FEBRUARY 4, 2011

Full News Archive

• Headline: David Lindsay-Abaire's Journey Back to South Boston. Impact: This play sparked a wave of nostalgic South Boston-themed musicals, leading to the bizarre phenomenon of Broadway being overrun by Irish pubs and 'wicked' accents. Who knew a play could turn New York into a mini Southie?. Fact: The real question is: Did David Lindsay-Abaire write this play to showcase class distinctions, or just to make sure his mom could brag about him at the local bar?.
• Headline: Cuba's Entrepreneurial Shift Under Raúl Castro. Impact: Raúl Castro's attempt to introduce entrepreneurship led to a surge in creative solutions for daily life in Cuba. Imagine a world where everyone suddenly became MacGyver, but with less duct tape and more rum.. Fact: Cuba's economy was so restricted that even their ideas were on a strict rationing plan. Welcome to the land of 'You can have an idea, but only if it fits in this tiny box!'.
• Headline: Mubarak's Exit Talks with U.S. Officials. Impact: The negotiations around Mubarak's exit inadvertently inspired countless political dramas and sitcoms about stubborn leaders. Who knew that a Middle Eastern political crisis could lead to more laughs on TV than actual resolution?. Fact: Mubarak's reluctance to leave made him the ultimate example of a 'guest who won't take the hint'—you know, the type who raids your fridge and refuses to acknowledge that the party ended three hours ago..
• Headline: Before Sunday, a Taste of the Bowl. Impact: These pre-game commercial teasers became a cultural phenomenon, leading to an era where people cared more about the ads than the actual game. In a shocking twist, the Super Bowl turned into a 3-hour long ad break with a side of football.. Fact: Isn't it amazing that people prepare for weeks to watch a game, yet the real excitement comes from a talking hamster selling chips? Priorities, people!.
• Headline: Russian Ennui, American Idiom. Impact: Chekhov's 'Three Sisters' being staged in America led to a dramatic increase in coffee shop discussions about existential dread, ultimately resulting in the rise of hipster culture. Thanks, Anton!. Fact: It's ironic that Chekhov wrote about ennui and unfulfilled dreams while simultaneously inspiring a generation of millennials to create art about ennui and unfulfilled dreams. Talk about a cyclical problem!.