MARCH 13, 2017

Full News Archive

• Headline: N.C.A.A. Tournament Highlights and Underdogs. Impact: The NCAA Tournament is basically the butterfly effect of sports. Villanova winning again set off a chain reaction that led to a nationwide obsession with filling out brackets, resulting in office productivity plummeting every March. This eventually led to the rise of sports betting apps, which then caused the invention of the 'lost my job' meme. Thanks, Villanova!. Fact: Did you know that the term 'March Madness' was actually coined in 1939 to describe the state basketball tournament in Illinois? Seems like some things never change—like the fact that your office pool will always be won by that one guy who hasn’t watched a game all season..
• Headline: Personalized News Feeds Revolution. Impact: The Choose-Your-Own-News Adventure is like a digital choose-your-own-adventure book, where you can just pick the ending you like best. This led to a significant decline in critical thinking skills and the rise of conspiracy theories—conveniently packaged with a side of confirmation bias.. Fact: Fun fact: The news media has been known to distort truths for centuries, but now, thanks to social media, you can get your misinformation served cold, fast, and in your own preferred flavor. Yum!.
• Headline: Come From Away: A Canadian Response. Impact: ‘Come From Away’ didn’t just tell a heartwarming story; it also made people forget that not all Canadians are polite. The musical's success helped spawn a wave of feel-good narratives about tragic events, leading to the emergence of the 'tragedy-as-entertainment' genre. Thanks, 9/11!. Fact: On a grim day, one positive outcome was that Gander, Newfoundland, became the temporary home for 7,000 stranded passengers. Who knew a town of 11,000 could pull off such a massive hospitality feat? Take notes, big cities!.
• Headline: Netherlands Considers a New Relationship to Muslims With Coming Election. Impact: The Netherlands' election discussions on Muslims have set off a domino effect across Europe, where politicians discovered that exploiting fear is a great way to gain votes. This eventually led to the rise of the 'populist' trend that still has Europe divided over who gets to live where. Who knew fear-mongering could be so profitable?. Fact: Did you know that political parties in Europe have been known to adapt their platforms based on the latest trends in fear? It's like marketing, but with more racism and fewer cute puppies..
• Headline: When a Common Sedative Becomes an Execution Drug. Impact: The use of midazolam in executions has sparked a debate that has led to a reexamination of capital punishment itself, turning it into a hot-button issue that will likely be dissected for decades. Who would have thought a sedative could become the poster child for the death penalty debate?. Fact: Interestingly, midazolam is also used in medicine to help with anxiety—so essentially, it’s the drug that could help you chill out... or lead to your demise. Talk about a mixed message!.