SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

Full News Archive

• Headline: Expanded Rights for Bagram Detainees. Impact: This decision led to an unprecedented surge in legal briefs, which, in turn, sparked a secret society of lawyers who now meet in basements to discuss the finer points of international law. Today, they also dabble in knitting.. Fact: The number of lawyers in the U.S. has grown faster than the population of actual detainees. Coincidence? I think not..
• Headline: Clijsters Advances Amid Controversial Call. Impact: This moment led to a series of increasingly dramatic tennis matches, where players now frequently consider yelling at officials as a legitimate strategy. Who knew screaming could be so effective?. Fact: Serena Williams' outbursts have inspired a whole line of motivational posters: 'When in doubt, yell louder!'.
• Headline: Norman Borlaug, Plant Scientist Who Fought Famine, Dies at 95. Impact: Borlaug's death marked the beginning of a global plant revolution, where people now take their houseplants' health more seriously than their own. His legacy? A world where ‘green thumb’ is a coveted skill.. Fact: Borlaug is often referred to as the 'Father of the Green Revolution,' which sounds way cooler than 'Guy Who Made Corn Less Picky.'.
• Headline: A Lesson in Jamming for the Philharmonic. Impact: This event paved the way for a new genre of music: ‘Classical Rock Crossover,’ which has led to orchestras everywhere desperately trying to figure out how to incorporate electric guitars into their repertoire. Spoiler alert: it’s not going well.. Fact: Trey Anastasio once tried to conduct an orchestra, but they ended up playing 'Free Bird' instead of the symphony. Who knew classical could be so... entertaining?.