Global trade and a joke about a moth
Hi there. This is Building Blocks, a weekly roundup of content to prickle your mind. This post contains video content, so for a seamless reading experience, I suggest reading it in your browser by clicking on the heading above.
Today’s stories in a nutshell:
🤝 How global trade has evolved + China vs Taiwan
🗣 My favourite TED Talk
🎤 A joke about a moth
🛋 IKEA’s Jedi Mind Tricks
🧩 Play some Wordle or Globle
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🤝 Global trade and sanctions
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the role of global trade in the alliances between countries. The EU’s dependence on Russian gas imports, for example, has made European countries nervous about how they go about taking steps against Russia.
Using data from the International Monetary Fund, political scientist Anders Sundell created graphics that reflect the changes in global trade since the 60s. It comes as no surprise that over the last 20 years, China overtook the US as the world’s main trading partner.
Click each image to enlarge.
Similar to Ukraine and Russia, the tension between China and Taiwan is mounting. Considering global trade with China, relying on international cooperation to sanction China if it was to invade Taiwan may be harder to achieve than the pressure currently being put on Russia.
For a quick read on what’s brewing between China and Taiwan, check out: China and Taiwan: A really simple guide to a growing conflict.
🗣 A speech about nothing
Regular Building Blocks readers know that I think public speaking is an invaluable life skill. Last year I wrote an article about Winston Churchill’s blueprint for public speaking, that included Mr Churchill’s consensus with my opinion:
“Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields a power more durable than that of a great king. He is an independent force in the world.”
Surprisingly, despite my admiration of oratory skills, I find watching most TED Talks a bit of a slog. They’re usually overly rehearsed and self-helpy, with titles like The art of being yourself, How to make stress your friend and The Power of introverts. They all feel the same to me.
But last week, I stumbled upon SNL writer Will Stephen’s, How to sound smart in your TED Talk. It’s the most memorable TED Talk I’ve ever watched. It is short, funny, original, and encapsulates the essence of most TED Talks.
🛋 IKEA and retail psychology
I was in my thirties the first time I visited an IKEA store. Man, I was amazed, and spent way more money than I had planned to.
It turns out I was under the spell of IKEA’s voodoo.
The company has mastered the psychology of shopping. They use everything from food, a clever store layout and strategically placed items to get you to buy as much as possible. It’s so effective, that 60% of IKEA’s purchases are impulse buys. Even a cognitive bias is named after the company, i.e. The IKEA Effect: We place a disproportionately high value on products we’ve (partially) created.
For more, check out: How Ikea tricks you into buying more stuff.
🎤 Norm Macdonald’s famous moth joke
Norm Macdonald passed away last year and was one the most admired comedians amongst fellow comedians. He is known for his offbeat style and impeccable delivery. After his death, his moth joke did the rounds and was shared far and wide on the internet. I think it’s a layered work of genius. A joke rarely becomes funnier the more you hear it.
Comedy is a matter of personal preference, so if you find this joke as hilarious as I do, then you and I share a similar sense of humour.
If you enjoyed that, then you’ll enjoy Norm’s witty quip at the end of this short clip.
🧩 Weekend games
If you’re keen to test your vocabulary, give today’s Wordle a try.
If you prefer maps to words, then try today’s Globle instead. Last week’s Globle taught me how to pinpoint Gabon on a world map!