Longread #41 -- Presidential Politics -- 3/30/12

The last longread of this week is about the value of the bully pulpit in American politics. It is often assumed that through poignant speeches and dedicated rhetoric that the POTUS can shape public opinion and public policy. However, evidence suggests otherwise and even indicates that in some cases these tactics may hinder the President's agenda. Given the rampant political divides in America, I think this article provides a useful, albeit disappointing, dose of reality for those who expect Obama to truly change policy or how things are done in Washington.

"The Unpersuaded" by Ezra Klein
Publishes in the New Yorker, March 19, 2012
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/03/19/120319fa_fact_klein

Eric

Longread #40 -- Paul Clement and the Supreme Court -- 3/29/12

This week, the Supreme Court has been hearing oral arguments regarding the Affordable Care Act and whether it is legal to mandate that every American have health insurance. The lead attorney arguing against the ACA is Paul Clement, who happens to be a Supreme Court regular. This article provides a great profile of Clement and his importance to not only this case but several others that are also on the horizon.

"The Paul Clement Court" by Jason Zengerle
http://nymag.com/news/features/paul-clement-2012-3/
Published in New York Magazine, March 18, 2012

Eric

Longread #39 -- Baseball in Cuba -- 3/28/12

In honor of Opening Day for Major League Baseball, today's longread is about the hidden world of baseball in Cuba. Even with the obscene amounts of sports coverage and team scouting, Cuban baseball remains largely under wraps. This article is about one player in particular -- Jose Abreu -- who has put up ridiculous numbers in the Cuban league; however, no one knows exactly how his skills would translate on an MLB roster. Also discussed is Yoenis Cespedes, a former Cuban league star who today made his MLB debut for the Oakland A's.

Thanks to my friend Leanne (an Oakland fan) who suggested this article to me. And finally, my yearly Opening Day quote, taken from Field of Dreams:

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh, people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

"The Best Hitter You've Never Heard Of" by Jonah Keri
Published on Grantland, February 22, 2012
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7601600/cuba-jose-abreu-migh-best-offensive-weapon-planet

Eric

Longread #38 -- Executive Power to Kill -- 3/27/12

Today's longread tackles another difficult issue in international politics -- to what extent does the War on Terrorism grant the executive the ability to kill abroad? What happens when the target is an American citizen? This article makes a strong case for why the current justification being used by the Obama administration provides for far-reaching and dangerous deployments of executive power.

"An Executive Power to Kill" by David Cole
Published in the New York Review of Books, March 6, 2012
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/mar/06/targeted-killings-holder-speech/

Eric

Longread #37 -- A Nuclear Iran -- 3/26/12

Delving into foreign policy a bit today with this longread from the Washington Monthly. This article makes a compelling case for why the risks of a war with Iran far outweigh the risks of letting Iran become part of the nuclear club. It does an excellent job of taking on the headline and soundbite driven explanations for why we can't let Iran get a nuclear weapon and exposes a host of faulty assumptions that underlie those claims.

"We Can Live With a Nuclear Iran" by Paul Pillar
Published in the Washington Monthly, March/April 2012
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/marchapril_2012/features/we_can_live_with_a_nuclear_ira035772.php?page=all&print=true

Eric

Longread #36 -- How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy -- 3/23/12

Today's longread is about the often unknown ways that parasites can affect human behavior. The specific focus of this article is the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is found in cat feces. Initially written off as simply a minor parasite, one researcher has unearthed a host of ways that people can be affected. While it's not a real cause for alarm, it demonstrates how much we still have to learn about parasites and human health.

"How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy" by Kathleen Mcauliffe
Published in the Atlantic, March 2012
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/03/how-your-cat-is-making-you-crazy/8873/

Eric

Longread #35 -- Fasting -- 3/23/12

Whether in the form of a book or longform article (or any other medium), one of the most fascinating things for me are pieces that challenge conventional wisdom. We hear so often about the need for proper nutrition that the concept of fasting never even really comes to mind. This article provides information about the history of fasting and its potential benefits while also documenting the author's own fasting experiment.

I personally feel there are undeniable quality of life arguments against fasting (eating is awesome, feeling hungry isn't fun); nevertheless, a lot of the issues raised by the author are really eye-opening.

Thanks to my friend Matt Stenovec for sharing this article with me!

"Starving Your Way to Vigor" by Steve Hendricks
Published in Harper's, March 2012
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_vfEMiWxwLZMEVzMjlDclJSaWU4bjVIZWdlSXAxQQ/edit

Eric

Longread #34 -- The Fat Trap -- 3/21/12

Most people in the U.S. it seems have tried to lose weight at one point or another. As most people discover, it's not easy. What can be even harder, though, is maintaining a lower weight after significant weight loss. This article examines some of those challenges and the science that is trying to help us better understand them.

"The Fat Trap" by Tara Parker-Pope
Published in the New York Times, December 28. 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/magazine/tara-parker-pope-fat-trap.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Eric

Longread #33 -- The Dangers of Yoga -- 3/20/12

I think yoga can be a very useful and helpful form of physical activity. Obviously, it can take many forms, and how any individual chooses to do yoga is really in his or her hands. That said, I do think that this article is correct in saying that there is a common misperception that you can't get hurt doing yoga or that yoga is only restorative. I think many yoga studios have either purposefully propagated these myths or at least have not done a sufficient job of being realistic with their clients, especially newer and inexperienced clients. I don't want my posting of this article to be a condemnation of yoga at all -- freak accidents and injuries occur in all sports, and there's a reason why you see so many medical disclaimers to talk with your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine. In my mind, this is all the more reason why there needs to be greater transparency about the risks of yoga that starts with debunking the notion that yoga is inherently injury-reducing. I think it's also a call to remember that it's generally good to mix up what you're doing in terms of physical activity. There is too much of a good thing, and constant repetitions of the same motion (whether running, elliptical, yoga, etc.) can put you at risk even if you know what you're doing and especially if you don't. 

"How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" by William J. Broad

Published in the New York Times, January 5, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html?_r=3&pagewanted=all 

Check back tomorrow for another health-themed longread!

Eric

Longread #32 -- Is Sugar Toxic? -- 3/19/12

It's health week! A new longread each day about various health-related topics.

We'll start with nutrition and an article from Gary Taubes about the dangers of sugar. Taubes is a bit of a renegade in the world of nutrition science. He comes from the school of thought commonly associated with Atkins that identifies carbohydrates (especially things like refined sugar) as a root cause of obesity, diabetes, and numerous other serious health problems. Taubes is both a persistent researcher and quality writer, and this article about sugar should be engaging for anyone interested in the debate over what kind of diet is best for overall health.

"Is Sugar Toxic?" by Gary Taubes
Published in the New York Times, April 13, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Check back each business day the rest of this week for more health longreads!

Eric

Longread #31 -- Stoner Arms Dealers -- 3/16/12

Today's longread is about a unique startup story. Two young and entrepreneurial stoners decided to start a small arms business and ended up winning a host of federal contracts to supply guns and ammo abroad. It's a really interesting story both about these particular guys but also about the nature of the government contract system and the global small arms industry. 

"The Stoner Arms Dealers: How Two American Kids Became Big-Time Weapons Traders" by Guy Lawson

Published in Rolling Stone, March 16, 2011

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-stoner-arms-dealers-20110316?print=true 

Eric

Longread #30 -- Undercover Billionaire -- 3/15/12

This is an awesome startup story about the woman who created the Spanx brand. She managed to take $5,000 of personal savings and build a business that would make her a billionaire. Obviously there's a lot wrong with our economic system on a structural level, and many elements of the "American Dream" are broken. Nevertheless, this woman's ability to build a business through creativity, intelligence, and sheer determination is pretty amazing.

"Undercover Billionaire: Sara Blakely Joins the Rich List Thanks to Spanx" by Clare O'Connor
Published in Forbes, March 7. 2012
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/03/07/undercover-billionaire-sara-blakely-joins-the-rich-list-thanks-to-spanx/

Eric

Longread #29 -- Copycat Startups -- 3/14/12

Not all startups are about innovation. Instead, some focus on execution and simply copying what others do well. Especially with web-based businesses, this has proved extremely lucrative for a group of three German brothers who started by copying eBay and now own a huge stake in Groupon. Though their money-making abilities are unquestioned, their business ethics are definitely in question.

"How Three Germans Are Cloning the Web" by Caroline Winter
Published in Business Week, February 29, 2012
http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/10778-how-three-germans-are-cloning-the-web

Eric

Longread #28 -- Dogfish Head and Craft Beer -- 3/13/12

Today's longread in the "startup stories" theme is about a topic near-and-dear to many of us -- craft brewing! This story focuses on the founding of Dogfish Head Brewing, which is one of the most popular and highly-regarded breweries in the U.S. Founder Sam Calagione built the brewery up from little more than a backroom operation to a national brand known for pushing the boundaries with "extreme beers" that have won a host of international awards. A great story probably best enjoyed with a great beer...cheers!

"A Better Brew" by Burkhard Bilger
Published in the New Yorker, November 24, 2008
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/24/081124fa_fact_bilger?printable=true&currentPage=all

Check back tomorrow for more startup stories!

Eric

Longread #27 -- 5-Hour Energy -- 3/12/12

The theme of this week's longreads is "Startup Stories" -- each longread will have something to do with startup businesses. The first installment gives the story of the founder of 5-Hour Energy, which has rapidly ascended to dominate its market with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual profits. I think 5-Hour Energy is such an interesting story because these types of products have gone from fringe usage to widespread acceptance in such a short time, and it's amazing that so much of that growth has been driven by one brand.

"The Mystery Monk Making Billions With 5-Hour Energy" by Clare O'Connor
Published in Forbes, February 8, 2012
http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/02/08/manoj-bhargava-the-mystery-monk-making-billions-with-5-hour-energy/print/

Check back all week for more startup stories!

Eric

Longread #26 -- Slavery on the High Seas -- 3/9/12

This article documents the brutal working conditions that exist in significant parts of the global fishing industry. Unfortunately, efforts to monitor the supply chain of global fish retailers often does not extend out to specific boats, creating opportunities for worker exploitation and abuse. We tend to focus on the environmental costs of fishing, but this article is a reminder that there can be tremendous human costs as well.

"Fishing as Slaves on the High Seas" by E. Benjamin Skinner
Published in Business Week, February 20, 2012
http://www.businessweek.com/printer/global/fishing-as-slaves-on-the-high-seas-02202012.html

Eric

Longread #25 -- Tomatoland -- 3/8/12

Today's longread is actually in two parts. The first article was published in 2009 and documented the atrocious working conditions for people picking tomatoes in Florida. The second article is a post from the author's blog in 2011. As you can read, this is an example of how mobilization and effort by labor groups and greater visibility of their struggle enabled positive changes to be enacted. The CIW (Coalition of Immokalee Workers) continues to fight to secure the rights of these workers and recently (in February 2012) got Trader Joe's to sign its Fair Food Agreement, making it the first major grocery chain to do so.

Labor unions can and do affect change. Consumers can play a role in that process, too, by exerting pressure with their dollars. I am the first to acknowledge that it's hard to sacrifice convenience, pay more, or take on the other barriers to being a more responsible consumer, and these barriers often keep me from changing my own behavior. These articles are a reminder that improvements can happen, but wishing won't ever make it so.

"Politics of the Plate: The Price of Tomatoes" by Barry Estabrook
Published in Gourmet, March 2009
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/03/politics-of-the-plate-the-price-of-tomatoes?printable=true

"Estabrook Goes to Tomato School and Learns about the New Rights Farmworkers Have Won under the CIW Fair Food Agreement" by Barry Estabrook
Published on the Politics of the Plate blog, April 21, 2011
http://politicsoftheplate.com/?p=849

To read the news update about Trader Joe's, visit here: http://politicsoftheplate.com/?p=1228

Eric

Longread #24 -- Human Costs of the iPad in China -- 3/7/12

This article features more great reporting from the NYT about what goes into building Apple products (the iPad specifically) and bringing visibility to the production and supply chain conditions that we typically ignore. This article and its companion piece (posted previously on this blog) raises important questions about what consumers would be willing to pay for socially-responsible electronics. Based on current buying patterns (my own included), probably not much.


"In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad" by Charles Duhigg and David Barboza
Published in the New York Times, January 25, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?_r=1&src=rechp

Eric

Longread #23 -- America's Warehouse Labor -- 3/6/12

This article sends a reporter undercover as a temporary worker in one of the massive order-fulfillment warehouses that are driving e-commerce in America. While it doesn't explicitly say what this is an Amazon warehouse (and the author does note that Amazon is clearly not the only company with facilities like this), it is certainly implied. As someone who is a devoted user of Amazon Prime, this article was shocking. It's not just workers abroad who bear the brunt of our relentless pursuit of lower prices (and fast, free shipping). I'm still not sure exactly how to process what I read here and figure out if/how it will change my behavior as a consumer. I hope it does push me to make changes, though, because there's clearly something wrong here.


“I Was a Warehouse Wage Slave” by Mac McClelland 
Published in Mother Jones, March/April 2012
http://motherjones.com/print/161491

Thanks for reading!

Eric

Longread #22 -- Making It In America -- 3/5/12

I came down with a nasty bug last week that kept me from posting, but we're getting back on track this week.


This week will focus on labor issues from various perspectives. First up is this quality article that is both a profile of people trying to get by in a transitioning US economy and a broader analysis of those economic transitions. It goes beyond simplistic explanations of job losses in manufacturing (such as the presumption of simple outsourcing) and helps understand the magnitude of the problems that are faced by so many in the American workforce.


“Making It In America” by Adam Davidson
Published in the The Atlantic, January/February 2012
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/01/making-it-in-america/8844/?single_page=true


Eric