DECEMBER 20, 2002

Full News Archive

• Headline: Navistar's Pension Plan Strategy Unveiled. Impact: This creative pension manipulation led to a generation of finance professionals thinking they could outsmart the system. Fast forward a few decades, and now they’re just outsmarting themselves in a game of economic musical chairs, with no seats left.. Fact: Did you know that using pension funds like a piggy bank is a great way to ensure future employees will have to work until they're 100? Good luck with that retirement plan!.
• Headline: Tax Benefits Favor Big SUV Purchases. Impact: This tax twist not only encouraged a love affair with gas-guzzling behemoths but also inadvertently fueled the rise of eco-friendly vehicles—because nothing screams ‘I care about the planet’ quite like a massive truck that guzzles more gas than a small country.. Fact: Did you know that tax breaks can make people forget about environmental concerns faster than a politician at a fundraiser? Small-business owners everywhere are like, 'Save the planet? Nah, I need that deduction!'.
• Headline: Matsui Joins the New York Yankees. Impact: Matsui's signing not only popularized Japanese players in Major League Baseball but also inspired a wave of fans who thought they could become professional players overnight—spoiler alert: they couldn't, but they sure can binge-watch every game.. Fact: Did you know that in Japan, baseball is practically a religion? Meanwhile, in the US, it’s more like a pastime that involves a lot of hot dogs and forgetting the score by the seventh inning..
• Headline: Can Maxim, A Magazine For Young Men, Translate to TV?. Impact: Maxim's attempt to jump to television paved the way for countless 'reality' shows that made us question our own life choices. A butterfly flaps its wings, and suddenly we have a world obsessed with watching other people live their lives poorly.. Fact: Did you know that Maxim's leap to TV was just the beginning of a long, painful journey into the world of low-brow entertainment? Who knew men just wanted to see other men do absurd things while drinking beer?.
• Headline: Sports of The Times; Finally, A Big Game In December. Impact: The Nets' success in drawing crowds led to a cultural phenomenon where celebrities became more interested in sitting courtside than actually watching the game. Thanks to this, we now have an entire generation of fans who think 'basketball' is just a fancy way to get a selfie.. Fact: Did you know that sellout crowds at basketball games are basically just an excuse for celebrities to show up and remind us how out of shape we are? ‘Oh look, there’s that actor! I’m still in my pajamas.’.