Trend World
Ever wonder how LeBron's jump shot might be linked to the war in Afghanistan? Or ponder how celebrity blackmail can make us all more honest? The truth is, everything in our world is intrinsically linked in ways we don't always see. Trend World plays a global game of connect-the-dots, identifying the latest fashions, the hottest cultural phenomena—and the often unexpected connections between them.
For more trends, you can find Tal on Twitter at @TalPinch.
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The Key to Winning the War on Terror: Women
With next year marking ten years since the term “War on Terror” was coined, the controversial war has seen its strides and pitfalls, depending on whom you ask. But as the battle against global terrorism enters its second decade, its ultimate outcome could hinge on winning the hearts and minds of women both in the United States and abroad. Read More
March 19, 2010 | In World
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This St. Patrick’s Day, Celebrate Ireland’s Incredible Contribution to Technology
They say that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. When they say that, they usually mean that they’re going to get drunk, not write a novel. But while a number of people attempt to reconcile the diametric Irish imagery of beer and artistic genius, Ireland today is actually making per capita one of the most profound contributions to technology in the world. Read More
March 16, 2010 | In World
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Real-Life Superheroes or Masked Activists?
It sounds like a ridiculous premise for a bad Hollywood script. A very, very bad Hollywood script. But a confluence of forces over the past two years could be contributing to a bizarre rise in real-life, mask-and-spandex super heroes. With a heightened sense of online activism and large-scale cuts in a number of police forces, these pseudo-superheroes appear to be part vigilante, part activist. That's right, superhero activists. Read More
March 15, 2010 | In Truth & Justice
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Can New Green Building Codes Clear Up the Confusion?
With billions of dollars already invested in clean-energy jobs and manufacturing, the green revolution remains a work-in-progress. But while plenty of tax credits appear to be going to the right place, the lack of cohesive green regulations is making the whole concept a little elusive. But a new series of green building codes could finally be ushering in the kind of change many people have been waiting for. Read More
March 13, 2010 | In Environment
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How Much Does God Make Our Decisions For Us?
The prevailing wisdom among millions of people on this planet is that God governs everything that happens. That idea about God has been a source of debate for some time now, but if we can’t agree on which god does what on this planet, we are starting to learn that, even if God doesn’t control the universe, He/She does govern the way we all make decisions. Read More
March 10, 2010 | In Inspiration & Wisdom
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The Emerging Political Force That Is Snoop Dogg
He’s been happy to lend his celebrity to causes in an effort to broaden their scope. Despite his background and image, few people in his industry have been as unapologetically vocal regarding issues that most celebrities would normally tiptoe around. Among the world’s most-recognized artists, he might suddenly be the most-fascinating political force in music. Sigh, it’s Snoop Dogg. Yes, that Snoop Dogg. Read More
March 8, 2010 | In Arts & Culture
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As America Forgets It, the Rest of the World Embraces the Beauty Pageant
Is there a more iconic piece of Americana? The sashes and tiaras, canned responses about world peace, and of course the not-so-genuine hug between the champion and runner-up. But the beauty pageant is fading in the rearview mirror of American pop culture. Surprisingly, the rest of the world is suddenly embracing beauty pageants as an empowering tool. Read More
March 3, 2010 | In Arts & Culture
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Mental Health vs. Physical Health and the Evolution of the Handshake
It’s an organic cultural progression that has mostly gone overlooked. Whether it’s the respectful bow in Asia, the formal cheek kiss in Europe or the casual fist bump in North America, each culture has developed a series of interactive gestures that allow us to greet one another in a particular social setting. But as these greetings have evolved, people are suddenly forced to make split-second decisions that go beyond “how much do I really like this person?” Read More
February 28, 2010 | In Health & Medicine
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What Does the Hummer’s Death Mean for SUVs?
It was the end of an era this week when GM announced it would no longer be manufacturing the Hummer. Arguably the most iconic, symbolic, and divisive vehicle in recent auto history, GM had been trying to sell the brand to a Chinese company to save the suburban tank. As the dwindling demand for the Hummer led to its oblivion, what will happen to the SUV, another grand vehicle that has been the target of similar scorn? Read More
February 26, 2010 | In Business & Economics
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Beam Me Up, Scotty: Is Science Fiction Destroying Science?
As a genre, science fiction could potentially wield more influence over its followers than any other cultural force. Through film, television, and comics, it has inspired countless socially-awkward young people to think outside the realms of objective reality, even compelling them to congregate en masse in bizarre costumes. Sure, science fiction has been known to attract all kinds of hyper-intellectuals and leaders of tomorrow, but people in the science and sci-fi communities are arguing over how it positively or negatively affects education. Read More
February 23, 2010 | In Science & Tech
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Want to Really Help the World's Poorest? Get Them Broadband Internet!
For decades now, academics and songwriters alike have attempted to bridge the gap and extend a helping hand to the world’s poorest people. These efforts have varied from the insipid to the profound to the downright ridiculous. But the past five years or so has seen a fascinating emphasis on a new method in helping poor people at home and abroad. Just get them high-speed internet. Read More
February 19, 2010 | In Science & Tech
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How Church Can Make You Really, Really Fat
Conventional wisdom tells us that church is good for us and obesity is bad for us. So what are we finding when we research the link between the two? On both superficial and profound levels, we could be finding that regular church attendance could cause peace of mind at your waistline’s expense. It’s a bizarre connection indeed, so what would Jesus do? Read More
February 17, 2010 | In Health & Medicine
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How Americans’ Distaste for Congress Spread to the Senate
If pro is the opposite of con, then is progress the opposite of congress? It’s a lame joke, but one that seems to be resonating more and more among Americans. The House has certainly gained its share of detractors, but that was mostly isolated to the citizenry. But recent events show that American politicians now might share that sentiment enough to drastically change the way American politics will look next year. Read More
February 15, 2010 | In Politics & Policy
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Our time spent in high school can be a source of deep resentment or nostalgic joy, assuming we haven’t forgotten about it altogether. But as teenagers become adults and eventually working professionals, how much does high school really contribute to their human development and financial, social, and professional well-being? People have been trying to find out over the past few years, and their results are just as varied as our responses to high school memories. Read More
February 13, 2010 | In Business & Economics
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Whether Here or Abroad, Translation Technology Proves Key in Emergency Assistance
When a debilitating earthquake hit Haiti last month, aid descended on the impoverished country from around the world. That aid proved vital. But the international attention paid to Haiti also showed the sizeable speed bump that the language barrier can pose. And that hurdle isn’t just a problem in international aid. It’s an important domestic reality as well. Read More
February 11, 2010 | In World
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A big part of the recent Super Bowl becoming the most-viewed telecast in American history was the story of the New Orleans Saints providing the ultimate celebratory rallying cry for a city that was mostly underwater less than five years ago. While there’s no denying the spiritual lift that sports teams provide for American cities in their troubled times, is it possible for that spiritual lift, coupled with a spike in revenue, to actually save a city? Read More
February 9, 2010 | In Arts & Culture
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Super Bowl Advertising Gets Politicized. What Would the Whassup Guys Say?
Like most internationally-televised events, the Super Bowl is a true island. A fascinating place where people leave the real world behind in order to revel in gridiron glory and food, glorious food. Oh, and those multi-million-dollar commercials. It culminates in the one day where being a mindless consumer is really acceptable, and maybe even kind of fun. But this year’s big game has somehow courted something usually actively avoided: political controversy. Read More
February 4, 2010 | In Media & Internet
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Collecting Data Through Your Cell Phone
In a world that seems to be governed more and more by hard data, the search is on to find the fastest and easiest way for collecting that data. With metrics assisting in the decision-making process with everything from sports to business to policy, how can we compile figures around the world in an age where home telephone-based surveys seem about as dated as, well, home telephones? In the age of the online survey, the future of data collection could be resting in your hand. Welcome to a world where you’re more than just a number, you’re a cell phone. Read More
February 3, 2010 | In Science & Tech
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A Bad Day for Progressive Underdogs: RIP Howard Zinn and JD Salinger
January 27th will primarily be remembered as the date of President Obama’s first State of the Union address. But it will also be remembered as the day America lost two of its most prominent literary figures: JD Salinger and Howard Zinn. While their personalities seemed vastly different, their works converged in the minds of many of the people who contributed to the president’s winning campaign. And when it comes to their respective legacies, there might be more similarities than differences. Read More
January 30, 2010 | In Arts & Culture
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Overlooked in much of the post-State-of-the-Union discussion was President Obama’s renewed insistence on bringing America’s rail system up to speed for the first time in decades. Amid the countless issues discussed, the proposed supertrain is gaining momentum in some parts of the country. While it hasn’t inspired any really heated discussion, the supertrain could be an intriguing solution for a country that is hurting. Read More
January 28, 2010 | In Future
Tal Pinchevsky is a Canadian writer who first moved to New York in 2001 to work for Gear Magazine, an ultimately-doomed men's lifestyle publication founded by Bob Guccione Jr. A McGill University graduate, he has since worked as an editor and freelance journalist covering everything from sports to real estate to consumer electronics for a variety of publications, including the New York Times, ESPN, New York Post, Blender, and Minyanville.com.