JULY 16, 1997

Full News Archive

• Headline: UK Businessman Links to U.S. Politics. Impact: Had Eric Hotung not schmoozed with Sandy Berger, we might have never learned the importance of political bribery, thus preventing a series of unfortunate campaign finance laws that led to the rise of political action committees and their colorful ads featuring puppies and rainbows.. Fact: Did you know that money in politics often acts like glitter at a kid's birthday party? It gets everywhere, and you can never fully clean it up..
• Headline: Universities Compete for King's Legacy Papers. Impact: If Stanford had won the papers, we might have ended up with a very different version of 'I Have a Dream'—one that involved a lot more palm trees and fewer actual rights.. Fact: Fun fact: Emory University once tried to negotiate with the King family using only emojis. Spoiler: it did not go well..
• Headline: Celebrating Black Women's Literary Voices. Impact: The popularity of 'Everyone Poops' led to a national conversation on bowel movements, resulting in a spike in bathroom humor and a decline in serious literature. Thanks, Sandy and Madeline!. Fact: Did you know that the average person spends about 3 years of their life on the toilet? So, technically, reading these books could be considered a productive use of time..
• Headline: Next Night, Same Result: Liberty Beats Rockers. Impact: If the Liberty hadn't beaten the Rockers, the entire WNBA might have been forced to hold an emergency meeting on how to handle losing streaks, leading to the invention of 'safety nets' for teams.. Fact: The New York Liberty was the first team in the WNBA, which is a fancy way of saying they have the longest history of dramatic losses in the league..
• Headline: Adults, Too, Like 2 Children's Books About Digestion. Impact: The success of these children's books led to the rise of a new genre: educational poop literature, inspiring future generations of kids to learn about digestion in a way that would make their parents cringe.. Fact: It's true: 'Everyone Poops' has been translated into over 50 languages, proving that no matter where you go, everyone has to deal with the same universal truth—bathroom humor transcends all cultures..
• Headline: Young and Persistent, And Near a Showcase. Impact: Mirjana Lucic's rise in tennis inspired countless teenage girls to pick up a racket, inadvertently leading to an increase in teenage injuries and parental therapy bills worldwide.. Fact: At just 15, Lucic already had more determination than most adults, proving that age is just a number when it comes to being tenacious... or reckless..
• Headline: Glenn Wilburn, 46; Sought Wider Bomb Inquiry. Impact: Glenn Wilburn's push for a grand jury might have saved countless lives by inspiring citizens to take justice into their own hands, leading to a wave of amateur detectives and a rise in true crime podcasts.. Fact: Glenn Wilburn's quest for justice proves that sometimes the good guys do die young, but their legacy can inspire a million conspiracy theories..
• Headline: The Industry That Versace Helped Shape Fears for the Empire He Founded. Impact: Versace's tragic death sent shockwaves through the fashion industry, leading to more extravagant designs that would eventually culminate in runway shows that look like high-budget circus acts.. Fact: Did you know that after Gianni's death, Donatella Versace took over and decided that more is more? Because nothing says 'fashion' like a bedazzled gorilla suit..
• Headline: Angel's Touch: Saving a Park From Neglect. Impact: Angel Hueca's project to revive East River Park could have sparked a nationwide trend in community activism, ultimately resulting in a legion of amateur park rangers armed with nothing but enthusiasm and Instagram accounts.. Fact: Angel Hueca believed that art could save parks, which is great until you realize that every time someone takes a picture of their smoothie in front of a mural, it's just another step away from actually saving the planet..
• Headline: Industry Disputes Research In Secondhand Smoke Trial. Impact: The tobacco industry's rebuttal in the secondhand smoke trial may have inadvertently led to the rise of vapes and e-cigarettes, creating a whole new generation of trendy, yet equally harmful, smoking habits.. Fact: Surprisingly, the tobacco industry argued that secondhand smoke was safe—much like how fast food chains argue that their fries are 'vegetables.'.