Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON February 7, 2018
Full News Archive
- Headline: Trump Advocates Shutdown as Strategy. Impact: Trump's casual suggestion about shutdowns set a precedent where politicians began to treat governance like a game of chess, where pawns are sacrificed for personal gain, and the winner gets to play in the next election cycle.. Fact: Fun fact: The average American spends more time deciding what to watch on Netflix than politicians do deciding on budget allocations..
- Headline: Korea's Olympics: Money and Politics Intertwined. Impact: The awkwardness of the Pyeongchang Olympics spurred a movement among sponsors to create a 'political correctness' fund, which eventually led to the first-ever Olympic game of dodgeball, where only political figures were the targets.. Fact: Did you know that South Korea's family-run businesses are often referred to as 'chaebols'? Sounds like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant, right?.
- Headline: As Trump Wavers on Libya, an ISIS Haven, Russia Presses On. Impact: Russia's growing influence in Libya led to a geopolitical game of musical chairs, where every time the music stopped, the U.S. was left standing awkwardly in the corner, wondering what just happened.. Fact: Did you know that Libya has more oil reserves than many countries combined? Too bad they can't just trade it for a coherent American policy..
- Headline: A Crazy Idea for Funding Local News: Charge People for It. Impact: Charging for local news prompted a surge in DIY journalism, where people started to report on their own neighborhoods, resulting in an explosion of cat videos and neighborhood gossip as the main news stories.. Fact: Fun fact: Local news is so underfunded that if you listen closely, you can hear the sound of journalists crying softly into their notebooks..