Very interesting. Here’s an Econtalk podcast that is also about paper, writing, words, etc. Tell me what you think.
http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2013/05/bernstein_on_co.html
"Allah has blessed us with the invention of gunpowder. Now, we will finally have the strength to defeat the infidel Byzantines.
More than that, I envision the day when Caliph's martyrs will strap bombs under their clothing and move among the European infidels and kill them without mercy, thereby gaining Paradise."
