JUNE 12, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: Clinton Urges Republicans to 'Lighten Up'. Impact: This moment of levity led to an endless cycle of political memes. If only Clinton had known, he could have trademarked 'lighten up' and funded a new political party focused solely on dad jokes.. Fact: Did you know that political banter has been around since the dawn of time? Ancient Romans were just as likely to tell each other to 'lighten up' while plotting their next toga party..
• Headline: Juvenile Crime Bill Faces Gun Control Amendments. Impact: The struggle over this crime bill inadvertently sparked a never-ending debate about gun control that would echo into the future, uniting both sides in a mutual dislike of lengthy legislative processes.. Fact: Fun fact: The phrase 'piggyback' originally referred to a method of carrying someone on your back, not dragging issues into bills like a toddler with their favorite toy..
• Headline: N.R.A. Turns Adversity into Opportunity. Impact: The N.R.A. discovered that adversity could be spun into a marketing campaign, leading to a golden age of fundraising tactics that would inspire countless other organizations to utilize drama as a cash cow.. Fact: Did you know that the N.R.A. once faced financial struggles so severe, they considered selling branded merchandise? Imagine a 'Gun Owner's Coffee Mug' that says 'I Like My Coffee Like My Rights: Strong and Unrestricted.'.
• Headline: RUSSIANS ENTER KOSOVO EARLY BUT MOSCOW CALLS IT A MISTAKE; BRITISH LEAD NATO'S VANGUARD. Impact: This hasty entrance not only shaped NATO's operational strategies but also led to a series of awkward diplomatic dinners where 'early bird' jokes were never quite received well.. Fact: It's fascinating to note that an early arrival can be a double-edged sword, especially in geopolitics. Who knew that being fashionably late was a thing back then?.
• Headline: Jubilant, at First, but Then Jobless. Impact: This bittersweet moment became a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of success in the arts, paving the way for a thousand Broadway hopefuls to invest in 'Plan B' careers as baristas.. Fact: Interestingly, the phrase 'job security' is about as real in theater as a unicorn in a coffee shop—lots of hope, but not much in the way of reality..
• Headline: About New York; At $13 a Clip, Some Advice For the Mayor. Impact: This barber's advice inadvertently launched a trend of public figures seeking haircuts as an avenue for political strategy, leading to the eventual rise of the 'Barber Vote'.. Fact: Did you know that Giuliani's haircuts became so iconic that they almost had their own fan club? 'Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow' was their motto..
• Headline: THE MARKETS: Market Place -- Strong Consumer Spending Worsens the Interest-Rate Jitters; Once Again, Wall St. Worries About Hedge Funds. Impact: The cyclical nature of market fears led to a thriving industry of financial consultants who thrive on panic, ultimately creating the 'Panic Investment Strategy' handbook.. Fact: Interestingly, hedge funds have been known to cause more jitters than a double espresso on a Monday morning at Wall Street. Who knew investing could feel like a caffeine rush?.