FEBRUARY 1, 2004

Full News Archive

• Headline: Inside the Lives of South Bronx Residents. Impact: Adrian Nicole LeBlanc's deep dive into the South Bronx set off a chain reaction of writers thinking they could also become urban anthropologists. Spoiler alert: most just ended up writing pretentious essays about their cats.. Fact: Did you know that 'Uptown Girl' was not only a catchy tune but also a cautionary tale about the unexpected consequences of dating someone from a different tax bracket?.
• Headline: The Coming Search Wars. Impact: The rivalry between Microsoft and Google paved the way for a future where every tech conference is basically just a glorified episode of a reality show. Drama! Backstabbing! Software updates!. Fact: Did you know that in the early days, 'search wars' were actually just Google and Microsoft fighting over who could create the best 'I'm not a robot' test? Spoiler: we still can’t tell..
• Headline: Ground Zero Finally Grows Up. Impact: The selection of Calatrava's design for the new World Trade Center PATH Terminal initiated a bizarre trend where architects started getting more fame than rock stars. Next thing you know, they'll have their own reality shows.. Fact: Did you know that 'Ground Zero' was a term borrowed from the military, but now it just refers to the place where ambitious architects go to flex their creative muscles?.
• Headline: In Shared Reading, Collective Confidence. Impact: The networking book club led by black women at Chubb Group sparked a movement that eventually made it socially acceptable for corporate workers to gather and drink wine while pretending to be intellectuals. Thanks for the excuse!. Fact: Did you know that book clubs are basically just an excuse for adults to have a 'play date' without the awkwardness of finger painting?.