JANUARY 24, 1998

Full News Archive

• Headline: Perspectives on the Unabomber's Humanity. Impact: Kaczynski's actions led to stricter mail regulations, which ironically made it much harder for your average Joe to send a birthday card without a background check. Who knew a birthday surprise could come with such paperwork?. Fact: The Unabomber’s manifestos were so influential they inspired a whole new genre of 'I’m angry and you should read my complaints' literature..
• Headline: Pope's Call for Faith in Cuba. Impact: This call for faith led to a subtle resurgence of religious practices in Cuba, and suddenly, bingo nights at the church became the hottest social event. Watch out, salsa dancing!. Fact: Pope John Paul II was basically the original 'influencer'—encouraging people to engage with their roots long before it was a hashtag..
• Headline: Computer Log of White House Visitors Becomes a Focus of Investigators. Impact: The obsession with visitor logs turned into an entire subculture of amateur sleuths tracking who visited the White House. Spoiler alert: it was mostly just a lot of pizza delivery guys.. Fact: The Secret Service actually has a database of who visits the White House, but if you think it’s more exciting than a DMV log, you might want to reconsider your hobbies..
• Headline: Those Closest to Clinton Are Left in the Dark. Impact: Clinton's isolation led to a rise in conspiracy theories about the inner workings of his administration, giving birth to countless online forums where people still argue whether he was really just a misunderstood guy with a bad PR team.. Fact: When the president shuts people out, it’s not just sad, it’s a recipe for confusion—kind of like when your group project partner goes MIA the night before the presentation..
• Headline: Bill Clinton: Accusations and Explanations. Impact: The constant shifting of Clinton’s explanations became a masterclass in political doublespeak, inspiring future politicians to take notes on how to dodge questions like a pro. It’s like dodgeball, but with less physical activity.. Fact: Clinton’s statements could probably fill a book—if only there were an award for the longest game of 'What did I say again?'.
• Headline: Sports of The Times; A Life Of Pain Management. Impact: Schlereth’s story highlighted the brutal realities of professional sports, leading to more discussions about player health. Unfortunately, it also inspired a new generation of parents who think their kids can also play through pain... Spoiler: they can't.. Fact: The NFL could probably start a 'Pain Management 101' course, with Schlereth as the star student, featuring guest lectures from every player with a knee brace..
• Headline: It's Crazy, Lavish and Excessive, but Not Spontaneous. Impact: The hyper-scripting of Super Bowl events paved the way for the rise of meticulously planned viral marketing stunts. Today’s halftime shows are just as likely to feature a surprise celebrity as they are to have a 20-page script.. Fact: The Super Bowl is the only event where the pre-game show is longer than the actual game. It’s like a three-hour appetizer for a two-hour meal..
• Headline: About New York; Help the Poor And Afflicted: Faith in Action. Impact: The encouragement for middle-class citizens to engage with the poor led to an explosion of social programs in New York. Who knew that charity could become the latest trend? It’s like the new yoga class, but with more heartfelt stories.. Fact: Helping the poor and afflicted is actually the original 'feel-good' trend, predating kale smoothies and artisanal coffee by centuries. Go figure!.