Why New Democracies Sign Arms Control Treaties

September 20, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

At its most basic level the Democratic Peace Theory says that democracies behave differently than other countries in the international system. It is generally thought that this is the case because there is something intrinsically good about democracies. David Bosco reports on a study that suggests that democracies do behave differently – but only because it is in their interest to do so. Highlights:

  • Compared to non-democratic countries, newly democratic governments are more likely to sign arms control agreements.
  • The helps enhance their reputation.
  • But more importantly a country’s leader may choose to sign the treaty in a bid to thwart any opposition. By signing onto an arms control agreement the international community will punish anybody who is violating the treaty – and the people violating it are likely to be those that are trying to overthrow the democratic government.
  • The strategy is effective. Countries that sign these treaties are less likely to see democracy reversed.

Read more about how arms control treaties are different from human rights treaties, and quotes from the author of the study over here.

Source: Foreign Policy

Batman For President…Of Brazil?

September 19, 2012 in Daily Bulletin, Signature

In Brazil you can go to your local election booth and vote for The Dark Knight. Confused? Simon Romero explained:

  • In Brazil candidates are allowed to go by their nicknames on the ballot.
  • This has led to a string of politicians attempting to capitalize on their looks. One candidate came to be known as wolverine due to his sideburns and big build. On the campaign trail he now wears metal talons and uses slogans such as “vote for the guy who has claws.”
  • There are five Batmans running, 16 Obamas, and a Ladi Gaga (sic) among others.
  • Others are more descriptive. One candidate runs as: “National Institute of Social Security’s Defender of the People.”
  • Candidates use these names to create memorable campaigns in the hopes of standing out on the ballot.

Read more about the other names that people have adopted, Brazil’s more relaxed approach to elections, and what campaign strategists have to say about the practice over here.

Source: The New York Times

How Much Does It Cost To Host The Hunger Games?

September 19, 2012 in Editorial

Outside of the Capitol, the 12 districts of Panem have incredibly low living standards. Every day, residents of the districts die of starvation, poor living and working conditions, a lack of healthcare, and—for those between the ages of 12 and 18—mandatory participation if chosen in the Hunger Games. Considering that each year the Hunger Games take place in a new extremely advanced (and presumably costly) dome controlled from the outside shown via telecast with no live spectators, the question has to be asked: how much do the Hunger Games cost Panem?

In our own world, the only eve Read the rest of this entry →

Branded For Life

September 19, 2012 in Daily Bulletin, Signature

It’s one thing to be branded for life. It’s another thing to be branded for life by companies that no longer exist. Jack Stuef reported:

  • During the dotcom bubble in the late 90s and early 00s tech companies flush with cash would do anything to get media attention. One way was to tattoo advertizements directly onto the skin of people.
  • Established companies never engaged in such practices because of the backlash associated with buying space on people’s flesh. Only young and new companies – those most likely to fail – bought the ads. Fail they did, but their ads live on.
  • Some have continued the practice. One man who changed his name to Hostgator Dotcom now has 37 face tattoos. Because of the recession he has returned to selling ads on his body although there are fewer companies buying.

Read more about the stories of some of these people, why they did it, what happened to the websites, and what their plans are for the future over here.

Source: Buzz Feed

Attractiveness On Facebook

September 18, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

When you first add somebody on Facebook it turns out that it’s not your profile picture that matters the most in determining how attractive you are perceived as being…it’s the comments underneath. At least according to a study Zoe Fox reported on:

  • The more comments on your profile picture the more attractive you’re seen. Not just physically but socially and professionally.
  • It’s particularly helpful if the comments are positive.
  • This is because we utilize other people’s opinions when forming our own.

Read more about the methodology of the study and what this means for you over here.

Source: Mashable

The Design Of American Embassies

September 18, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

As the impact of events in Libya continue to reverberate across the United States, Joshua E. Keating looked at how the design of American embassies have evolved over the years:

  • An embassy needs to balance between protecting the personnel inside it, and being seen as transparent and open to the people in the host country.
  • During the early years America didn’t build its own embassies – it simply bought buildings abroad. This changed in 1926 when an agency was formed to design and build American embassies.
  • At the height of The Cold War the United States embraced a modernist architectural design that was the epitome of American swagger.
  • Design took a back seat to security in 1983 when 63 people were killed in a suicide bombing at the US embassy in Beirut.
  • A committee then created a set of guidelines for embassies to adhere to, to ensure the personnel’s security. However Congress never funded these expensive construction projects, and most embassies didn’t change much.
  • This changed in 1998 after 223 people were killed in US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
  • After 9/11 the United States ratcheted up security guidelines. A one-size-fits-all “McEmbassy” with stylistically identical designs for “small” “medium” and “large” buildings was created. These designs included high fences and a 100 feet of space between the embassy and the street.
  • Since then however America has relaxed its standards a little, allowing for more creative designs that maintain security while elevating form. The planned American embassy in England (pictured above) is an example.

Read more about how architectural norms might change once again in the wake of recent events, examples of the evolution of American embassy design, and what diplomats think about the various developments, over here.

Source: Foreign Policy

When Did Sodas Become So Large?

September 17, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

New York City has gone through with a controversial policy to ban the sale of soft drinks in cups larger than 16 ounces (about half a liter.) Brian Palmer looked at when soda servings got so big:

  • During the great depression an upstart Cola company called Pepsi-Cola began to sell 12-ounce bottles for a nickel. This was twice the amount of cola that Coke sold for a nickel.
  • In addition to making it a more attractive value proposition for consumers, this also meant that Pepsi could use the same bottles as beer makers, cutting costs.
  • Pepsi gained so much market share that it looked like Coke would lose its dominant market position. Coke soon released a “Family Size” 21 ounce bottle.
  • When Coca-Cola first worked with McDonald’s the original fountain soda had seven ounces. It hit 21 ounces in 1974.

Read more about the racial undertones behind the serving sizes, and an infographic that depicts the evolution of the soda container over here.

Source: Slate

Should Charities Act Like Corporations?

September 16, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

Dan Pallotta argued that charities should be run like businesses: pay executives high salaries, advertize to build market share, and even float on the stock market. Perhaps then we could build orphanages on the scale that we build McDonald’s. Highlights of the argument include:

  • We have an emotional reaction to charities that use money to pay their employees high salaries rather than help the poor, but that means that the best and brightest don’t go to work for charities, and this ultimately hurts the poor.
  • If you’re rational then you should continue to spend money on advertizing as long as the money you get from contributions as a direct result of advertizing is more than the money you spent. Yet we don’t like our charities using their donations to advertize, and as advertizements from other businesses continue, charities won’t be able to steal market share from the private sector – because they can’t advertize.
  • Accept failure. Not every business initiative succeeds, and not every charity event will raise as much money as expected. Charities must take risks.
  • Give them time. Startups go for years just building their capacity without generating profits. Charities might not generate donations immediately. Give it time, it’s an investment.
  • Offer dividends through a stock market to attract more capital.

Read more about the money we would have to raise to fight poverty, how we can enable this change, how we would measure performance, and how this all relates to the first settlers in the New World over here.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The Highest Graveyard In The World

September 16, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

Every year as individuals climb Mount Everest they pass by the bodies of those who recently perished attempting the same journey. Grayson Schaffer gave insights about the world’s highest graveyard:

  • In Mount Everest’s 2012 spring season, ten people died, making it the third deadliest spring for Everest.
  • Deaths have continued because companies have sprung up that are willing to offer to take anybody to the top of Everest – as long as they’re willing to pay the fees – even if they have absolutely no experience climbing mountains.
  • Some of these companies have realized that instead of employing foreigners as guides they can simply employ local Sherpas. These people live in Nepal and don’t require permits to climb – saving tens of thousands of dollars.
  • Yet not only are the Sherpas often not qualified to guide; there is also often a culture clash. A good guide needs to be willing to take charge and tell people if they need to turn back. Westerners are good at this while Sherpas are more deferential, being in the habit of listening to the client, especially after the client has paid thousands of dollars to be on the climb.
  • While the Nepalese government should mandate that only experienced climbers can receive a permit, the profits that come in are too lucrative for them to act.
  • Sophisticated weather forecasting techniques now tell climbers when the weather will be good, making it safe to climb. This has introduced its own hazards as people all try to climb at the same time, creating long lines on the mountain.
  • There is a strong blogging culture at the base camp where bloggers might report the death of a climber even before the families find out.

The entire article is fascinating and goes over the stories of people who’ve been forced to walk past as other climbers perish, and some of the foolhardy decisions that people have made. You can find it here.

Source: Outside

Whatever Happened To India?

September 15, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

India’s growth rate has dropped from 8.1% a year between 2004 and 2011 to around 5.5% so far this year. What happened? Peter Passell answered:

  • India had a short burst of reforms during crisis in the 90s, but since then interest groups in the democracy have blocked the progress of reforms.
  • India’s labour laws make it almost impossible to fire a worker once they are hired. Businesses are sending operations to countries where they don’t have to deal with this problem.
  • India has four times the population of the United States but only one third the land mass. There isn’t enough space to build things like factories.
  • India’s infrastructure is under developed. Roads are congested and power cuts are frequent.

Passell explores many more issues including how growth affected income inequality and what the country’s future holds for it. Find the article over here.

Source: Foreign Policy