APRIL 23, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: Calls for Drug Law Reform in New York. Impact: The plea for mercy sparked a nationwide debate about drug laws that eventually led to the creation of numerous advocacy groups. It's rumored that one of these groups started a trend for 'Wear Red for Justice' t-shirts, which still haunt thrift stores today.. Fact: Did you know that the 1973 drug laws were so tough that they made the 'Three Strikes' law look like a slap on the wrist? Talk about overkill..
• Headline: Vietnam Experience Unites Senators on Everything Except Kosovo. Impact: The unity among Vietnam veterans in the Senate during Kosovo debates led to the creation of a secret club called 'The Quagmire Society,' where they share war stories and argue about which conflict was messier.. Fact: Did you know that using the word 'quagmire' in politics is like waving a red flag at a bull? It just invites chaos..
• Headline: Land-War Delay Gives Choices to Milosevic. Impact: NATO's indecision gave Milosevic enough time to perfect his poker face, allowing him to bluff his way through negotiations like he was starring in a reality show called 'Survivor: Balkan Edition.'. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'air strikes need to be prolonged' was code for 'we're waiting for our coffee to kick in before we make any decisions'?.
• Headline: Bones in Ethiopia May Help to Settle The Ape-Man Link. Impact: The discovery of the prehuman species in Ethiopia opened the floodgates for every conspiracy theorist to argue that humans are actually descendants of ancient aliens, leading to a spike in UFO sightings and tinfoil hat sales.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'ape-man' was almost replaced with 'primate fashionista' before cooler heads prevailed?.
• Headline: Change Sought in Listing All Those Accused of Child Abuse. Impact: The case of the Divons inadvertently led to a nationwide movement for transparency in the child abuse registry, inspiring a new app called 'Who’s Who in the Accused' – because nothing says 'justice' like a social media feed.. Fact: Did you know that being on the child abuse registry was like being on the worst guest list ever? No one wants to be associated with you even if you're innocent..
• Headline: AT&T Makes Competing Bid For Mediaone. Impact: AT&T's aggressive bid for Mediaone turned into a corporate soap opera, causing countless boardroom meltdowns and leading to the phrase 'merger madness' being coined. It later inspired a reality show that flopped.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'unsolicited offer' is just corporate-speak for 'we're desperate and hope you’re equally foolish'?.
• Headline: U.S. Cracking Down on Internet's Information Brokers.