It has been fashionable for many years to steer students away from technical trades, and towards white collar work. Things are flipping back as people seek more meaningful work, and work that is tied more directly to value creation and people.
The phenomena known as Glee is the prime example, but others would include the slew of movies made from 50's and 60's era comic books, Iron Man, DareDevil, X-Men, etc. Britain's Got Talent, and it's USA counterpart are also proof that old fashioned singing is back in style. Michael Buble is another example
1
The Ascent of Social Media
It's dominating life as we know it.
2
Rapid Acceleration of Consumer Electronics
It's hard to know where to start, but the iPhone, iPad, game boxes, 3D and HD TV, smart phones, Wii, what's next? It just keeps coming, and faster and faster all the time.
4
Politics as Religion
It's not about dialogue, it's not about pragmatism or solutions. Increasingly people seem to believe in the dogma of a given party and that's pretty much it, it's over, no matter what.
Terrorism is usually associated with evil doing and non-discriminate violence. A new type of terrorism is emerging that has a positive impact, for instance, Seed Bombs, that have you "bombing" a vacant lot with appropriate wild flowers. AKA Guerilla Gardening