'T' is for 'Tesla'

 

    With all the frenzied hubbub going on about arguably innovative electric vehicles named Tesla (this post is not about that), some people may be wondering how Elon Musk came up with the name.

    Well, I bet it was inspired by the Serbian-American, Nikola Tesla.

    Born and raised in the Austria Empire region of Serbia (you may have gathered that already)

Serbia, Serbia...I seemed to recall something important happening there.

on July 10, 1856, Tesla was an engineer, futurist, and inventor.  While he experimented quite heavily in a variety of projects and theories, he is best known for his development of the Alternating Current theory of power generation and transmission.

"Don't forget noted 'Furry Enthusiast.'"

    This was in sharp contrast to, and lead to friction between, he and Thomas Edison.  The “Wizard of Menlo Park,” invented quite a few things, to be sure (although "Electric Dog Polisher" never caught on), but he was also known for his development of DC, or “Direct Current,” a simpler and, in reality, less efficient way to generate power.

Wrong DC

    Having studied engineering and physics without a degree, 

Tesla began working for, ironically, the Edison Machine Works, first in Paris, then in the United States when he emigrated here in 1884 (luckily several decades before it all went to shit over there).

    His AC system was picked up, and endorsed by, the Westinghouse Electric Company and the uber-rich J.P. Morgan.  They saw in AC a real possibility for bringing power and washing machines to the general public (although plug-in vibrators were a bust).

Rare bit of seriousness:  AC is best for long-distance transmission.

   Nikola dreamed of providing wireless transmissions of messages, telephony, and even facsimile images across the Atlantic Ocean, using the Earth to conduct the signals from the Wardenclyffe, or "Tesla" tower he constructed on Long Island between 1901-1902 (despite delays by the Brooklyn mob).  Unfortunately, his main financier grew tired of the whole mess and withdrew funding, preferring to pursue construction of RMS Titanic.  

    The tower was therefore abandoned in 1906, having never been used as designed.

It was also rejected by the Shoreham, Long Island
Amusement Park as a site for a possible "Drop Til U Bounce" ride. 
Something about safety.

    The little man from Serbia continued to tinker with this and that for the remainder of his life.  He even made strides in the creation of X-Ray imaging, to include invention of X-Ray specs.

Popular with middle-school boys, worldwide.

    Tesla died in relative obscurity in a New York City hotel room on January 7, 1943.  He sadly had spent the rest of his life as pretty much a hermit.  The only real times he would leave his lodgings was when he took walks to feed pigeons and try to convince Times Square hookers that he was in the process of inventing a prototype Only Fans.

    Having really not gotten the credit he deserved (I blame Edison), Tesla dreamed of providing wireless communication of energy which would allow for cheap transmission of voices, images, and moving pictures.  Unfortunately, he would be met with opposition by those who stood to lose quite a bit of money if they couldn’t charge people.

"But...light bulb.  Amirite?"

    Unfortunately, I still get a power bill from the electric company.  On the other hand, I have a cel phone in my pocket and there’s that internet thing, as well.

    So, Tesla’s dreams have been realized.    

Somewhat

 Source:  Wikipedia.  And whatever passes for the hat rack I call a head.  Seriously, there's tons more to learn about this guy.  The good news?  You won't have any of my wiseass commentary.