JANUARY 20, 2002

Full News Archive

• Headline: Welfare Struggles: Barbara Carson's Story. Impact: Barbara Carson's struggle could be seen as a catalyst for future welfare reform debates, which went on to spark the 'Welfare for Wall Street' movement, where the rich learned how to 'fall through safety nets' too, just with a golden parachute.. Fact: Fun fact: The phrase 'no good deed goes unpunished' was originally coined by a welfare reformer who didn't get her tax deduction after donating to a charity. Go figure..
• Headline: Enron's Collapse and Energy Deregulation's Future. Impact: The collapse of Enron marked the beginning of a glorious era of distrust in corporate America, which eventually led to the rise of conspiracy theorists claiming every energy bill was a secret ploy by aliens. Thanks, Enron!. Fact: Did you know that after Enron collapsed, the phrase 'too big to fail' took on a new meaning? It now refers to my inability to quit binge-watching shows despite knowing I have responsibilities..
• Headline: Craving Walls in an Office Tundra. Impact: The cubicle wars of the early 2000s led to an unexpected rise in office plants as workers sought to create their own jungles of solitude, ultimately convincing future generations that succulents were a vital part of office culture. Who would have thought plants could be the ultimate office companions?. Fact: Did you know that 'cubicle' is derived from the Latin word for 'small room'? So, in a sense, we’ve been living in glorified prison cells for decades. Cheers to the corporate life!.
• Headline: Sports of The Times; The Man Always Positioned At the Fork in Parcells's Road. Impact: Bill Parcells' relationship with his high school coach created a ripple effect that inspired a generation of coaches to write memoirs about their 'inspirational' relationships, eventually leading to the phenomenon of sports motivational speakers—because who doesn’t want to hear about the time someone’s coach told them to run faster?. Fact: Fun fact: The term 'fork in the road' now refers to the moment a sports coach decides whether to motivate their team with a heartfelt speech or a pizza party. Tough choices!.