NOVEMBER 13, 2009

Full News Archive

• Headline: Dudamel: Conductor of Cultural Enchantment. Impact: Gustavo Dudamel's hair became a cultural phenomenon, leading to an unexpected surge in hair product sales, which ultimately funded a new genre of music called 'Hair Metal Classical Fusion'. Who knew a conductor could influence the haircare industry?. Fact: Did you know that if you combine Dudamel's charisma with a little gel, you can create a hairdo that conducts symphonies by itself?.
• Headline: The Complexity of Villainy in The Prisoner. Impact: The lack of an archvillain in 'The Prisoner' led to a generation of writers believing they could skip character development altogether, resulting in a brief but painful era of TV shows where the antagonist was just 'society'.. Fact: Did you know that 'The Prisoner' was so influential, it inspired countless conspiracy theories about the British government, which in turn inspired actual conspiracy theories about the show? Talk about a paradox!.
• Headline: For Comcast’s Chief, Content Led the Way. Impact: Brian L. Roberts' dinner challenge inadvertently led to an arms race in the cable industry, where every CEO now has to prove their worth by daring billionaires to invest in their ideas, creating a reality show called 'Investor's Duel'.. Fact: Did you know that before challenging Bill Gates, Roberts had considered challenging a houseplant, but the plant showed more investment savvy?.
• Headline: A New Cholesterol Study Puts Focus on Merck Drugs. Impact: The cholesterol study's implications fueled a pharmaceutical gold rush, resulting in a world where people are more likely to take a pill than change their diet, which in turn made kale the most hated vegetable of the decade.. Fact: Did you know that Merck once considered a slogan 'Cholesterol: The Other White Meat'? They scrapped it after realizing it made no sense, but hey, marketing is hard!.