Bozo the Clown was a huge innovation: a franchised, national brand of kids entertainment, made possible by TV. The creators laughed all the way to the bank.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozo_the_Clown

To be fair, you can't reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic.

I agree with your point. Though some ~420 years after Columbus tried you more or less can[1].

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal

Interestingly, if you look on the map you'll see that you have to sail SE through the canal to go from Atlantic to Pacific.

> To be fair, you can't reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic.

Ahem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_Passage

Remember Magellan?