OCTOBER 22, 2003 Cutrure 22 The Big Name In Electricity By Sean P. B. O'Neil Pick a scientist, any scientist. Chances are you picked Albert Einstein. Less probable, but just as possible are the Curies, Isaac Newton, or Charles Darwin. Get someone to name a scientist involved with electricity, and they'll probably say Thomas Edison. And yet, with the exception of some devices like flashlights, his inventions aren’t used (and don’t get me onto the light bulb thing either). The big name in electricity is Nikola Tesla. Without Tesla’s inventions, your com- puter wouldn't work, it wouldn’t even turn on. His inventions include A/C current, the “And Gate” (it’s a critical part of computer hardware, just ask a comp-sci geek), and a bunch of other useful items like the Tesla coil. He’s even the recognised: creator of radio! He only held patents on about 111 of his inventions, because he sold some patents, and relinquished several others, such as A/C Generators. He relinquished all rights to A/C current, so that everyone could benefit from it (this patent would have been beyond value, its nearly impossible to estimate). He also lost a lot of inventions because when he really got into an invention or idea, he wouldn't eat or sleep, and he would eventually start hallucinating etc, and several of his grad students got him to sign over the rights of his inventions. One of his more infamous experiments was in his home in Wardenclyffe. In a near- by small town people were noticing strange effects. Such as sparks jumping from the ground, people getting shocks from metal objects, and the fact that a light bulb would light if held near a fire hydrant. This was just from Tesla tuning up his experiment. He was working away, building an apparatus (actually a giant Tesla coil), with an experi- ment in mind. He had a thought that since the earth was such a good conductor, that if one was to send a large pulse of energy into the earth, and after it had rebounded from the other side, to send another to strengthen it, that eventually the increase in power will lessen in a for of the laws of diminishing returns. He never found the limit where it started to lessen. The experiment burned out the generator because it was no longer grounded. An interesting side effect of this experiment is that the energy was being released off of a longest man made light- ning bolt ever made at 135 feet. It was part of his hope for free electricity for every one. His personal life was also interesting. He was born in Croatia on June 10, 1956. He attended the Technical University at Graz Austria and the University of Prague. He HOROSCOPES was extremely intelligent and recognised as having huge potential, and was sent to the one of the other greats in the field of electrics, Thomas Edison, to be mentored. “His inventions include A/C current, the “And Gate” (it’s a critical part of computer hardware, . just ask a comp-sci geek), and a bunch of other useful items like the Tesla coil.” , The note was from one of Edison’s friends ~ and said that he knew two greats in this would, Edison and this lad (Tesla). Edison, having the huge ego he became famous for, did not like being compared to this youth. Edison cheated Tesla out of money after telling Nikola that if he could optimise Edison’s factory he would give him $50,000, believing it to be an impossible task. Tesla completed the job within 6 months and went to get paid, only to be told that it was just an “American joke.” This was just the start. Over the years of his life, especially after his invention of the much more efficient and usable AC current, the feud between Edison and Tesla would reach new lows. Edison in trying to get A/C current banned would pickup stray animals from around his house and publicly electrocute them to show how “unsafe” AC current was, including going so low as to steal and use one of Tesla’s gen- erators for the first execution by electric chair, and setting it up so badly that the con- vict was literally cooked to death instead of cleanly killed. The eventual end of this was that Tesla would die penniless, due to Edison’s underhanded dealings. Tesla was also quite the eccentric, having an obsession about personal cleanliness, and his love of pigeons, and his fear of women’s pearl necklaces. Tesla had all the pigeons near his house trained, and they would fol- low him around and obey his commands. Perhaps he inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” He also had this habit of not building a prototype of an invention until he had all the details worked out in his head. Strangely enough his prototypes only failed about 1% of the time. They usually worked on the first try! He also believed that he had contacted life on another planet, and that he had creat- ed a death weapon to stop wars, but these were towards the end of his life, though there is evidence that he wasn’t completely insane at that point, as there was also designs for a VTOL system he created right about then. One of the other facts that has made people wonder about Tesla’s inven- tions was right after his death the Custodian of Alien Property confiscated all of Tesla’s trunks and papers, even though Tesla had been an American citizen for almost fifty years. But they were eventually returned to Nikola’s nephew. He is known as “The Electric Magician”, “The Master of Lightning”, “The Forgotten Father of the 20th Century”, among others, but too few people know who he is, and all the stuff that he did. Look him up en the Internet, and be shocked and amazed! CFUR Presents & Aries Observe those who sport the colour lime green. They will teach you a new skill in the bedroom!! OOh...pick carefully! Taurus Time will catch up to you. Whether you like it or not you need a reality check. Now. Seriously. Gemini Be rebellious in the room you need help in. Form a study session im the:study, maybe if you move to the library you are bound to find passion...or a good book list. Cancer -Let-your éyes follow to the nearest blue yes. Either that or vere off into the naturalist side of the library to catch the latest gossip. Who knows? It might even be about you... Leo : Sex toys are a must. Heat up the normal friday movie nights by wearing handcuffs. You know you want to. Virgo e Go dancing or for a night out on the town. Its there where real: romance begins..or another one night stand. Begin flirting after two tequillas. By: El Bogus Mucus Md. Bs. Ass Libra Spank your neighbour. Leaving bruises might inflict:an interest...or a lawsuit. They might appreci- ate the gesture... Scorpio Do something new for once. Everyone is:sick and tired of your boring underwear, Maybe this could heat up a lunch date. Sagittarius Whoa, that sucks. No matter what every fricken friday is free and no.one (well, us either) wants you. Tune in next issue. Capricorn Stop being so nosy - just groove in the moment of a deserving mark or study-worthy study date...bed- room review needed. Aquarius Time for a new wardrobe. Those sandals have got to go!! Pick a friend and start shopping for new shoes. NOT new sandals. You will thank yourself later. Pisces Don’t give up. Friends may have some news that may turn your day upside down. Or someone’s been crushing on you in the library. Disclaimer: If you haven't guessed the reason why people read these, why should we tell you? A Radio Station With Zuit Suits “We Killed Him which features the very popular in Prince George Jeremy Stewart” By Stephanie Johnston Do you enjoy independent tunes? Do you feel the vibe most- ly at UNBC’s 88.7 CFUR radio station? Well, kudos and kisses to you! I have something that will match your tie to your zuit suit. Its on November 14th, 2003 and CFUR is sponsoring it. It accord- ing to this brown-eyed journalist and the blue-eyed Ice Dawg “Jit will be] the best line of up of local acts.” This includes artists like Opus Dei, (who opened at the Backyard BBQ , remember?) and We Killed Him which features the very popular in Prince George Jeremy Stewart. Floored is also (hopefully) playing. Floored played in Battle of the Bands and are pretty popular in Prince George. More reasons this spectacular music mania is sim- ple. There will be a free bus ser- vice off and on _ residence. Meaning no more worries or has- sle about paying for a taxi or catching that lift with a friend of a friend. Ice Dawg also tells me that “As one of the organizers this is the guy I most wanted to be on the bill.” He’s talking about Rauhu Lokanathan, who else? This is an awesome way to spend your friday night accord- ing to Ice Dawg and myself. We both agree that “it is an event designed to bring the student populations of UNBC and CNC together for an amazing musical experience and a damn good party.” Simply put, party with live tunes. What could not be bet- ter? Seriously. Be sure to check-in closer to November 14th, I will be sure to have more info. Then you can be sure that you will have to be there to be there or be square.