Roger W. Watson, Author at Iba magazine

What to Wear with Black Jeans for Men? – GINGTTO

29 Jan

Decoding Normcore Fashion

Roger W. WatsonCulture and Entertainment

Normcore emerged in the early 2010s as a fascinating fashion movement defined by its preference for plain, everyday attire that appears intentionally ordinary. This approach deliberately sidesteps standout elements, favoring a style that feels purposefully average. Drawing from the word "normal" and the stylistic suffix "core," normcore highlights the appeal of simplicity and the visual language of the commonplace.The Origins of NormcoreThe term normcore gained prominence after it was used by the trend-forecasting group K-HOLE in a 2013 report. The report indicated a cultural shift where standing out and being unique were no longer aspirational for everyone. Instead, a desire…

29 Jan

Cultural Perspectives on Global Fashion

Roger W. WatsonCulture and Entertainment

Fashion unfolds as an ever‑evolving tapestry shaped by countless cultural threads, mirroring the wide spectrum of experiences, beliefs, and traditions found across global societies. It represents a sphere where cultural influences emerge through silhouettes, patterns, and evolving trends, highlighting how communities around the world remain closely interconnected.The Historical BackgroundAcross the ages, cultural forces have significantly molded fashion trends, with Renaissance Europe offering a clear example: the era’s styles were shaped by the lavish lives of the aristocracy, whose garments of silk, velvet, and other rich materials projected their prestige and affluence. The period’s detailed patterns and ornate needlework stood as…

,000 car loan payments are on the rise, stressing household budgets

23 Jan

Household Budgets Under Pressure: $1,000 Car Loans Rise

Roger W. WatsonInvestments and Business

The cost of financing a new vehicle has surged, leaving many families struggling to manage monthly expenses. Rising interest rates and higher car prices are driving auto loan payments to unprecedented levels.Americans are confronting an escalating financial burden as the typical monthly car loan payment nears $1,000, a rise that is putting significant pressure on household budgets, prompting many families to reassess their spending habits and, at times, postpone other crucial costs, while analysts caution that steep vehicle prices combined with elevated interest rates are driving this persistent trend with little indication of relief ahead.Auto loans, long viewed as relatively…

Chile: corporate CSR advancing transparency and community participation in local projects

23 Jan

Chile: Advancing Transparency & Participation through Corporate CSR

Roger W. WatsonSocial Responsibility

Chile’s economic model has historically relied on extractive industries, agriculture, fishing, and export‑oriented manufacturing, sectors that have powered growth while concentrating environmental and social pressures in particular areas. Consequently, corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Chile is not a peripheral marketing tool but a strategic requirement that influences social license, investor confidence, and local development. In recent years, rising public expectations for transparency and genuine community involvement in territorial initiatives have pushed CSR to evolve from simple philanthropy toward governance, disclosure, and collaborative design.Regulatory and institutional drivers advancing transparencySeveral public factors push companies toward greater openness and community engagement:Access-to-information and anti-corruption…

Trump threatens new 100% tariffs on Canada over possible trade deal with China

23 Jan

Canada Faces Trump’s Tariff Threat on China Deal

Roger W. WatsonEconomy

Tensions between the United States and Canada escalated this week as President Donald Trump warned of imposing steep tariffs on Canadian imports if the country pursues closer trade ties with China. His comments mark the latest flare-up in a series of trade disputes between the two neighbors.President Trump’s recent statements have raised concerns over the stability of North American trade relations. Speaking on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump suggested that Canada risks severe economic consequences if it allows Chinese goods to flow into the U.S. via Canadian markets. He warned that a trade agreement between Canada and China…

NASA astronaut Suni Williams retires months after return from troubled mission to orbit

23 Jan

After Difficult Orbit, NASA Astronaut Suni Williams Retires

Roger W. WatsonScience and Technology

After nearly three decades of service, NASA astronaut Suni Williams has announced her retirement, marking the end of a career defined by endurance, leadership, and record-setting achievements. Her final mission, an unplanned nine-month stay in orbit during Boeing’s Starliner test flight, has become a defining moment in modern space exploration.The announcement, confirmed by NASA on Tuesday, formally ends Williams’ tenure in the astronaut corps and transforms what was meant to be a short-duration test flight into her final journey to space. While the agency did not specify the precise timing behind her decision, the retirement caps a career that began…

Germany: How Mittelstand-style management builds long-term competitiveness

23 Jan

Mittelstand Management Strategies for Enduring Competitiveness

Roger W. WatsonEconomy

Germany’s economic strength and industrial prominence stem not so much from major multinational giants as from a broad network of medium-sized firms that favor durability over immediate returns. This article outlines the structural and managerial approaches sustaining that long-range competitiveness, provides specific examples supported by data, and highlights key insights for both managers and policymakers.Defining characteristics of the mid-sized enterprise modelOwnership orientation: Many businesses remain family-controlled or guided by their founders, operating with long-term perspectives instead of prioritizing short-term earnings reports.Specialization and niche dominance: Companies direct their efforts toward narrowly defined product or process areas, frequently emerging as worldwide leaders…

Hydration: signs you’re drinking less than you need

23 Jan

Signs of Thirst: What Happens When You Don’t Hydrate Enough

Roger W. WatsonScience and Technology

The importance of staying hydratedWater is a key component of every cell, tissue, and organ. It helps regulate body temperature, transport nutrients, remove waste, maintain blood volume and pressure, and support biochemical reactions. Even small shortfalls in fluid balance affect physical performance, cognitive function, digestion, and mood. Because the feeling of thirst can lag behind actual need, many people are chronically underhydrated without noticing gradual declines in function.How much hydration does one truly require?Guidelines shift according to age, gender, activity level, climate, and individual health. Common benchmarks include:Average daily total water intake (foods + beverages): about 3.7 liters for men…

Cuba: services CSR advancing training and community well-being projects

23 Jan

CSR & Training in Cuba: Community Well-being Projects

Roger W. WatsonSocial Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Cuba focuses on bridging skills gaps, strengthening public services, and improving community well-being through partnerships among state institutions, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and community groups. Given Cuba’s strong baseline in health and education, CSR initiatives concentrate on modernizing services, expanding vocational opportunities, and building resilience in rural and marginalized communities. Effective CSR in Cuba blends technical training, social services delivery, and local economic development to produce measurable improvements in livelihoods and social indicators.Background and key enablersDemographic and social baseline: Cuba has a population of about 11 million, high literacy rates, near-universal basic education, and historically strong…

Why information manipulation threatens democratic stability

17 Jan

Information Manipulation: A Threat to Democratic Stability

Roger W. WatsonInternational

Democratic stability depends on citizens who remain well-informed, institutions capable of earning public trust, a shared foundation of widely acknowledged yet continuously debated facts, and transitions of power conducted with order. Information manipulation — the deliberate shaping, distorting, amplifying, or suppressing of material to influence public attitudes or behavior — gradually erodes these foundations. It weakens them not only by spreading falsehoods, but also by reshaping incentives, corroding trust, and transforming public attention into a lever for strategic gain. This threat functions at a systemic level, producing compromised elections, polarized societies, reduced accountability, and environments in which violence and authoritarian…