JUNE 9, 2008

Full News Archive

• Headline: The Florida Hijackers of 9/11. Impact: In a bizarre twist, the bad press from this book actually led to the creation of an underground book club for conspiracy theorists, who now believe they can decode the hidden messages in all airport literature.. Fact: The term 'hijacker' was first used in the 1920s to describe people who stole cargo ships, not to be confused with those who stole your peace of mind on a flight..
• Headline: Laura Bell Bundy and Elle Woods Search. Impact: The vast gulf between theater talent and wannabes led to the creation of a new genre of reality TV: 'Survivor: Musical Edition,' where contestants must sing and dance to avoid elimination, resulting in countless tone-deaf performances.. Fact: Musical theater has been around since the Ancient Greeks, but they didn’t have social media to amplify their off-key notes..
• Headline: Bakugan's Innovative Marketing Strategy. Impact: The success of Bakugan led to an unexpected rise in adult toy collectors, who now argue passionately at conventions about the 'strategic depth' of plastic monsters, making it a hotbed for nerdy debates.. Fact: The Eisenhower era was famous for many things, but I bet you didn’t think toy marketing would be one of them. What’s next, a campaign centered around polio vaccines?.
• Headline: Experts See Gains Against Asian Terror Networks. Impact: These gains against Asian terror networks inadvertently led to a global boom in yoga studios, as people sought to find inner peace amidst the chaos, resulting in a world filled with overpriced yoga mats.. Fact: Policing and intelligence have been effective, but let’s face it, nothing beats a good downward dog for world peace..
• Headline: For Some Music, It Has to Be Wal-Mart and Nowhere Else. Impact: Wal-Mart's direct deals with artists set off a chain reaction that led to the rise of local artists selling their music from the trunks of their cars, reminiscent of the 90s rap scene—only with more dad jokes.. Fact: Wal-Mart once tried to sell a 'Greatest Hits' album of polka music, proving they’ll market anything as long as it’s cheap enough..