MAY 9, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: Explore Travel Insights: Q and A. Impact: This Q&A session on dude ranches led to a boom in cowboy-themed reality shows in the early 2000s, eventually inspiring a generation of hipsters to don hats and boots while pretending to live the rustic life, all while using their iPhones to post selfies.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'dude ranch' was first coined in the 1800s when wealthy city folks wanted to experience 'the cowboy life' without actually, you know, doing any hard work?.
• Headline: SOAPBOX; My Kosovar Reflection. Impact: The image of that exhausted Kosovar sparked a global movement for empathy that somehow resulted in more cat videos on the internet, as people felt that if they couldn't help, at least they could be entertained.. Fact: Sad faces in newspapers have been scientifically proven to increase coffee sales. Who knew despair brewed such strong lattes?.
• Headline: Current Military Developments in Kosovo. Impact: The military situation in Kosovo ignited debates that would lead to countless social media arguments about geopolitics, forever ensuring that everyone at parties would have at least one person who could turn a casual chat into a lecture on international relations.. Fact: Kosovo's military situation was like a game of chess that no one wanted to play, but everyone felt they had to comment on..
• Headline: My Clubs, Please. Impact: Cynthia's plea to send golf clubs ahead led to the rise of the 'traveling golfer' phenomenon, where people began showing up to courses with clubs from 10 different brands, resulting in more confused caddies than ever before.. Fact: Golf clubs have been known to travel more than their owners, which probably explains why they always seem to have more fun on the course..
• Headline: Truer to the Main Men Of 'The Third Man'. Impact: The celebration of 'The Third Man' triggered a revival of interest in classic cinema, leading to artists trying to recreate its iconic scenes in their own backyards, which resulted in a plethora of awkward home videos.. Fact: The film's famous zither score is so haunting that it has been used to serenade everything from romantic dinners to awkward breakups..
• Headline: Once a Shangri-La Where China Now Dominates. Impact: The plight of Tibet became a trendy topic in Western cafes, leading to a surge in 'Free Tibet' bumper stickers, and ironically, an increase in companies selling overpriced Tibetan-style yoga mats.. Fact: Windhorse is a term that symbolizes freedom in Tibetan culture, but in the West, it often refers to the overpriced kombucha you just bought..
• Headline: An Experimenter Helps the West Warm Up to Gogol. Impact: Fokin's adaptation of Gogol's work led to a resurgence in interest in classic literature, which was quickly overshadowed by the rise of TikTok, where the only 'literary' adaptations are now 30-second dance challenges.. Fact: Gogol's 'Dead Souls' was originally intended as a serious critique of society, but it’s now mostly known for its title being a great name for a heavy metal band..
• Headline: City Seeks Private Development for Randalls Island. Impact: New York City's quest for private development on Randalls Island set off a chain reaction of park renovations nationwide, leading to a trend of parks being sponsored by everything from energy drinks to fashion brands.. Fact: Randalls Island is like that friend who always ends up being the venue for the weirdest parties—no one knows why, but it's just where the fun happens..
• Headline: The Nation: By the Numbers; Science Looks at Littleton, and Shrugs. Impact: The scientific shrug at Littleton’s tragedy led to a wave of data-driven analyses that somehow made school shootings a statistic rather than a tragedy, paving the way for endless debates that went nowhere.. Fact: Littleton, Colorado, became a cautionary tale that proved you can indeed be both statistically significant and utterly tragic at the same time..
• Headline: New Museum Traces History of Drugs in the U.S.. Impact: The opening of the drug museum inspired a slew of art exhibits that tried to glorify drug culture, leading to a new generation of artists who think using drugs is the same as having a creative process.. Fact: The DEA's museum contains artifacts ranging from ancient opium pipes to contemporary drug paraphernalia, a collection that could make any hipster's head spin..