1421-Chinese Exploration.

I've just finished the book, "1421" and I have to say that I was blown away and thoroughly convinced that this is the real deal.

The book provides convincing evidence of a bold Chinese exploration of the Americas, Australia, Africa, the South Pacific and even Antarctica. The book describes a plethora of discoveries left behind by the great Ming dynasty admirals and retraces western European "discoveries" as voyages that confirmed the Chinese discoveries. Degama, Columbus, Cook...were only following the path left in Chinese maps conveyed to people like DeConti, who made money and fame by providing maps to western explorers. Yes, they all had maps derived from the exploits of their contemporary Chinese explorer counterparts.

If this evidence is correct, the Chinese discovered America 70 years before C. Columbus, James Cook did not discover Australia, and many other discoveries claimed as firsts, were in fact only rediscoveries.

A blow to the western ego, but a fascinating account of Chinese Admiralty (who were primarily Eunuchs). The legacy of these bold men are epic.

I am in the process of reading "1434" a follow-on book, that describes the spark of western invention as Chinese inspired. It may be that the likes of Leonardo De Vinci may have been more of an illustrator than inventor.

What a world we live in. I was always taught that western civilization was superior. This certainly challenges my early learning experiences.

I highly recommend it.

Reflection of My Brother, Stephen Gary Andersen

This week was very sad indeed, for myself and my family.

We lost our beloved, Steve, my brother , who died at the young age of 56 years of age. It was sudden and totally unexpected.

Steve was my younger brother and I was his roommate for many years growing up. We were very close growing up. At times, I think he was really the older brother and I was the younger.

We were the odd couple. He was neat freak and I was the less than organized one. He was disciplined and I was coming out at the seams. It is now so odd that he has left this world.

In preparation for his funeral service, I was given two tasks.

I was asked to setup a DVD in memory of Steve that was compilation of the photos contributed by the members of his family. I was also asked to say a few words about Steve at the service.

As I started to work on the DVD project, I felt that I had been given the task of preparing the DVD to be able to speak with conviction about the life of Steve.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I had volumes about him right before me.

I spent the better part of an afternoon looking at the pictures and I have to say that overall I experienced Steve in a real way. I felt Steve in the pictures over and over. It felt like I had evidence about the sum total of him as a person. Here was irrefutable evidence of his life in a pictorial essay.

It seemed at one point all of the pictures become one picture …with one very simple conclusion. It was undeniable.

The pictures told me that….Steve had a good life. A rich life. One filled with love.

He had…

The love of good mother and father who cared about him.
The love of many brothers and sisters.
The love of a good wife.
The love of a good friends.
Even the love of some sweet little cats.

The photos spoke that…

He grew up happy.
The pictures told me that he was active.
He loved to travel
He was tender hearted.
He was kind.
He was fun loving
He loved his family, wife and friends.
He was successful in business.
He loved sports, especially Baseball.
He loved the outdoors.
He loved to go out to eat.

The photographic evidence conclusively states that ….
He lived a successful life and one that was worth living.

While this photographic evidence points to his life now past…my faith says that Steve has even a better life now.

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen".

I believe that Steve has entered into a higher life. One with God and is happy beyond all that we can comprehend. There is no sorrow, no pain, no disappointments.

He is loved more than he has ever been loved.

I believe that he would tell everyone here to not mourn, but be joyful about his state. I believe that is what he his telling me this with firm evidence.

He is happy and content and we should be too.

For now, I will miss him, but I will see him again.

Simon Winchester's Great New Book

I am always happy to read a Simon Winchester book and this new one I'm currently reading does not disappoint me at all.

"The Man Who Loved China" is a review of the life of a brilliant scholar and scientist, Joseph Needham, who rediscovered the scientific and engineering achievements of the Chinese nation. Much of his research proved that the Chinese were on the cutting edge of many advancements, well before western civilization;in many cases, centuries before the west. The appendix in his book lists a prodigious amount of discoveries, inventions, and advancement by the Chinese. While not to diminish the contributions of many fine scientists and inventors of the west, the Chinese were, in many cases, well ahead of the west in technology. It was the outstanding research of Joseph Needham during and after WWII, that culminated in a 23 part volume known as "Science and Civilisation in China". Simon Winchester retraces Joseph Needham' travels and studies, as well as his life Joseph Needham's, to bring the reader a wonderful insight into a magnificent lifetime achievement by a little known scholar. (at least to me)

A great read in the very well documented and interesting writing style of Simon Winchester. I highly recommend it.

Dealing with "The Career"

Over the years, I have had some interesting jobs, but only one at a time. I've had dribbles of opportunities, but in the last six months there has been a flood of interest. It just seems like a gate has opened.

Guess I will enjoy it while it lasts, but then I have to settle down and work on one.

Traveling the "Friendly Skies"

I just got back from traveling round trip Denver to Reno on United Airlines and I have to say that it is not a "friendly" airline. The lines were slow, the attendants were rude and the trip was anything, but comfortable. There were last minute gate changes, grumpy agents, and late planes.

I am in awe wondering how they staved off bankruptcy.

I will definitely try to avoid traveling with them in the future