MAY 29, 2002

Full News Archive

• Headline: Brian Williams: From Childhood Dream to Anchor. Impact: When little Brian Williams decided to become a news anchor at age six, he unknowingly set off a chain reaction that led to an entire generation of children thinking they could actually become famous journalists. This ultimately resulted in a spike in dramatic reenactments of news stories at playgrounds across America. Who knew the future of journalism hinged on the swings?. Fact: Did you know that Brian Williams's first 'report' was probably just him telling his parents about the time he saw a squirrel steal a peanut? And look where that got him!.
• Headline: NATO's Historic Partnership with Russia. Impact: NATO's welcome of Russia as a partner was like inviting the wolf into the henhouse, prompting a scramble for NATO to address the sudden realization that sometimes partnerships only last until the next geopolitical dinner party. This led to the invention of diplomatic speed dating, where countries could quickly assess compatibility before committing.. Fact: Did you know that this partnership was the diplomatic equivalent of swiping right? Just hope you don’t regret your choice the morning after!.
• Headline: World Business Briefing | Asia: South Korea: Carmaker Shares Fall. Impact: The plummeting shares of Ssangyong Motor signaled the beginning of the end for the 'if you can't beat them, buy them' strategy in the automotive industry. This eventually led to a renaissance of car manufacturers turning into tech companies, thinking they could just launch an app and call it a day.. Fact: Did you know that in South Korea, car companies often compete with an enthusiasm typically reserved for K-pop groups? Talk about a rough start to a comeback tour!.
• Headline: In Many Churches, Icons Compete for Space; Multiple Shrines to Patron Saints Testify to a Rivalry of the Devout. Impact: As immigrant groups crowded churches with their patron saints, it led to a holy turf war of divine proportions, where the Virgin of Guadalupe became the Beyoncé of saints, overshadowing others and causing a crisis of faith among the less popular saints. Churches eventually started using 'saint popularity charts' to allocate wall space.. Fact: Did you know that, historically, the more flashy the shrine, the more likely it is to draw a crowd? It’s basically the church’s version of Instagram likes!.