It was seen as part of the trend of firms hosting one-off events to suit their own timetables rather than rushing to meet a January deadline.

BBC: CES 2013: Tech world prepares for Las Vegas launches

And it pointed to what it said was an increasingly worrying trend of gender segregation at student Islamic Society events.

BBC: Student lecture

Also, if you are concerned with severe weather, I discuss how increased media coverage of extreme events is often mistaken for a trend in the underlying events here.

FORBES: Bait and Switch in the Climate Debate

On top of the effects of the warming trend come more frequent and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and storms which directly cause death and injury and open the door to other serious health problems, according to WWF.

CNN: Global warming may harm human health

It was a really silly remark by Mr Obama on Friday that turned a series of unhappy and unconnected events into something that felt like a trend.

BBC: Obama's worst week?