JUNE 17, 1998

Full News Archive

• Headline: Crude Oil Prices Surge Following OPEC Decision. Impact: The oil market's rebound led to increased gas prices worldwide, causing a ripple effect that eventually resulted in an international shortage of 'I can't believe it's not butter' spread due to rising shipping costs. Who knew that crude oil could lead to a shortage of breakfast condiments?. Fact: Oil prices have been known to influence everything from the cost of living to the price of your morning latte. So, when you're paying $5 for coffee, just remember: it's all about those OPEC decisions..
• Headline: Ripken's Retirement: A Timely Decision?. Impact: Ripken’s retirement shifted the focus of baseball fans to younger players, leading to a series of trades that ultimately resulted in a team called the 'Baltimore Orioles' becoming a household name for all the wrong reasons. Thanks, Cal!. Fact: Cal Ripken Jr. played 2,632 consecutive games, which is more than the number of times most people have successfully folded a fitted sheet..
• Headline: Shocking Murder in Jasper, Texas. Impact: This heinous crime sparked national outrage, eventually leading to greater scrutiny of hate crimes and an uptick in community activism. Who would have thought that dragging someone behind a truck would trigger a wave of social change?. Fact: James Byrd Jr.’s brutal murder became a pivotal moment in American civil rights history, leading to the passage of the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009. Talk about a long-overdue response..
• Headline: Senate Approves Limiting Fees Lawyers Get in Tobacco Cases. Impact: By limiting lawyers' fees, the Senate inadvertently encouraged a new breed of legal entrepreneurs who now operate on a 'no-win, no-fee' basis, resulting in the rise of TV commercials featuring lawyers with questionable ethics. Thanks for the legal circus, Senate!. Fact: Setting caps on lawyer fees might sound great until you realize it leads to lawyers finding more creative ways to charge you. Ever heard of 'consultation fees'?.
• Headline: Critic's Notebook; The Vanishing Haute Cuisine. Impact: The decline of Chinese haute cuisine in America inadvertently led to the rise of food trucks and fusion cuisine, where tacos and sushi are served in a single wrap. Bon appétit!. Fact: Chinese food in America is more about fortune cookies than actual cuisine. Next time you order takeout, remember: the fortune cookie has not been a traditional Chinese practice since the 1800s!.
• Headline: Leiter Turns In Another Gem. Impact: The Mets' victory, while seemingly minor, sparked a chain reaction of hope that eventually led to fans believing that the team could actually win the World Series someday. Spoiler alert: they’re still waiting.. Fact: The Mets’ history is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, much like a soap opera but with more heartache. Fans should really consider a support group..
• Headline: Virgin's Chief Battling Law On Ownership Of U.S. Airlines. Impact: Branson's airline ambitions hit a wall due to federal restrictions, which led to the rise of budget airlines offering questionable service and even more questionable safety. Thanks, government!. Fact: Richard Branson is known for his adventurous spirit, but it’s his failed attempts to start an airline that really take the cake – or should I say, take the flight?.
• Headline: Council Overrides the Mayor To Restore Funds to Budget. Impact: The City Council's override of the mayor's vetoes led to a power struggle that opened the floodgates for political drama in New York, paving the way for future mayors to write memoirs entitled 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate Voters.'. Fact: New York City politics is like a never-ending soap opera. You could probably write a best-selling novel about it – just remember to include plenty of plot twists and dramatic exits..
• Headline: WARY FLOCK: A special report.; China's Churches: Glad, and Bitter, Tidings. Impact: The growth of Christianity in China, especially with government approval, led to an internal struggle that ultimately inspired a new genre of Christian rock music. Who knew faith could rock so hard?. Fact: Christianity's growth in China is so explosive that it might just rival the country's firework industry. Just imagine the worship services with a side of pyrotechnics!.