JUNE 11, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: NATO's Vision for Kosovo's Future. Impact: The vague future of Kosovo led to a series of international debates, eventually resulting in a new genre of diplomatic jargon—'Kosovo-esque'—which is now used to describe any situation where nobody knows what's going on but everyone pretends they do.. Fact: Did you know that 'Kosovo' is derived from the Serbo-Croatian word for 'blackbird'? Because nothing says geopolitical tension like a bird in a name!.
• Headline: Kosovar Refugees Rejoice Amid Withdrawal News. Impact: The cautious optimism of Kosovar refugees marked the beginning of an endless cycle of hope and despair that would inspire a whole series of reality TV shows focused on 'surviving in limbo'.. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'wait-and-see' was originally coined by Kosovar refugees? They were just too polite to say 'we're skeptical'..
• Headline: City Has Plan to Tame the Traffic in Herald Square. Impact: The traffic plan for Herald Square was so ambitious that it caused a ripple effect, leading to the invention of a new sport: pedestrian dodgeball, where pedestrians compete against reckless cab drivers.. Fact: Did you know that New York City has tried 30 traffic plans, including one that involved a giant hamster wheel for cars? Spoiler alert: it didn't work..
• Headline: Clinton's Remarks on Balkan War: 'We Have Achieved a Victory'. Impact: Clinton's declaration of victory in the Balkan War sparked a series of motivational speeches by politicians everywhere, leading to an uptick in cringe-worthy phrases like 'We won the battle, but the war continues in our hearts.'. Fact: Fun fact: Clinton's favorite way to celebrate victories? A solid round of karaoke—'I Will Survive' is a crowd favorite!.
• Headline: With Clubhouse Feud Chafing, Mets May Just Release Bonilla. Impact: The Mets' clubhouse feud became legendary, leading to an entire subculture of baseball fans who now believe that drama is more important than actual games. Welcome to the new reality show, 'As the Bat Turns'.. Fact: Did you know that Bobby Bonilla is still getting paid by the Mets, even years later? His contract is basically the baseball equivalent of a Netflix subscription..
• Headline: Military Called Needy. Impact: Stepashin's comments about the military's catastrophic condition sparked a nationwide trend of military-themed meme-making, where soldiers became the heroes of gifs and TikToks across Russia.. Fact: Fun fact: The Russian military's idea of defense improvement includes a mandatory upgrade to their tanks—new paint jobs are all the rage..