FEBRUARY 16, 2005

Full News Archive

• Headline: Turing Award for Internet Language Innovators. Impact: The development of the Internet's language was the ultimate butterfly effect. Without it, we would be writing letters by hand, and the world would be a much quieter place—unless you count all the frustrated people still trying to send faxes. Fact: Fun fact: If Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn had set their sights on developing a language for cats instead, we might be having a very different conversation right now.
• Headline: M.T.A. Opens Bidding for West Side Stadium. Impact: This open bidding could lead to a stadium that never gets built, leaving New Yorkers to wonder why they can’t have nice things. It might even inspire a new sport: competitive waiting. Fact: Did you know that the M.T.A. also once considered a time machine? Turns out, they couldn't find any bidders for that either.
• Headline: Poll Finds Gain for Mayor, but a Long Way to Go. Impact: Bloomberg’s poll numbers rising could mean New Yorkers were just really bored that summer, or it could lead to a never-ending cycle of mediocre mayors. Here’s hoping someone brings back the concept of a charismatic leader!. Fact: Interestingly, 41% of New Yorkers also think pineapple belongs on pizza. So, take those poll numbers with a grain of salt... or a slice of Hawaiian.
• Headline: INSIDE. Impact: The summary of major news stories is a classic case of 'if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.' But what if that means we never get the juicy details and just live off bland summaries forever? Chaos would ensue. Fact: Did you know that summaries used to be called 'abridgments'? It sounds like something you'd do to a book you didn't want to read—much like most people's attention spans today!.