A short roundup of Tesla news items. In case you don't know who Nikola Tesla was, the BBC has a write up here. And the BBC probably would not be having a write up if not for The Oatmeal and this tribute to Tesla by Matthew Inman. (Which incidentally sparked something like a flame war with Alex Knapp at Forbes and a response from Inman.) Among the fallout from the initial Tesla posting was one of those situations where things come together in unexpected ways.
Inman had had a remarkable experience some time earlier with an Internet douchebag threatening him with a lawsuit, and this was his response. He decided to set up a drive to raise $20,000 (demanded in the lawsuit) via web donations through Indiegogo, take a picture of the money to taunt the guy trying to sue him - and then donate it to charity. He didn't raise the $20,000. Instead, this happened.
Inman's tribute to Tesla got some attention; he was contacted by a group trying to save Tesla's lab out on Long Island (about the only Tesla lab left) and turn it into a museum. Naturally enough, Inman went back to Indiegogo to raise enough money to qualify for a matching grant from New York State, $850,000, to buy the property. (Forbes was nice enough to give it a mention.)
Well, with 19 days left to go in his fund raiser, Inman is up to $1,227,850!!! (And yes, there's still time to donate even more.)
Which, even if you don't care about Tesla, the Oatmeal, or Inman, is still a pretty awesome demonstration of the power of the Internet to connect people, an example of what passion can do, and just way cool.
It's certainly something to think about during those times when it looks like the world is turning to shit and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Cartoonist Keith Knight has a recurring feature picturing "Life's Little Victories" where trivial things turn out well against all expectations. I'll take this as a BIG one.
As a bonus, you can see Matt Inman zap "Where the Hell is Matt" Harding with a Tesla ray gun while he dances his dance AND lights up a fluorescent light!