Why the last shall be first

Have you heard of Berkey or Ampex? Gablinger or Chux? Berkey produced the first hand-held electronic calculators, Ampex the first video recorders. Gablinger developed low-alcohol lager and Chux sold the first disposable nappies. Or perhaps you should not, because none of these companies made a commercial success of their innovations. Today the calculators we use are probably made by Casio, our video recorder comes from Matsushita, our low-alcohol beer is Miller Lite, our nappies are made by Proctor & Gamble. In each of these markets the innovator was swept away.  

Xerox looks like an exception to this sorry catalogue. The company was first into the photocopier market and, even if its dominance was ultimately challenged by Canon, it remains a large and successful company today. But Xerox was also a pioneer in fax machines and personal computers. Each of these eventually proved to be a success – but not for Xerox Corporation. As we all know, it was Apple that developed the personal computer market. But Apple’s leadership quickly disappeared when IBM came on the scene. Apple then jumped ahead by introducing the graphical user interface.

From The Economist

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The best shopping street in the world

A recent survey has shown that the busiest shopping street in the world is not in London, New York, or Paris, but in Warsaw. It’s called Nowy Swiat which means New World. An incredible 14,000 Poles walk down this main street every hour. It’s lovely place to shop. The pavements are very wide. There are statues, palaces, attractive town houses, exclusive cafes, and high-class restaurants. The buildings aren’t too tall. They look old, but in fact the whole city was rebuilt after World War II.

There aren’t any billboards or neon lights. There isn’t any loud music, and there aren’t many tourists. People think that Polish shops have nothing to sell, so nobody comes shopping here. The world doesn’t know about this paradise for shoppers –yet.

Nowy Swiat has a lot of small shops, specialist shops, and chic shops. It hasn’t got the huge department stores that sell the same things everywhere. If you want an exquisite handmade suit, Nowy Swiat is the place to go. It isn’t cheap. For beautiful French baby clothes, go to Petit Bateau. You will pay £50 for a pair of blue jeans for a baby. A dress for a baby girl is about £90.

Not everything is expensive. At the shop Pantera you can buy leather goods – handbags, purses, coats, and belts. Cepelia specializes in folk art. There are also book shops and record shops. And there are a lot of small boutiques that sell men’s and women’s clothes that aren’t too expensive.

If you’re tired, stop at Café Blikle. This is a fashionable place to meet. You’ll find a lovely atmosphere, and a lot of well-known Poles. The frozen yoghurt and ice-creams are excellent, and its famous doughnuts are delicious.

From The Economist

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Feng shui

Feng shui is all about balance. Try to arrange sofas and chairs in a square around a circular table.The centre of the living room should be left clear. Make sure there is a lot of light, which will promote good energy. A bookcase is bad feng shui, as they attract good energy and will energize your wealth, but not ones with sharp leaves such as cactus. Fresh flowers also bring good energy, but throw them away as soon as they begin to die.

 Mirrors are vital because they reflect energy. Round or oval ones are best, but they should not be opposite each other,nor should they reflect a door, otherwise your good fortune will go out of it.

To promote harmony between the members of your family, have photos of them around the room, preferably smiling. If you want to find a partner, energize the south-west corner of your living room or bedroom by placing a floor light at least 1.75m high there, and turn it on every evening. Surround yourself with ornaments and objects in pairs, such as ducks or birds.

To aviod blocking the positive energy in the room, keep everything tidy. Don't accumulate too many unnecessary things. Take a look at every object, and ask yourself, ' Do I really need it?' If the answer is no, get rid of it.

You should have the head of your bed placed against a wall, as this gives you a sense of security. Avoid having a bed under a window, as you are exposed to danger and bad energy from outside. If this is impossible, use blinds or heavy curtains to cover the window. Never sleep in a place where you can't see the door- you should always be able to see someone who's coming in.

FINANCIAL TIMES

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