NOVEMBER 21, 2009

Full News Archive

• Headline: Oprah Winfrey Ends Iconic Talk Show. Impact: Oprah's decision to quit the show created a butterfly effect, inspiring countless daytime talk show hosts to suddenly reconsider their life choices. Thus began the era of 'Who can fill Oprah's shoes?' which led to an endless parade of wannabe talk show hosts, each more awkward than the last.. Fact: Did you know Oprah once referred to her audience as 'my people'? Guess she never saw the 'talk show host auditions' that followed her departure..
• Headline: ShotSpotter Enhances Gunfire Detection. Impact: The introduction of ShotSpotter not only made police more efficient but also led to an unexpected rise in the popularity of the phrase 'I heard it through the grapevine' among hip-hop artists seeking to capitalize on the new technology.. Fact: Did you know that ShotSpotter can pinpoint gunfire to within a few feet? So, if you’re looking for the best place to avoid a stray bullet, just follow the sound of the sirens..
• Headline: Street Court: Disputes in the Open. Impact: The rise of 'Street Court' sparked a new trend in reality television that eventually led to shows like 'The Real Housewives of Front Lawns' and 'Keeping Up with the Backyard Brawls'.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Street Court' was originally pitched as 'Yard Law' but was rejected for being too reminiscent of actual adulting..
• Headline: Citizen Bruno, Unbound. Impact: Bruno's trial opened the floodgates for political scandals, causing a ripple effect that would lead to the phrase 'politician under investigation' becoming a national pastime, rivaling even sports.. Fact: Did you know that Joseph L. Bruno's trial made it possible for people to binge-watch corruption in politics? Who needs Netflix when you have C-SPAN?.
• Headline: From Mom’s Basement to the Top of the Chart. Impact: Owl City's rise to fame showed that anyone could go from obscurity to stardom overnight, leading to a wave of aspiring musicians recording songs in their parents' basements, with the hope of being the next viral sensation. Spoiler alert: most of them just ended up with more cat videos.. Fact: Did you know that Owl City's 'Fireflies' was inspired by a late-night insomnia episode? So remember, if you're up at 3 AM, you too could be the next chart-topping artist…or just really tired..