are players. Welcome to the commodification of sweat.. Fact: Did you know that back in the day, athletes were just athletes? Now they're expected to be walking advertisements. How sporty!.