FEBRUARY 18, 2013

Full News Archive

• Headline: Fast & Furious: A Social Media Phenomenon. Impact: The rise of the 'Fast & Furious' fandom led to a new social order where car enthusiasts began overthrowing traditional movie critics, ultimately resulting in the establishment of a new branch of academia: 'Fandom Studies'. Future generations would ponder how an action franchise could wield more influence than political debates.. Fact: Did you know that the 'Fast & Furious' series single-handedly caused a spike in car insurance premiums? Apparently, people think they can drift like Vin Diesel. Spoiler alert: they can't..
• Headline: Revolutionizing Gaming with Oculus VR. Impact: Oculus VR's humble beginnings paved the way for a future where virtual reality would become the go-to method for avoiding social interaction. Thanks to this, future societies would hold annual 'Real Life Avoidance' festivals, where everyone could celebrate their ability to stay indoors.. Fact: Did you know that early prototypes of VR headsets were often just cardboard boxes with googly eyes? Just think, we could have been living in a world where cardboard technology ruled..
• Headline: Tech's New Gamble: Online Gaming Boom. Impact: The tech industry's pivot into gambling led to a future where Silicon Valley startups began creating apps for everything, including betting on whether your neighbor's cat could jump higher than yours. This eventually resulted in a strange new sport called 'Feline Olympics'.. Fact: Did you know that the first online bet placed was whether or not someone could eat an entire pizza in under 10 minutes? Spoiler alert: they couldn't, but it did lead to a lucrative pizza delivery app..
• Headline: When Irish Hands Are Helping an Enclave in County Queens. Impact: The ongoing support for Breezy Point after Hurricane Sandy led to an unprecedented rise in neighborhood watch apps and a future where local communities had more surveillance than a reality TV show. This sparked the invention of the 'Neighborhood Gossip' app, which would be the downfall of privacy as we know it.. Fact: Did you know that Breezy Point is often mistaken for a Hollywood set? It's true! They even have a 'no audition' policy for local residents. You're either an extra or you're out..
• Headline: In Kabul’s ‘Car Guantánamo,’ Autos Languish and Trust Dies. Impact: In Kabul's 'Car Guantánamo', the backlog of vehicles would eventually inspire a new trend of 'vehicle yoga', where owners would meditate on the futility of waiting. This led to the creation of a new cult, 'The Order of the Idling Engine'.. Fact: Did you know that 'Car Guantánamo' is actually a travel destination for people looking to take selfies in front of abandoned vehicles? Nothing says 'I love adventure' like standing next to a rusted bike!.