JUNE 12, 2009

Full News Archive

• Headline: Brüno: A Satirical Look at Tolerance. Impact: After Sacha Baron Cohen's antics in 'Brüno', an underground movement began where people started wearing clothes that were even tighter, leading to a fashion revolution. This ultimately caused a global shortage of elastic and a spike in yoga pants sales, forever changing the landscape of casual wear.. Fact: Did you know that before this movie, the term 'tight shorts' was mostly reserved for gym class? Now, it’s a fashion statement and a statement of confidence... or a cry for help..
• Headline: Mormons: From Missionaries to Sales Professionals. Impact: The Mormons' transition from missionaries to salesmen led to the birth of a new profession: 'Faith-Based Telemarketers'. This resulted in an uptick in religious-themed infomercials, which somehow became the most entertaining part of late-night TV.. Fact: Did you know that selling a vacuum cleaner door-to-door is statistically less effective than asking people if they want to hear about your religious beliefs? Who knew salvation was just a sales pitch away?.
• Headline: Wind Power's Role in Salmon Conservation. Impact: The destruction of dams in favor of wind power inadvertently led to a resurgence in salmon population. This, however, sparked a bizarre trend of fish-themed reality shows, with salmon as the new celebrities, overshadowing even the Kardashians.. Fact: Did you know that salmon can leap up to 12 feet? Just imagine if they had their own TV show—'Salmon: The Real Jumping Fish of the Pacific Northwest' could have been a hit!.
• Headline: Auto Dealers at Risk Turn to Washington. Impact: Auto dealers pleading with Washington created a butterfly effect of political lobbying that led to the bizarre phenomenon of car dealerships hosting bake sales, where cookies were sold at the price of a down payment, making 'tasty treats' the new currency.. Fact: Did you know that car dealers once tried to convince consumers that they could trade in their old vehicles for a lifetime supply of cookies? Turns out, people just preferred the cookies..
• Headline: Both Sides Claim Victory in Presidential Election in Iran. Impact: The chaotic presidential election in Iran set off a series of protests that eventually inspired a global movement for election transparency. Ironically, it also led to the creation of a new board game called 'Democracy: The Waiting Game' where players merely wait for their votes to be counted.. Fact: Did you know that after this election, many Iranians began to joke that the only thing faster than their vote being counted was a slow internet connection? And that’s saying something!.