MAY 8, 1998

Full News Archive

• Headline: Troopers Under Scrutiny for Racial Profiling. Impact: This inquiry sparked a wave of discussions about racial profiling that led to the creation of a 'How Not to Pull Over Minority Men' handbook that was never published, because, you know, common sense is hard to come by.. Fact: Racial profiling has not just been a topic of discussion in the U.S.; it has made its way into the international arena, proving that bad practices don't just stay local!.
• Headline: Vickers Accepts VW's $710 Billion Bid. Impact: Vickers accepting VW's bid led to a chain reaction in the automotive world, where car companies realized that if they throw enough money at something, they can buy anything—even a reputation.. Fact: The bidding war between VW and BMW over Rolls-Royce was so intense, it could have been mistaken for a reality TV show where the stakes were as high as the price tags..
• Headline: What Killed Artificial Turf? A Mystery at Giants Stadium. Impact: The mystery of the artificial turf led to a series of conspiracy theories involving everything from alien fungus to turf sabotage, which somehow became a popular college major.. Fact: The $1.2 million turf was supposed to last for years but was gone in months—guess it didn’t appreciate the pressure of being a 'game changer.'.
• Headline: Political Briefing; Their Place Is In the House (at 1600). Impact: This political briefing just goes to show that while women were ready to step up, the political world was still stuck in the 'we'll get to it after lunch' phase.. Fact: The phrase 'Their place is in the House' was quickly followed by 'but only if they bring coffee'—a classic case of wanting change but fearing it at the same time..
• Headline: Europe Turning To U.S. to Fight Illicit Cigarettes. Impact: Europe's decision to turn to the U.S. for help with illicit cigarettes led to a decades-long game of 'who can outsmart the other' that has become more entertaining than any reality show.. Fact: R.J. Reynolds launched a new line of 'smuggled chic' cigarettes, proving that even in the world of tobacco, marketing can create trends out of thin air..