How to have a Robust Christmas (Part III)

Two years ago, the 76-Second Travel Show noted how the use of 'robust' had risen steeply on both sides of the Atlantic, while creating a new Christmas carol for the ages, 'Robust Christmas (Let's Make It Robust).' Here's the video:

And the trend continued last year too in the US, with a steep rise from 900 usages to over 1400 in the New York Times (slightly above this year's mark of 1371, as of Dec 22).

But to celebrate Robust Christmas III, we thought -- here at 76-Second Travel Show headquarters -- to take an alternate take at gauging the rise of robust. By use in headlines.

This graph shows that the New York Times show rises of use of 'robust' in a headline has doubled in the past two years:


Yes, you find robust everywhere: most robust balance sheet in history, robust menu, robust specimens, robust African-American woman, the robustness of the findings, a robust start (to baseball angst), and so on.

And travel is not exempt. Paulie Theroux dropped the R-bomb on Dutch lit of all things.

If robust is here to stay, and grow, what better way to celebrate than having a robust Christmas?

So please do.

Robust Christmas II

Last year, especially for Christmas, the 76-Second Travel Show tracked a surprising surge in the usage of the word 'robust' on both sides of the Atlantic:



A year later, we're noticing the trend in the US has continued its spike upward.

The New York Times rose from over 900 usages of 'robust' in 2009 to over 1400 (1406 as of Dec 23, including online references), while the UK's Guardian dropped slightly to 1885.

Does that say the UK is over robust, while the US is just getting started?

Either way, 76 Studios is looking forward to a very robust 2011.

76-Second Travel Show: "Robust Christmas Special"

Episode #014
F E A T U R I N G * 7 2 * B O N U S * S E C O N D S

"Three American hikers were detained on the cusp on the Iraq/Iran border today..."

Why does that sound so off? Because 'cusp' is one of those words that gets pigeonholed in its use despite a potentially broad use by its definition. We use 'cusp' only when talking of the day or two before or after a horoscope sign changes. And nothing else.

'Robust' used to be an other example -- frequently used to describe economic plans, growth in sales or (far too often) the taste of wines. But here at the SSSTS* HQ, we've spotted a growing trend. Not only are more people using 'robust' in everyday sentences, but in ways that extend beyond merlots on conference-room strategies.

In the last year, the New York Times used it to describe a Bruce Springsteen song, an old clock and a trilogy of dances by Christopher Wheeldon.

The travel world is jumping in too. Travel & Leisure likened a collection of Rubenses as 'robust,' World Hum dropped it for a morning serenade of (Texan) birds, while Jaunted pulled it out for RV camping tendencies and Gadling hopes it'll describe the travel tweet nation in 2010.

With all its merry tidings, Christmas is way behind the curve, and the SSSTS team is striving to give December 25 an ample robust boost.

But in doing so, takes a stab and returning to its original definition -- which changed in 1953 (according to Stephen M Stigler's 1973 report on the mathematical concept of 'robust estimation') from something meaning powerful, healthy yet vulgar, to something just powerful and healthy.

* The 76-Second Travel Show abbreviation is being changed from SSTS to SSSTS.