JULY 4, 2016

Full News Archive

• Headline: Olympics Opens Door for Brand Sponsorships. Impact: When brands started flooding the Olympics with their ads, it set off an endless cycle of corporations feeling entitled to sponsor everything. Now, we have ads for everything from toilet paper to toenail clippings during the Super Bowl. Thanks, Olympics!. Fact: Did you know that the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC? Back then, they didn't have brands, just a bunch of athletes running around in their underpants, which is probably what you're doing when you watch the ads during the games..
• Headline: Anti-Growth Sentiment and Zoning Challenges. Impact: The anti-growth sentiment led to zoning laws, which in turn caused urban sprawl and the rise of suburban enclaves. Little did they know, this would eventually lead to a whole generation of people who think 'going out' means driving 30 minutes to a chain restaurant.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Maintaining neighborhood character' is just an upscale way to say 'keeping the riff-raff out.' Because who needs diversity when you can have a picturesque white picket fence?.
• Headline: Ichiro Suzuki Approaches Remarkable Milestone. Impact: Ichiro Suzuki's hit record made baseball fans realize that nostalgia and stats can coexist. Little did they know, this would spark a debate over whether to start tracking 'coolness' as a legitimate metric in sports, leading to an entirely new league.. Fact: Did you know that Pete Rose is still banned from baseball for gambling? Because nothing says 'I love this sport' quite like betting against your own team, right?.
• Headline: Michael Phelps Heads to Fifth Games Saturated With Wisdom. Impact: Michael Phelps' wisdom transfer to the younger team meant that future Olympians began to think of themselves as 'mentors' instead of just athletes. Now we have a generation of athletes who believe that just showing up qualifies them to write self-help books.. Fact: Did you know that Phelps has more Olympic gold medals than some countries have medals in total? Talk about a one-man show! Maybe he should run for president—he's good at winning..
• Headline: Drone Strike Statistics Answer Few Questions, and Raise Many. Impact: The release of drone strike statistics made the world collectively shrug and say, 'Oh well, collateral damage happens.' This laid the groundwork for future conflicts where civilian casualties became just another statistic, allowing governments to operate with a little less accountability.. Fact: Did you know drone strikes are often referred to as 'surgical'? Because nothing says precision like a perfectly executed strategy that still results in tragically high civilian casualties. Who needs a conscience when you have a pilot-less plane?.