Trends

Edge Of America/Data Hollywood/N.H.'s World Cup

05/18/2013

A new show from the Travel Channel explores America’s recreational fringe. “The Edge of America” is an experiential survey of some of the bizarre, dangerous, and hilarious things people do to have fun all over the country. Geoff Edgers is the host and writer for the program. When he’s not jousting bicycles or eating who-knows-what, he’s also an arts and culture reporter for the Boston Globe.

and

Nate Silver opened the public’s eyes to the power of predictive statistics… now, having already conquered politics, marketing, and social media, data-crunchers are taking on their next big

E-Cigarettes Suck In Users/The Nasty Effect/Are Re-Runs Good For You?

05/4/2013

The tobacco industry faces strict regulation, but the market for E-cigarettes is still an unregulated, wild, wild west with endorsements ranging from Playboy Playmates to Stephen Dorff. Chris Robbins wrote about the growing and still unregulated industry of electronic cigarettes for Gothamist.com.

And

A study published in the journal of computer-mediated communication measured the influence of reader comments on the articles they describe.   Dietram Scheufele, John E.

Kim Jong-un Working The Press/Political Science Under Attack

04/13/2013

A month into a continuing series of threatening ultimatums from North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, the 30-year old leader has an international fever that his fore-fathers would envy. Official statements and propaganda videos, such as last week’s reel of Jong-un shooting a handgun during a military drill, are soaking up views around the world. Through aggressive threats and flashy shows of power, the North Korean leader has proven himself to be the champion of manipulating tense global news-wires. Conversely, he is the also subject of countless humorous memes.

Vodka Anthropology/Transplant Tourism

03/16/2013

Anthropology translates literally to the “science of humanity." We tend to think of it as a field that seeks to answer the big questions about what makes us human. A number of consultant anthopologists are seeking to answer queries that appear somewhat less profound. For example, consulting firms like ReD Associates use field research and ethnography to figure out (among other things) how people are drinking Absolut vodka at house parties.

Dead Celebrities On Social Media

03/2/2013

Elvis is in the building!  Or at least on your smartphone.  Despite being laid to rest nearly 35 years ago, the King of Rock n’ Roll still posts on Facebook, and tweets several times a day…here’s a sample: “love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go… hashtag Valentine’s Day deals at Shop Elvis!”  The BBC’s Matt Danzico recently looked into the social media afterlives of departed celebrities – he lets us in on how they do it.

Snowshoe Racing Heats Up/Awards Season Wallflowers

02/2/2013

The Sidehiller snowshoe race in Center Sandwich is the oldest snowshoe race in New Hampshire…a remarkable distinction for an event that began in 2005. We sent correspondent Sean Hurley on a radio field trip to learn  more about the fast-growing winter sport.

and

The Oscar Buzzmeter is getting louder. Last weekend, “Argo” captured top prizes at The Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild of America Awards. Those ceremonies – and the upcoming Directors Guild of America Awards – represent a ‘jury of peers’ in Hollywood.

Facebook Worker Rights/The NFL's Social Media Season

02/2/2013

From demanding access to employee Facebook profiles to soliciting job applicants via Twitter, the disparity in company policies surrounding social media are a marker of both its newness and its influence in our lives. Prominent cases, such as a Philadelphia teacher’s firing over her blog, to a case brought by employees of a Virginia sheriff who were fired for “liking” his political opponent, have highlighted the need for employers to implement social policies.

America's Fringe On TV/Ice Fishing/Pinball's New Savior

01/26/2013

A new show from the Travel Channel explores America’s recreational fringe. “The Edge of America” is an experiential survey of some of the bizarre, dangerous, and hilarious things people do to have fun all over the country. Geoff Edgers is the host and writer for the program. When he’s not jousting bicycles or eating who-knows-what, he’s also an arts and culture reporter for the Boston Globe.

and

NHPR’s Sam Evans-Brown found that the traditional ice-fishing bob-houses that pop up each winter may be on their way out.

Paging Dr. Roboto/A Dying Nurse's Lesson

01/19/2013

Last week, the FDA approved the first self-navigating communications robot for use in hospitals. The RP-Vita which stands for remote presence virtual independent telemedicine assistant – was created by iRobot and In-Touch. The FDA sanction for the self-guided robot could mark a new era of robotic care in hospitals here in the United States.  Joining us with more on how RP-Vita works is Marcio Macedo, Director of Product Management for iRobot’s remote presence business unit.

and

Abby Goodnough, writer for The New York Times, talks about the incredible opportunity that Martha Keochareon

Self Help Nation/Alzheimer's Cafe/Giving 101

01/12/2013

If you’re in the mood for a little self-improvement at the start of the year, you’ll have no trouble finding guides; there are at least 45,000 self-help books currently in print. They run the gamut: the self-made man, mind-cures, chicken soup, subliminal messages and Zen meditation. They’re published in dozens of languages, but self-help books are predominately an American phenomenon.  To explain why, we turn to Laura Vanderkam, author of “The Paperback Quest for Joy”.

and

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can strip away memory, sometimes even dignity, and can isolate even the most

Pages