Just to keep you updated. Items 2 & 3 are rather incongrous. Work on it. 

I. Columbus Day protesters seek trial   
2. Author claims Chinese discovered America before Columbus
3. Matteo Ricci's "Map of the World" of 1600 and it's influence on China.
==========================================================
Columbus Day protesters seek trial 
January 14, 2003

Copyright 2003. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. 
DENVER (AP) - Six people arrested during last year's Columbus Day parade
rejected a plea deal from the city and have asked for a jury trial. 
The five protesters and one legal observer are charged with misdemeanors,
including loitering and failure to obey a police officer in the Oct. 12
protest. 
Assistant City Attorney R.W. "Skip" Hibbard's offer that was rejected Monday
would have allowed the defendants to plead guilty to a one-year deferred
sentence. Charges would have been dropped if the defendants avoided further
arrests. 
Those charged said they would rather make a point. 
"I would like to bring light to this issue," said Grace Stearns, 21, a
University of Colorado student charged with failure to obey an order. 
Trial is set for March 4. 
Parade opponents say it is wrong to celebrate Christopher Columbus, whom
they blame for enslaving and nearly destroying American Indians. 
Stearns and other protesters said they sat in the street a block from the
parade's end in protest. 
Tony Cincotta, 31, of Denver, is a criminal defense lawyer and legal
observer who attended the parade. He was charged with interference after
trying to reach students being arrested. 
Chief Gerry Whitman could not be reached for comment. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author claims Chinese discovered America before Columbus 
January 8, 2003

(c) Copyright 2003 M2 Communications, Ltd. All Rights Reserved 
A new book by British author Gavin Menzies claims that the Chinese
discovered America 71 years before Christopher Columbus. 
The book, "1421: The Year China Discovered America", was published in the UK
late last year and is now available in the United States, published by
William Morrow & Co. 
Menzies spent 15 years researching and writing the book but his theory has
reportedly been dismissed by some traditional historians. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matteo Ricci's "Map of the World" and it's influence on China.

Los Angeles Times 
Calender Section
January 16. 2003

DR. Richard von Glahn, professor of historyat UCLA, lectures on the map of the world produced by the Italian Jesuit Priest in 1600, that changed China's view of it's place in the world. Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002,N. Main Street, Santa Ana, (&14) 567- 3600