SEPTEMBER 15, 1998

Full News Archive

• Headline: Valuables Lost in Swissair Jet Crash. Impact: The crash of the Swissair jet not only buried a Picasso masterpiece but also sparked a secret society of art thieves who believe they can find the ill-fated treasure. This group, known as the 'Picasso Pirates,' has been rumored to be responsible for a string of art heists since 1998. Who knew a plane crash could lead to a modern-day pirate saga?. Fact: Did you know that after the crash, Picasso's painting was actually found in a completely different cargo hold? Just kidding, it’s still lost at sea, like your motivation on a Monday morning..
• Headline: Soaring Health Care Spending Forecasted. Impact: The prediction of skyrocketing health-care spending was the catalyst for a generation of financial planners to panic, resulting in the rise of 'wellness retreats' where people could hide from their medical bills. If only they knew that avoiding the doctor could lead to a different kind of spending—on Band-Aids and herbal teas.. Fact: Did you know that in 1997, the average American spent about $3,000 on health care? Now, that’s a number that makes you wish you had just invested in a good pair of running shoes instead..
• Headline: Magazine Set To Auction Art Collection. Impact: The auction of Reader's Digest's art collection was the beginning of a trend where magazines turned to selling their assets instead of producing quality content. Now, if only they could auction off the 'how-to' articles that nobody reads.. Fact: Did you know that Reader's Digest was once the best-selling magazine in the world? Now, it’s practically a historical artifact, like cassette tapes and floppy disks..
• Headline: Clinton's Speech on World Economies: '8 Months Later the Clouds Are Closer'. Impact: Clinton's ominous speech about world economies not only foreshadowed future financial crises but also led to a spate of conspiracy theories about the Illuminati controlling global markets. Spoiler alert: they were just really bad at forecasting.. Fact: Did you know that Clinton's speeches often made him sound like the world's most boring fortune teller? 'I see clouds… and a chance of rain… and economic turmoil!'.
• Headline: Candidates In Final Push For Primaries. Impact: The lack of public interest in the primaries led to the birth of 'political apathy clubs'—a trend that’s still going strong today. Who needs to vote when you can just binge-watch another season of your favorite show?. Fact: Did you know that political campaigns used to be more exciting than reality TV? Now they’re just a bad episode of 'Survivor' where nobody gets voted off the island..
• Headline: Teachers Scrap Lesson Plans To Grapple With Starr Report. Impact: Teachers grappling with the Starr Report actually sparked a wave of educational reforms, as schools realized that discussing scandalous behavior was more effective than teaching algebra. Who knew politics could double as a lesson plan?. Fact: Did you know that some teachers were so inspired by the Starr Report discussions that they started a new subject: 'Reality Check 101'? Because, apparently, what happens in D.C. should be part of the curriculum..
• Headline: With McRae And Piazza, Mets Rally In the 13th. Impact: The Mets' thrilling victory in the 13th inning led to an explosion of sports fandom, ultimately resulting in an entire generation of kids thinking they could become professional athletes—until reality hit and they discovered video games instead.. Fact: Did you know that the Mets' victory was celebrated by fans like it was the Super Bowl? Spoiler: the party lasted about as long as their playoff hopes..