XPost: talk.politics.misc, soc.history.what-if, alt.history.what-if   
   From: robertaw@drizzle.com   
      
   In article ,   
    "Byker"  wrote:   
      
   > "SolomonW"  wrote in message   
   > news:zy8isusejj83.1ln8zsase71oj.dlg@40tude.net...   
   > >   
   > > Guns level out the playing field.   
   >   
   > After Commodore Perry's visit, Japan went straight from the Middle Ages to   
   > the Industrial Revolution, without the moderating influences of a   
   > Renaissance, a Reformation, or an Age of Enlightenment -- with predictable   
   > results...   
      
   That might explain Russia as well, but not Germany.   
      
   --   
   "We have advanced to new and surprising levels of bafflement."   
   Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan describes progress in _Komarr_.   
   ‹-----------------------------------------------------   
   Robert Woodward robertaw@drizzle.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)