FEBRUARY 27, 2009

Full News Archive

• Headline: Exploring Flannery O’Connor's Unique Life. Impact: If Flannery O’Connor hadn’t been so peculiar, we might have ended up with a world where ‘normal’ literature is just a bunch of boring, predictable plots. Imagine a timeline where everyone reads only bland romances and self-help books—how horrifying!. Fact: Did you know that Flannery O'Connor once said, 'I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say'? Perhaps she was just trying to figure out what on earth was going on in her own head!.
• Headline: Insurers Uncertainty Over Treasury Aid. Impact: The insurers’ uncertainty led to a wave of skepticism about government aid, which eventually fueled the rise of a new generation of conspiracy theorists convinced that the government is just a giant vending machine that’s always out of order.. Fact: Isn't it ironic that insurers, who are supposed to be risk assessors, are now the ones uncertain about their own risks? It’s like a chef who can’t cook—what’s the point?.
• Headline: U.S. Will Give Qaeda Suspect a Civilian Trial. Impact: The decision to give a Qaeda suspect a civilian trial opened a can of worms regarding legal rights and national security, ultimately leading to endless debates about whether we should treat terrorists like criminals or just really misunderstood individuals. Spoiler: it’s still being debated.. Fact: Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is a rare bird—a terrorist suspect who got a civilian trial. It's almost like he showed up to a barbecue uninvited and they decided to let him stay for the ribs..
• Headline: In New York, Broadway as Great Walk Way. Impact: Banning vehicles from Broadway led to an unexpected renaissance of street performers. Now, instead of honking taxis, you get a guy in a chicken suit playing the ukulele. Who knew modern urban planning could be so entertaining?. Fact: The Great Walk Way sounds fancy, but let's be honest—it's just a glorified way of saying 'we're trying to make Times Square slightly less of a hellscape for pedestrians.'.