NOVEMBER 6, 2002

Full News Archive

• Headline: Election Day Special Section Highlights. Impact: The 'Editors' Note' might seem mundane, but it set off a chain reaction where newspapers started including far too many special sections. This led to confusion among readers who began to believe that every day was a holiday, resulting in mass celebrations of National Pickle Day and International Couch Potato Appreciation Week.. Fact: Fun fact: The average person spends more time deciding which section of the newspaper to read than they do actually reading it..
• Headline: Scor Reinsurer Appoints New Chairman. Impact: By ousting its chairman, Scor inadvertently triggered a series of corporate shake-ups that led to the creation of a new trend—executive chair tossing competitions. Now, every corporate retreat features a 'throw the bad CEO' event. Who knew poor performance could lead to such athleticism?. Fact: Ever wonder if the term 'reinsurer' means they’re just really good at lassoing risks? Spoiler: It doesn't..
• Headline: Strike for Longer Work Week. Impact: The South Korean strike not only delayed the work week reduction but also inspired a global movement that led to the eventual establishment of 'Take Your Cat to Work Day.' So, while they were fighting for their rights, cats everywhere were plotting to take over the office.. Fact: Did you know that before the five-day workweek, people thought the best way to increase productivity was to just keep people at work longer? Turns out, that was the 19th-century version of handing out coffee like it's candy..
• Headline: Europe's Highest Court Voids Air Treaties With the U.S.. Impact: The voiding of air treaties sent the aviation industry into chaos, which eventually led to airlines competing to see who could charge passengers for the most ludicrous things. In the future, you'll have to pay extra for 'air' on your flight. Breathe easy, right?. Fact: Fun fact: When you think of airlines making things worse, remember that in the 80s, they actually charged for extra legroom—then realized people would pay for just about anything, including the privilege of sitting in a middle seat..