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by Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

The author of the book Thomas L. Friedman, ingeniously chooses to describe the world as flat, attributing his inspiration to an Indian software executive who explained to him how the entry barriers into the globalized world are being destroyed and that the economic playing field was being leveled. Any individual or company located anywhere in the world could compete and cooperate globally.

Complicated Thoughts Turned Easy

The author of the book The World is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman makes complicated ideas easy with the help of making the readers travel with him, meet his family and do various other things that some readers may find irritating. Take the example of Jerry Rao, an Indian entrepreneur, whose accounting firm was preparing the tax returns for US nationals. He now planned to join forces with an Israeli company which can transmit CAT scans over the Internet so the US doctors could get second opinion from cheaper Indian or Israeli doctors.

The World Was Wired

Thomas L. Friedman says the flat world was created by the robust performance of technology forces at work. The dot com bubble also played a large part in this development. The large telecommunications companies got huge amounts of cash from ignorant investors which they used to wire the world through laying fiber optic cables on the ocean floors. The result was well connected Bangalore, Beijing and Bangkok with the most industrialized nations of the world. The connectivity was now in excess supply and the cost of Internet connections, data transmissions and phone calls went down considerably. Many of these companies which laid these cables went bust, but the work was already done.

The Bubble and Bust, Both Helped

The dot com bust also played an important part in the situation. Companies started cutting costs everywhere possible which made sure the work would travel to cheaper destinations. General Electric had already shown the world how it could be done and in the 1990s most of the companies had realized most Indian engineers could handle the most technical of jobs at one tenth of the cost. The millennium bug also hastened the process as armies of cheap software professionals were needed to recode all the computers.

Technological Forces at Work

A large part of the book discusses the technological forces at work in the modern world and the way businesses are reacting to these developments. The way work flow platforms were created which made it possible to work together for a large group of people sitting anywhere in the world. The way Thomas L. Friedman does his business reporting is extremely entertaining as he would tell you things you didn’t know and in a way that will surprise you.

India and China Form a Large Chunk

India and China form a large chunk of the book The World is Flat because these two countries are benefitting the most from a flat world. A large part of the goods imported by Wal-Mart comes from China, and the Indian story is also along similar lines, though it remains limited to the services sector. He doesn’t say China and India are threats to the world economy, rather he sees them as opportunities as numerous other consumers are also being added to the world. According to a Morgan Stanley estimate, the imports from China have resulted in a saving of close to 0 billion for American people, and the American companies have saved even more money.

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by AXESSIT

Maximising Space in Your Rent Flat

Just because the only property to rent that you could afford was a small flat doesn’t mean that you have to feel crowded into your new home. Sleek styles of furniture, multitasking furniture and carefully chosen colours can make a small space feel like a palace. By following a few simple guidelines you can make your small space a very functional one.   

The style of furniture you choose will play a big role in how spacious your rent flat will feel.  You want to choose furniture that will make your space as functional as possible; this will give your small space a big feel.  When you live in a small space you must remember, less is more.  Large pieces will overpower the space while sleek useful pieces will add charm to the room.  If you choose a sofa that is too big for the area it will make the room feel small and crowded while a smaller sofa will add space to your room.  You may also want to try a small breakfast table instead of a large dining table.

One of the easiest ways to save space it to choose furniture that has more than one function. Using a small dresser as a bedside table is a great example this will eliminates the need for an entire piece of furniture. Another great useful piece is a coffee table with drawers underneath, the space under the coffee table is often wasted. And in a small rent al flat there is no room for waste. For very small efficiency flats a futon is a great way to save space. A futon can take the place of both your bed and couch. If a futon is not for you a loft bed will add a great deal of storage or can be placed right over the couch or dresser. Create more storage by using a chest or decorative box as a side table. Get creative and you will find that most of your furniture can have multiple uses.

Colour is an easy way to add the illusion of space.  If you are allowed to paint your rent flat you should do so.  If your contract prevents you from painting hang a tapestry on the wall, this is a great way to add some colour.  When choosing a colour, choose a soft hue.

If you love dark colours uses them with your accessories but avoid putting them on the walls. Dark colours will make the room feel even smaller. If you enjoy patterns on the wall pick a wallpaper with a simple design and using vertical stripe will create the appearance of high ceilings.

When you are searching for flats to rent it is important to look at the potential of the space and not the size. By following these guidelines and adding bit of your own style you can make even the smallest rent flat work for you.  It is all about using your space to its full potential.

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