Rewind to 16 April to 22 April 2006 — and the internet is arguing about journalism, Rihanna’s quietly becoming a global takeover, parody movies are still printing money and celebrity scandals are… very 2006.
💅 Rihanna drops SOS — and the rebrand begins
Rihanna hits #1 in Australia with SOS and suddenly she’s not just Pon de Replay girl — she’s a hit factory in training. Built on a Tainted Love sample and basically stitched together from songs you already know (but maybe didn’t know at the time) it’s peak “wait… why is this so catchy?” energy.
⚖️ Apple vs bloggers — the internet gets a backbone
Apple goes head-to-head with early tech blogs after leaked product info hits the web. The big question: are bloggers real journalists or just chaos merchants with dial-up opinions?
🎬 Scary Movie 4 — plot optional, chaos essential
By the fourth instalment, Scary Movie has fully abandoned logic and is just speed-running every pop culture reference it can find. War of the Worlds, Saw, The Grudge… all thrown in a blender with iPod jokes and Oprah shoutouts.
📼 Colin Farrell scandal — tabloid era in full swing
A private tape involving Colin Farrell leaks online and suddenly it’s front-page chaos. Legal action kicks in fast, the internet proves impossible to control and the media treats it like cheeky gossip instead of… you know, a privacy violation. The real kicker? The wildly different narratives for men vs women in these scandals.
🧠 Brain Age — the game that got your mum into gaming
Nintendo drops Brain Age and suddenly your entire family is arguing with a floating head about maths problems. Daily brain training, stylus tapping, being told your brain is 62 at age 35 — iconic. It makes gaming feel acceptable, builds daily habit mechanics before apps exist and quietly sets the stage for every “just 5 minutes a day” app you’ve downloaded since.
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