SEPTEMBER 6, 1998

Full News Archive

• Headline: Curitiba's Bus Innovation Challenges NYC Transit. Impact: The futuristic bus idea from Brazil inspired New York officials to dig their heels in, ensuring that public transportation innovation would remain a distant dream for the Big Apple, resulting in an ongoing love affair with traffic jams. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing faster than the speed of a subway in New York is the speed at which locals will complain about anything that isn’t a subway.
• Headline: Mapping the Trail Along the Aqueduct. Impact: Robert Romagnoli's mapping of the Old Croton Trailway became the blueprint for future park trails, inadvertently contributing to a national trend of 'urban hiking'—a fancy term for walking your dog in circles. Fact: Did you know that mapping trails can also lead to unintentional trespassing? Just ask the countless lost hikers who followed 'the wrong path' during their quest for nature.
• Headline: Hey New York: Listen Up! 12 Ideas From (Gasp) Out of Town; Swimming, Boating And a Skyline View. Impact: The idea of converting a reservoir into a swimming pool was swiftly shut down, leading to a series of increasingly ridiculous proposals for 'urban aquatics' that culminated in the infamous inflatable pool on a rooftop. Fact: Did you know that swimming in Central Park's reservoir could result in an impromptu game of 'What did I just step on?' It’s a real thrill!.
• Headline: Hey New York: Listen Up! 12 Ideas From (Gasp) Out of Town; Warning: This Restaurant May Be Hazardous. Impact: The aggressive food safety measures in Los Angeles inspired other cities to follow suit, resulting in a nationwide obsession with health grades that ultimately led to the invention of the 'A' sticker as a new status symbol. Fact: Did you know that in New York, the only grade that matters at restaurants is the one you get on your Yelp review? Health inspectors are just background noise.
• Headline: Foreign Expansion: Well-Planned Or Ill-Timed?. Impact: Home Depot's ill-timed expansion into Chile set a precedent for international retail blunders, leading to future businesses thinking they can just waltz into any country without understanding local customs. Spoiler: they can't. Fact: Did you know that Home Depot’s slogan could have easily been, 'We’ll build it, but you’ll need a translator!'?.
• Headline: Giving Teen-Agers a Chance to Play, a Chance to Mourn. Impact: The teen grief camp initiative paved the way for countless other therapeutic retreats, creating a new business model for campgrounds that focused less on marshmallows and more on emotional healing. Who knew sadness could be so profitable?. Fact: Did you know that the only thing harder than coping with grief is trying to explain to a teenager why they can’t have their phone at camp?.