NOVEMBER 29, 2008

Full News Archive

• Headline: Mother's Bold Attempt to Free Her Son. Impact: Doreen Giuliano's one-woman mission to woo a juror set off a chain reaction of bizarre courtroom antics, leading to a reality show where mothers try to manipulate juries for their children’s convictions. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well.. Fact: Fun fact: If you think your mom is overbearing, just remember Doreen took it to a whole new level. Next time she asks if you’ve called your mother, just say, 'No, but I did hide a camera in the courtroom!'.
• Headline: Men's Growing Role in Elderly Care. Impact: Men stepping up to care for elderly parents led to an unforeseen rise in the sale of adult-sized bibs and a slew of memes portraying dads as superheroes. Feminists rejoiced, but only after confirming that yes, men actually do know how to do laundry.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'man-child' has now evolved to include men who can barely handle their parents' medical appointments? Welcome to the new age of caregiving, where emotional support is just a dad joke away!.
• Headline: TV Sales Becoming Litmus Test for U.S. Economy. Impact: The TV sales trend as an economic litmus test created a bizarre reality where people began measuring financial health by how many screen sizes they owned—leading to a dystopian future where no one could afford groceries but had 12 televisions.. Fact: Did you know that people once thought the invention of television would end societal problems? And here we are, still arguing about whether reality TV counts as 'real' life. Spoiler: it’s not..
• Headline: Race Fades as a Way to Define a Passer. Impact: Doug Williams's comments on race in the NFL triggered a movement that would eventually inspire a whole new generation of quarterbacks who just happen to be able to throw a football, thereby making it impossible for sports commentators to use the phrase 'colorblind' without irony.. Fact: Did you know that before Doug Williams, there were so few black quarterbacks that they were often relegated to being the 'backup plan'? Who knew throwing a ball could be so political? Welcome to the NFL's social experiment!.