Society
College commencement season is upon us – now is the time to tackle big ideas
At a time when dulled language and strategised communication make our polarised worlds impenetrable, the upcoming spate of college commencement addresses in the US offers an opportunity to redeem the national conversation.
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In the era of faceless phone snatchers, I miss the chutzpah of the old-school con man
These days, scams tend to come via our digital devices. But I like my swindles street side and in person
‘Kolay gelsin’ is Turkey’s great societal leveller. English-language cities should take note.
There's power in a good phrase, especially when it acts as a social leveller in our increasingly anonymised cities.
Why ancient wisdom is the ultimate shield against modern noise
The modern Stoic Tom Hodgkinson on training our minds to transcend anxiety.
What is national pride? A new survey suggests that it’s more personal than political
The Pew Research Center survey of 25 countries reveals what truly sparks national pride. The answers often focus on cultural output and lifestyle.
Carnival is serious business as Brazilian cities battle to be the biggest and the best
Brazil’s biggest party is just days away. Right now, revellers across the country are stocking up on glitter, body paint and fishnet tights. They’re putting the final touches on new costumes or shaking out…
Take it from a Finn – there are ways to survive winter with a smile
Beating seasonal depression through the darkest months comes down to acceptance, staying connected and seeking plenty of light – even the artificial kind.
The reality behind Japan’s “vanishing phenomenon” and how people disappear
Global media’s obsession with sensationalising Japan into its eccentric, often stereotyped image is reductive. The much-discussed yet decades-old phenomenon of ‘johatsu’ is just one example.
What Parisians hate (almost) more than anything
It is rarely mentioned in guidebooks but dominates everyday life. It ruins appliances, dulls hair and inspires an entire economy of defensive measures. An expat learns why Paris takes certain domestic threats seriously.
Inside 19th-century mummy mania, when Europe dined with Egypt’s dead
After Napoleon’s Egypt campaign, the European bourgeoisie became fascinated by pyramids, hieroglyphs and mummies. The latter were shipped to Europe by the thousands, despite laws prohibiting the trade.
