Gossip is essential to human social, psychological and even physical well-being. The mobile phone, by facilitating therapeutic gossip in an alienating and fragmented modern world, has become a vital 'social lifeline'. A study by Kate Fox looks at Evolution, Alienation and Gossip - The role of mobile telecommunications in the 21st century
Seven cities and regions in Europe are removing all of their traffic signs in an experiment to see whether drivers will show each other more respect and take more care in a less regulated environment.
Global super-cities are getting bigger, are more culturally diverse and less dependant on the countries that encompass them. How is this changing the city/nation/state relationship?
A thorough guide to etiquette within a built up urban environment from the The New York Metro. Topics vary from cell phone & iPod etiquette to being polite but firm while dining.
In an attempt to make the theory of 'psychological types' described by C. G. Jung as accessible as possible Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Briggs, developed a simple way to disect each of the four dichotomies specified or implicit in Jung’s theory - the Myers Briggs personality type indicator
Is the erosion of personal privacy a necessity for the protection of those that are always in the right? Bruce Schneier from Wired thinks it goes beyond right and wrong.
Brazil's Pirahã tribe do not have language that can explain time. They have no history and no numbers - their creationist myth is "Everything is the same, things always are." By studying them linguistic theorists are hoping to find the answer to whether the widely held belief that there is a 'universal grammar' in Human language is correct or not.
So much information so little time, but where do you go when you need your fix? Infolust, new ways to extract content from packaging, magazines and the internet all via your mobile phone and it's inbuilt camera.
A speech accent archive made up from samples of people from all over the world reading the same paragraph.
If you have ever wondered which country is the richest, most corrupt, highly taxed or most generous then this website has all the stats you need - Nation Master
The Guardian has a good look at the 16-24 year old demographic. Finding they are highly 'connected' and very technically literate. As a parent, If you send one of them to their room for punishment, you will actually be doing them a favour.
How long will baby boomer cultural hegemony hold on for? Jack Schafer at Slate believes the times they are a changin'
Time Magazine's latest cover story on 'Ambition: Why Some People Are Most Likely To Succeed'
What should you take with you? How about an encrypted thumb drive containing all your important information?
The new generation of 20-somethings are sacrificing their independence by living at home, working in low paid jobs and spending all their income on expensive luxury items. The Seattle Times calls them the Gold Collar generation.
Every two weeks or so, the last elderly man or woman with full command of a particular language dies.
If language is the tool we use to define our reality, we are therefore losing more than just words - but ways of looking at the world.
David W. Lightfoot is helping to spearhead a government initiative to preserve some of these dying languages, believing each is a window into the human mind that can benefit the world at large.
Control your dreams with lucid dreaming
Is multiculturalism more than just festivals and food?
The current model for urban planning is flawed and causing major problems, with large modern cities struggling under their own weight.
William McDonough, who is currently building seven new cities in China has some interesting ideas on how we can change our cities to something more sustainable.
Joel Kotkin author of "The City: A Global History" talks to the csmonitor on what makes a city thrive. He suggests it is not about creating cultural hubs but more about providing basic family supports.
A site documenting historical figures that had strange powers and abilities. via we make money not art
Barbie's new art director - "Ken doll is a passionate artist, and his style reflects his line of work. He features the vintage face sculpt, and his hair has been updated to a more modern style, with highlights framing his face."
From Schopenhauer's "The Art of Controversy"
Research at the University of Alberta suggests that gesturing while talking helps with the recollection of memory and language.
For £50 an hour you too can have someone that goes out and finds you that 'special something' for your social engagements.
The Scotsman looks at certain numbers that keep recurring within society;
"It seems that each of these circles of acquaintanceship maps quite neatly on to two aspects of how we relate to our friends. One is the frequency with which we contact them - at least once a week for the inner circle of five, at least once a month for the circle of 15, at least once a year for the 150."
National Geographic are tracking the worldwide spread of human beings by tracking DNA. If you want to see where you fit in, send them a swab and they will provide you with information on where your ancient ancestors came from.
A simple tip for chilling a bottle of white wine in 6 minutes flat - put in bucket of water and ice with a handful of salt
From the people that brought you the Palm - Dubai now has The World
Cameras with a flash and speakers (to tell you to leave the area) are being placed on lampposts to deter criminal activity in high crime areas in the UK.
Hypnotist Derren Brown explains different techniques he uses when performing his 'magic'
A good article that looks indepth at how money, society and status relate to our happiness - via A&L
One in three people are concerned that if they lose their mobile phone, they will lose contact with their friends - as they only store their contact information on their phone
The Economist writes an article on the open source movement and how the concept of sharing could go beyond technological knowledge
Over 3 months Simon Hogsberg stopped 150 strangers on the street and asked them what they were thinking the moment before he stopped them - these are the results
The intermediate phase, a strange transitional never-never land between adolescence and adulthood.
Due to a large mountain blocking the sun, a town in Austria (Rattenburg) spends 2-3 months a year without sunshine. A new project to direct sunshine to this town costing 2 million Euros is being proposed - it will all be done with mirrors
In the 1961 Weekend magazine readers were asked - Will life be worth living in 2000AD - here are some of their answers
Use the Salary clock to see your income tick in - compare it to others like Oprah or Steven Spielberg.
Malcolm Gladwell, author of business book 'The Tipping Point' is discussed over at Fast Company
Some amusing snippets of conversation overheard in New York
Some of the most common mistakes people make when trading on the sharemarket.
The virtues of idleness - just in time for the holidays
The NYTimes has a good article on what happens when too much alcohol causes the dreaded hangover.
While Wired magazine talks about new wealth and GDP being a poor indicator for happiness. The Sydney Morning Herald talks up the idea of greed being good.
Ars Technica's Xmas list of cool gadgets
A recent survey in the US has put Nurses as the most trusted profession and Car salesman, followed by advertising practitioners and lawyers as the least trusted.
The relationship between pedestrians and car drivers succinctly put in this Washington Post Article
With the festive season upon us, New York Metro has a guide to Holiday Parties
What happens when your friends are paid by a company to sell you their products - without you knowing. It is a new marketing strategy that is taking off in the USA.
joshon updates for 2004
The Australian Big Brother Awards have just been announced - The Orwells
The 10 year old grilled cheese sandwich with a bite taken out of it has just sold on ebay for $35,000
A slow change away from the mega-shop is happening in the retail sector.
Australia has just signed a 'Free' trade agreement with America meanwhile, Mexico is finding under NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) their more environmentally sound farming practices are being threatened via intense competition and GM Maize
Of the 25m gigalitres of water used in Australia each year, 17m gigalitres is used in agriculture. Of the 17m gigalitres used in agriculture more than one third of this water is used for politically sensitive, yet financially poor crops such as rice, sugar and cotton.
With more people drinking bottled water, the number of trucks, ships and planes transporting it from exotic locations has also increased. The environmental damage this causes is now causing anger among environmental groups - Is bottled water becoming the new SUV?
With elections recently over in Australia and about to begin in America - maybe now is the time to be thinking about a fairer method of voting - Approval Voting
The iPod's white ear buds are losing their street cred.
Forbes have released their list of the 400 Richest people in America. Kuroshin has a nice article analysing the list