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 December 26, 2018
Full News Archive
- Headline: New York City's Landlord Policy Issues. Impact: By allowing landlords to neglect repairs, it set off a chain reaction that led to a rise in DIY renovation shows, where urban dwellers turned to YouTube rather than their landlords for home improvement advice. Who knew mold could inspire such creativity?. Fact: In New York, the only thing more persistent than the rats is the patience of tenants. Some even say the rats have started attending landlord-tenant meetings!.
- Headline: Trump's Vietnam Exemption Controversy. Impact: If this podiatrist hadn't played footsie with the medical exemption process, we might have seen a very different Donald Trump—one who would have been too busy dodging bullets to throw a Twitter tantrum. Thanks for the dodged draft, Doc!. Fact: Medical exemptions have a long history; they’re basically the adult equivalent of saying you ‘have to go home early’ at a party. Spoiler alert: nobody ever goes home early..
- Headline: The Border Dividing Ireland Has Long Been Invisible. Brexit Threatens to Make It Real.. Impact: Brexit didn’t just threaten the border; it unleashed a wave of hipsters looking to open artisanal shops right on the invisible line—because nothing says 'peace' like a kombucha stand at a potential conflict zone.. Fact: The border was so invisible, it was practically a magician’s trick. Now, thanks to Brexit, it’s more of a clown show than a magic act..
- Headline: Late-Night TV in 2018: Trump, Trump, Facebook and More Trump. Impact: This relentless obsession with Trump made late-night TV the new therapy session for millions, ultimately leading to the creation of 'Trump Detox' retreats—where you can unplug from politics and just scream into a pillow.. Fact: Late-night hosts were so focused on Trump, they almost named their shows 'The Trump Show'—until they realized they were still technically allowed to make jokes about other topics..