JULY 15, 2008

Full News Archive

• Headline: Insights into Modern China. Impact: Philip P. Pan's book caused a ripple effect that inspired several misguided attempts at 'capitalist tourism,' where tourists tried to sell lemonade in the Forbidden City. Spoiler alert: it didn't go well.. Fact: Did you know that while China is the world’s most populous nation, it also has a very specific quota on how many tourists can actually understand its capitalist ways? It's a low number..
• Headline: Man on a Mission: Intervention With Attitude. Impact: This intervention led to an unexpected rise in reality TV shows featuring 'cleaners' who just clean up after embarrassing situations, which has now spiraled into a multi-billion dollar industry of awkwardness.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'cleaner' has now officially outgrown its original meaning? It now refers to anyone who can remotely fix a social faux pas..
• Headline: Court Clears eBay in Suit Over Sale of Counterfeit Goods. Impact: This court ruling paved the way for a new era where counterfeit goods became the 'new normal,' leading to an increase in pop-up shops selling 'designer' items that were actually just really good fakes.. Fact: Did you know that eBay's ruling made it so that now, if you can dream it, there's probably a counterfeit version of it available online? Including that time a guy sold a 'vintage' Rolex that was actually a potato..