Although oil paint was first used for Buddhist paintings by Indian and Chinese painters in western Afghanistan sometime between the fifth and tenth centuries, it did not gain popularity until the 15th century.
Definition of distinction - a difference or contrast between similar things or people, excellence that sets someone or something apart from others Definition of distinction - a difference or contrast between similar things or people, excellence that sets someone or something apart from others dictionary thesaurus
A distinction without a difference. Those are phrases that have been kicked around in legal circles, probably for decades. You can imagine a lawyer saying to a judge, But your honor, that's a distinction without a difference. I don't know about Kurzweil. He has some interesting ideas but this phrase is not something he made up.