JANUARY 27, 2006

Full News Archive

• Headline: Oprah's Stunning Rejection of James Frey. Impact: When Oprah kicked James Frey out of her book club, it not only ruined his career but also sent shockwaves through the publishing world. Suddenly, every author was scrambling to make sure their memoirs were, you know, actually true. This led to a spike in ghostwriters with anxiety issues and the birth of a new genre: 'Fictional Non-Fiction.'. Fact: Did you know that being kicked out of Oprah's book club is basically a literary death sentence? Frey's memoir was the first, but after that, authors started adding 'based on a true story' disclaimers as if they were writing a movie script..
• Headline: Discover Skiing in Maryland's Far West. Impact: The expansion of skiing in Maryland's Far West led to an influx of tourists who thought they could master the slopes after a few YouTube tutorials. This resulted in an unexpected boom in ski injury insurance claims and a new reality show called 'Who Wiped Out the Hardest?'. Fact: Did you know that skiing in Maryland's Far West is basically like going to a fancy restaurant for a salad and then realizing you can just make one at home? Spoiler: the salad is often better..
• Headline: G.M. Posts Worst Loss Since 1992. Impact: G.M.'s worst loss since 1992 marked the beginning of the end for American automakers. This was the moment when consumers collectively decided that maybe buying a Japanese car wasn't such a bad idea after all. It led to a nationwide obsession with fuel efficiency and the birth of the 'Hybrid Heroes'—a group of people who bragged about their eco-friendly vehicles while sipping on non-fat lattes.. Fact: Did you know that G.M.'s promise to regain their title as king of the road could have been a great plot for a reality show? 'The Real Housewives of Detroit' could have been a hit—if only they had better luck!.