Hodge Podge World

Thomas Friedman says " The World Is Flat". I say, Not! It is a hodge podge world. Interpretations of where we are heading is not easy ... thus whether you are in Bethesda or Bangalore, watch my short video (4 minutes). Using population and natural resource data from the University of Sheffield's WorldMapper combined with music from the Renaissance, I try to raise some issues. It is "Western" viewpoint that the Age of the Renaissance was an "Age of Enlightenment". At that same time, "Eastern Thought" regarded the West as Barbarians! My thanks to the Virtual Byrd Choir.

• High-Res Powerpoint Version With Links: PPT | MP3 (download both files)
  (files must be in the same folder ... the slide show is automated )
  

 Here are three screenshots from my Presentation (click upon to view full sized) ...
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And my video ... obtain a higher resolution view by clicking upon the four small arrows next to the word "vimeo" in the player found below.

I hope you find this research enlightening.

Comments

[Ray Tapajna]

Thomas Friedman talks about the wonders of competition and low prices in the Flat World.
Here's a way to make his dreams come true.

China has opened a direct retail outlet in New York. In the Flat World, there is no reason for not having a direct Chinese retail outlet direct from their factories in every city.

Let's take this concept a bit further. In places like Cleveland, there are many empty houses now with so many people losing their homes.

A city like Cleveland can bring in the Chinese direct outlets - after all Walmart is a middle man and why not go direct.

Let's take it a step further in Friedman's Flat World, why not just bring the Chinese factories to places like Cleveland.
The factor of labor costs can also be plugged in. We can bring in the Chinese workers and give them shelter in the empty homes.

This would indeed drop the prices of products and on top of that we go "green" by cutting out all the long haul shipping that pollutes the environment.

This provides everything the Flat World of Friedman calls for.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can negotiate the whole deal. After all, her husband was deep into negotiating with China too.

See also http://tapsearch.com/flatworld and http://www.bizarrepolitics.com/china-direct-retail-stores