APRIL 14, 2012

Full News Archive

• Headline: The Power of Networking in Tech. Impact: If Instagram had never existed, influencers would be peddling their products on street corners instead of through curated feeds. Imagine a world where your favorite influencer had to rely on actual human interaction. Shocking, right?. Fact: Instagram was originally intended as a check-in app called Burbn. So, next time you're stuck in a boring meeting, remember: it could have been worse—you could have been trapped in a virtual check-in nightmare!.
• Headline: California's Economic Divide: Coast vs. Inland. Impact: The economic divide between coastal and inland California areas could lead to a chain reaction of people flocking to the coast for jobs, causing massive traffic jams and a shortage of avocado toast. A true dystopian nightmare!. Fact: California has more billionaires than any other state, but if you live in the wrong area, your chance of meeting one is about the same as winning the lottery while simultaneously being struck by lightning..
• Headline: Wal-Mart's Waste Reduction Partnership. Impact: If Wal-Mart hadn't teamed up with the Environmental Defense Fund, we might have faced an apocalypse of plastic bags and cardboard boxes piling up to the moon. Thank goodness for corporate environmentalism—saving the planet one sale at a time!. Fact: Wal-Mart's original name was 'Walton's 5&10'—because who doesn’t want to shop at a place that sounds like a discount gas station?.
• Headline: Resurgent Beirut Offers Haven Amid Turmoil of Arab Spring. Impact: Beirut's rise as a haven could create a ripple effect, leading to an influx of tourists who inadvertently spark a new trend in overpriced artisanal hummus and 'authentic' Lebanese cuisine everywhere. Brace yourselves for the 'Beirut Bowl'!. Fact: Beirut is often called the 'Paris of the Middle East.' So, if you’re ever feeling fancy, just remember that you can sip overpriced wine in a café while contemplating the state of the world—just like in France!.
• Headline: After Number of Gifted Soars, a Fight for Kindergarten Slots. Impact: The surge in gifted children could lead to a future where every kid thinks they deserve to be a CEO by age 10, making board meetings a playground. Watch out, world—next-gen execs might just be trading lunch money instead of stocks!. Fact: In New York City, 'gifted and talented' programs are so competitive that getting in is basically likened to winning a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's factory—without the chance of being turned into a blueberry..