DECEMBER 18, 2011

Full News Archive

• Headline: Iowa's Unique Economic Position in Politics. Impact: Iowa's economic resilience sparked a secret meeting among G.O.P. strategists in a basement, where they decided that if they can't win on jobs, they might as well just win on not having Iowa as their campaign backdrop. This led to the invention of a new political term: 'Iowa-Not-So-Much.'. Fact: Did you know that Iowa's economy is often used as a case study in how to ignore an entire housing crisis? It's like the economic equivalent of wearing blinders and calling it a fashion statement..
• Headline: Knicks vs. Nets: Rookie Shines Bright. Impact: The Knicks' unexpected performance led to a nationwide spike in basketball fandom, which directly resulted in a new generation of kids believing they could do anything—except help their teams win, of course.. Fact: Did you know that rookie guard Iman Shumpert's 16 points in the game sparked a revolution in home basketball courts, where every kid suddenly thought they could be the next big star? Spoiler alert: they couldn't..
• Headline: Justice Department Faces Political Pressure. Impact: Holder's tenacity ignited a series of legal battles that led to a generation of law students believing that arguing on Twitter was equivalent to a courtroom debate. The ripple effect? A whole lot of people thinking they could be lawyers without actually going to law school.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'partisan lightning rod' is now used in political circles to describe anyone who dares to have an opinion? Truly, we live in enlightened times..
• Headline: Vaclav Havel, Former Czech President, Dies at 75. Impact: Havel's death triggered a resurgence in interest in Eastern European politics, leading to a series of ironic hipster cafes in Prague selling 'Freedom Frappes' and 'Revolutionary Ramen.'. Fact: Did you know that Vaclav Havel was not only a brilliant statesman but also a playwright? It’s almost as if he was preparing for his own biopic before it was cool..
• Headline: Cornered by Attacker in Elevator, Fire Victim, 73, Had No Way Out. Impact: The tragic attack on the elderly woman prompted a nationwide movement for better elevator safety regulations, which eventually led to the invention of the 'panic button'—a device that ironically caused more panic than it prevented.. Fact: Did you know that elevators are statistically safer than crossing the street? Yet, here we are, still concerned about whether or not they can double as a safe space. Life is full of surprises..