DECEMBER 6, 2001

Full News Archive

• Headline: Enron's Controversial $55 Million Bonuses. Impact: The Enron bonuses were like pouring gasoline on a fire, which led to a financial inferno that burned down not just the company, but also the trust in corporate America. This catastrophic event led to the creation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which is basically a long-winded promise that 'we'll try to do better next time.'. Fact: Did you know that Enron's collapse was so dramatic that it became a case study in business schools? Because nothing says 'learn from my mistakes' quite like a multi-billion dollar fraud scandal..
• Headline: Compact Camcorders Reviewed by David Pogue. Impact: The advent of pocket-sized camcorders led to a future where everyone became a wannabe filmmaker, resulting in an explosion of bad YouTube videos and countless cringe-worthy family documentaries. Thanks to these tiny devices, we now have more footage of our cats than of actual important historical events.. Fact: Did you know that the first camcorders were larger than a small child? Now, they fit in your pocket, along with all your hopes of creating the next cinematic masterpiece—only to end up with videos of your friends awkwardly dancing at parties..
• Headline: Porsche's Exceptional Sales Surge Revealed. Impact: Porsche's strong sales created a ripple effect in the luxury car market, leading to a decade of people buying sports cars they couldn't afford, just to impress their neighbors. This ultimately resulted in an increase in driveway envy and a thriving market for overpriced car wax.. Fact: Did you know that Porsche once produced a car model called the 917 that was so fast it could outrun your bank account? Because nothing says 'midlife crisis' like spending your savings on a car that can go from 0 to broke in seconds..
• Headline: Lively Battle To Be Speaker Bursts Out Of Back Room. Impact: The public tussle over the New York City Council speaker role paved the way for future political dramas that made reality TV look tame. This incessant backroom maneuvering eventually led to a reality where politics became less about policy and more about who can throw the best tantrum.. Fact: Did you know that the political maneuvering in NYC is so intense, it's been compared to a game of chess? Except instead of pawns, there are egos, and the only checkmate is when everyone ends up in a Twitter feud..
• Headline: AOL Time Warner Turns to a Diplomat. Impact: AOL Time Warner's decision to bring in a diplomat as CEO was the corporate equivalent of trying to solve a Rubik's Cube by throwing it out the window. This led to a series of management blunders that turned the company into a cautionary tale about mergers and acquisitions, kind of like a romance gone horribly wrong.. Fact: Did you know that AOL was once so popular it was basically the MySpace of its time? Now, it’s a reminder of how quickly tech can go from hero to zero, especially when you mix it with a giant like Time Warner—it's like mixing oil and water, but with more dial-up tones..