JULY 11, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: Ross Perot Jr. Transforms Dallas Landscape. Impact: Ross Perot Jr.'s basketball arena project not only changed Dallas's skyline but also set a precedent for how sports teams leverage taxpayer money. Fast forward a few decades, and you'll find every city with a mediocre sports team trying to convince voters that a shiny new arena will magically solve all their economic woes. Spoiler alert: it doesn't. Fact: Did you know that Ross Perot Jr. once thought of becoming a professional golfer? Clearly, he decided that convincing the public to fund arenas was a more lucrative path—who needs a hole-in-one when you can have a hole-in-the-city budget?.
• Headline: Sisters Unite in Tokyo Bathhouse Experience. Impact: Blair Tindall's experience at the Tokyo bathhouse helped pave the way for a global wellness trend. Who knew that a relaxing soak would inspire millions to seek out their own 'zen' moments, resulting in an explosion of bath bombs and overpriced spas?. Fact: Did you know that ancient Romans had public baths similar to Tokyo's? They didn't have Instagram, but they did have a lot of gossip about who was caught in the hot tub with whom.
• Headline: SOAPBOX; Takeout Turnaround. Impact: Marissa Piesman's takeout experience not only changed her life but also contributed to the rise of delivery culture. This event was the tipping point that led to the eventual founding of 'food delivery apps,' where your dinner arrives faster than your patience can run out. Fact: Did you know that takeout was once considered a culinary sin? Now, it's a lifestyle choice—because who really wants to wear pants for dinner?.
• Headline: Time to Pour and Cure Concrete Slab. Impact: Edward Lipinski's advice on pouring concrete slabs revolutionized DIY home improvement projects. This event marked the moment when millions decided they could somehow improve their homes without hiring professionals, leading to a spike in 'how-to' videos and neighbors regretting their life choices. Fact: Did you know that concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth after water? Which explains why your neighbor is always trying to 'fix' their driveway with questionable DIY methods.
• Headline: Making Horror Horrible Again: Into a Forest Full of Witchery. Impact: Justine Elias's commentary on 'The Blair Witch Project' helped to define the found-footage horror genre, which inspired countless filmmakers to think, 'Hey, I can make a movie with my phone!' Unfortunately, this led to an explosion of films that are just as terrifying as they are terrible. Fact: Did you know that 'The Blair Witch Project' was made on a budget of only $60,000? Clearly, a higher budget wouldn’t have saved it from being an absolute nightmare—just in a different way.
• Headline: A Fantastic Voyage Into Williams's Mind. Impact: Alvin Klein's review of Tennessee Williams's play sparked renewed interest in classic theater, highlighting how sometimes all it takes is a well-timed review to make people ponder the meaning of life while sipping overpriced lattes in the front row. Fact: Did you know that Tennessee Williams was once rejected by a theater critic who said he 'couldn't write his way out of a paper bag'? So, naturally, he decided to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright instead.
• Headline: Jumping Off the Bandwidth Wagon. Impact: Alex Mashinsky's booming business in long-distance telephone minutes marks the beginning of commoditized communication, paving the way for the countless subscription services that have us all questioning how many calls we actually need to make in a month. Fact: Did you know that before the deregulation of telecommunications, people used to actually talk to each other face-to-face? Shocking, I know.
• Headline: Skip the Parched Lawn; Do Water Elsewhere. Impact: Joan Lee Faust's gardening advice during a dry spell led to a nationwide trend of drought-resistant landscaping. This pivotal moment prompted people to realize they could make their yards look good without being water hogs—who knew saving the planet could also involve less mowing?. Fact: Did you know that lawns are actually an ecological disaster? But hey, at least they make for nice Instagram backgrounds, right?.
• Headline: Cleaning the Sound . . .. Impact: The decision by Hazen & Sawyer to test biological nutrient removal at Mamaroneck Wastewater Treatment Plant signifies a turning point in public health and environmental awareness. This event serves as a reminder that what goes down the drain affects us all—hopefully, for the better. Fact: Did you know that wastewater treatment is one of the most underappreciated jobs? Behind every clean glass of water is a team of unsung heroes working tirelessly to keep your bathroom habits from becoming public knowledge.