Monday, May 28, 2012

My Idol: Nikola Tesla

Courtesy of Wiki Commons- Tesla's Wardenclyffe tower which was dismantled for WW1

In fifth grade, we did a thing called wax museum. We had to pick a person who was an American citizen, had lots of info about them, had made a positive contribution to society, and was preferably dead. John Lennon wasn't an American citizen, someone had already taken Marie Curie, so I picked Nikola Tesla. My social studies teacher was a bit confused, so I had to explain to her. " See those lights? Those run on alternating current. Uh- huh. He was the one who invented it." Once I explained that Edison invented direct current,  she let me be Tesla for wax museum. I was overjoyed. We went out to Savers and bought uncomfortable boys' shoes, a dorky white shirt with cuffs, and an even dorkier pinstriped vest. I brought in a book about 'advances of the twentieth century'.  I researched until I could feel my brain oozing out of my ears. Wikipedia and Google became extremely close friends of mine. Finally the day arrived. I had prepared two speeches and memorized them. One was a short simple version, and the other was a long speech that pretty much covered his entire life.
Although he was a bit... crazy at times (most of his life) he was a genius and I greatly admire him and his work. For a place explaining just how awesome he was, go to:
 http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla

3 comments:

  1. And here I thought Marconi invented radio!!!

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  2. I'm sure I will regret saying this but I don't see what's so great about him. :/

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  3. If someone would electrify pets then yes I regret it, poor animals.

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