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To: decimon
Now he says a Chinese fleet brought encyclopedias of technology undiscovered by the West to Italy in 1434

What is the chance that nobody in Italy paid any attention to a visit of a *Chinese* fleet ? It's not like Italians were illiterate, or had no paper, or didn't care about shipbuilding. Any such visit would be documented by hundreds of historians and statesmen.

Considering that nothing could happen in Italy back then without the local prince knowing it and approving it (and lives of these princes are well documented) we'd definitely hear about a Chinese ambassador. The Chinese embassy wouldn't disappear overnight, and Chinese goods would be on Italian market, and so on.

The linked article is actually right on target - the guy writes sensationalist stuff and sells his books to millions of idiots. Given that there are plenty of idiots, he is on the right track to wealth and prosperity. I personally prefer science fiction - at least I know what I'm paying for.

9 posted on 07/28/2008 6:26:06 PM PDT by Greysard
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To: Greysard

The linked article is actually right on target - the guy writes sensationalist stuff and sells his books to millions of idiots. Given that there are plenty of idiots, he is on the right track to wealth and prosperity. I personally prefer science fiction - at least I know what I’m paying for.
***That’s something that bothers me because he sells his stuff in the nonfiction aisle.


16 posted on 07/28/2008 7:20:26 PM PDT by Kevmo (A person's a person, no matter how small. ~Horton Hears a Who)
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To: Greysard

So...did anybody check the Chinese encyclopedia salesman’s permit?


18 posted on 07/28/2008 7:41:45 PM PDT by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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