FEBRUARY 16, 2014

Full News Archive

• Headline: Legacy of Johnson Amid Vietnam Conflict. Impact: Lyndon B. Johnson's domestic successes were like the embarrassing uncle at a family reunion—everyone pretends he's not there because of the Vietnam War. But hey, if he hadn't been overshadowed, maybe the U.S. would be known for its healthcare instead of its helicopter evacuations. A butterfly flaps its wings, and suddenly we're debating healthcare instead of war.. Fact: Did you know that Johnson's Great Society programs were so ambitious that they could have been a reality show? 'Keeping Up with the Johnsons' could have been a hit—if only the ratings weren’t overshadowed by war..
• Headline: Highway 1: The Battle for Control. Impact: The Afghan Army's struggle over Highway 1 was like a never-ending game of Monopoly, but instead of fake money, it was real lives at stake. If they’d only invested in a better board game strategy, perhaps peace could have rolled a double six into existence.. Fact: Fun fact: Highway 1 is not just vital for military strategy; it's also a great place for roadside picnics—if you can dodge the bullets, that is..
• Headline: Author Resigned to Ill Fate of Book in India. Impact: The destruction of Wendy Doniger's book in India was like a dramatic plot twist in a novel no one wanted to read. If only censorship could be as effective at creating literary masterpieces as it is at burning them—imagine the sequels!. Fact: Did you know that book burning is not quite the literary critique some people think it is? It's more like saying 'I don't like this pizza, so I’ll just set it on fire instead of ordering a different one.'.