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 1, 2023
Full News Archive
- Headline: Energy Giants' Strategies Amid Economic Shifts. Impact: When Exxon and Chevron raked in profits, it led to a worldwide obsession with fossil fuel stocks. This eventually resulted in a global competition to see who could come up with the most ludicrous oil-themed merchandise—think 'I Heart Fossil Fuels' t-shirts.. Fact: Fun fact: While they were swimming in cash, Exxon and Chevron could have funded every environmental initiative ever proposed—and still had enough left over for a yacht party in the Bahamas..
- Headline: Memphis Unites for Tyre Nichols’s Funeral. Impact: Tyre Nichols' tragic death became a catalyst for a nationwide movement, igniting protests and discussions that eventually led to a surge in community-led policing initiatives—some of which were actually effective.. Fact: His funeral gathered people not just to mourn, but to remember that every life lost to brutality has a ripple effect, sparking a quest for justice that can change laws and hearts..
- Headline: She Lost Her Childhood Home Over Taxes. Then It Erupted in Flames.. Impact: Eve Morawski's home going up in flames sparked a nationwide debate about property taxes, leading to urban legends about homes that spontaneously combust under financial stress—because who needs a horror movie when you have real life?. Fact: Fun fact: If only the flames had taken her tax forms along with the house, she might have found relief in a different kind of fiery aftermath..
- Headline: A.I. Bots Can’t Report This Column. But They Can Improve It.. Impact: The rise of A.I. bots in journalism led to an unexpected spike in the number of articles about A.I. bots, creating a feedback loop that eventually culminated in a reality show titled 'Keeping Up with the Chatbots.'. Fact: Did you know? Those A.I. bots are actually just incredibly sophisticated parrots that learned to mimic human writing—so basically, we’re all just one step away from a parrot becoming the next Pulitzer Prize winner..