By the way Despothera, huge fan of the blog, keep up the good work!

...the world of the Wheel of Time is actually our own.

Sorry I'm late to the party all, but I wanted to share something that I realized through my first read of TSR relative to the subject at hand:

The Shadow Rising

Chapter 11, "What Lies Hidden"

 

A silvery thing, in another cabinet, like a three-pointed star inside a circle, was made of no substance she knew; it was softer than metal, scratched and gouged, yet even older than any of the ancient bones. From ten paces she could sense the pride and vanity.

I remember being SO excited when I read this since it immediately came to me, and proves the world of WoT is our own. The object in which Egwene is referring to is none other than:

it was softer than metal

Plastic.

yet even older than any of the ancient bones

Yep.

From ten paces she could sense the pride and vanity

Definitely.