DECEMBER 15, 1996

Full News Archive

• Headline: Eagles Narrowly Edge Out Jets. Impact: The Jets' perpetual cycle of promise and disappointment inadvertently led to the rise of countless motivational speakers who now use their performance as a cautionary tale about unfulfilled potential. Thanks, Jets!. Fact: Did you know that the term 'Jet Blue' was originally intended as a euphemism for the Jets' color scheme? Spoiler: it didn't stick..
• Headline: Mexican Cuisine Meets Local Flavor. Impact: Miguel's restaurant became the birthplace of a new culinary movement: 'Spicy But Not Too Spicy,' which eventually led to a national debate on the merits of mild salsa. The ripple effect? An entire generation of bland eaters.. Fact: Did you know that the light spicy touch is just a fancy way of saying, 'We ran out of the real spices'?.
• Headline: Big Duck Painting and Platinum Convention. Impact: The painting of the Big Duck was the catalyst for a global trend in duck-themed roadside attractions, inspiring a new wave of tourism that directly contributed to the existential crisis of rubber duck manufacturers.. Fact: Did you know that the Big Duck is actually an early prototype for the ultimate 'duckface' selfie filter?.
• Headline: At the Mohegan Tables: A Brief Guide. Impact: Mohegan Sun's guidebook became so popular that it inspired a new trend in consumer guides, leading to an explosion of 'how-to' books on everything from baking to surviving family reunions.. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' was originally 'what happens at Mohegan Sun, gets published'?.
• Headline: How to Be Sure the People's Voice Comes In Loud and Clear. Impact: Jim Florio's article sparked debates that led to a series of tax reforms, which somehow resulted in more confusion and prompted the invention of the phrase 'taxation without explanation,' forever haunting accountants everywhere.. Fact: Did you know that property taxes are like a bad relationship? The more you try to ignore them, the worse they get!.
• Headline: Trouble Spots On the Road. Impact: The list of trouble spots for New Jersey motorists became the blueprint for future traffic apps, giving birth to a culture of incessant complaining about road conditions while people still get lost using GPS.. Fact: Did you know that New Jersey motorists have a sixth sense for detecting potholes, but still struggle to find their way out of a parking lot?.
• Headline: Adventure Travel Offers a Tonic for the Ailing. Impact: Adventure travel for the ailing inspired a new line of marketing slogans, leading to the rise of 'bucket list' tourism, which ironically made people forget their actual buckets until it was too late.. Fact: Did you know that the 'adventure' in adventure travel often means 'waiting in line for overpriced souvenirs'?.
• Headline: The Management of Pests Gets Organized. Impact: Joan Lee Faust's gardening column sparked a nationwide obsession with organic gardening, leading to an underground movement of garden gnomes protesting against pesticides.. Fact: Did you know that garden pests are just nature's way of saying, 'Hey, your plants are boring!'?.