Not sure if you could do it, but what interests me are the anomalies.
I tried once to create a new anomaly, but in the XML file for it, instead of pointing to the anomaly model, I directed it to a star trek Ship... sadly it didn't work.

I guess you could have Events that are similar to current events... Terrorism, inter-religious conflict, rise of secularity and Atheism. Etc, Etc.
Or you could go for amusing stuff..... "A great Prophet called Brian is causing problems", "people have been attacked by cans of Sentient Spam"....etc etc.