Marie Curie

Today's Innovator is Madame Curie. She was a pioneer in the field of radiation and radioactivity. She was an early example of a woman excelling in a very deep field of science.

Tesla

OK, I am a little miffed this morning. My plan was to use this picture of Nicola Tesla as this week's mystery person, but when I put up the picture of Edison yesterday, no one wanted to talk about Edison, they wanted to talk about his arch-Nemesis, Nicola Tesla. Yes, I too have to admit having a fascination with Tesla. The feud between Edison and Tesla was one of the most famous of the last century. It was over whether DC or AC electricity should be used in developing the power grid.

I consider Tesla to perhaps be the brightest man of the last 200 years. He had the inventive talent of Edison, he had the mathematical and scientific talent of Einstein, and he had the showmanship of P.T. Barnum. He brought these three things together to envision wild and impossible sounding ideas, and then bring them to complete and practical solutions. He was responsible for inventing most of the things necessary for building a practical electrical generation and distribution system. In addition, he either invented, or played a major part in the development of x-rays, radios, and various wireless technology. While Tesla was a true Genius, at the same time he was somewhat of a madman. In some cases it was difficult to tell whether his ideas were brilliance or fantasy. He had a number of peculiar behaviors and compulsive instincts, which in later years got worse. There was a good movie a few years ago called the Prestige. The movie is not about Tesla as such, but he is a fairly important part of the plot. I found the portrayal of Tesla in the movie to be very good.

Thomas Edison

Innovators week continues here at OPOD with this fine photograph of Thomas Edison, taken in 1904. Edison was one of History's most prolific inventors, having patented the phonograph machine, recording machines, motion pictures, and the much loved light bulb. These are just a few of his more noteworthy inventions. Others had worked on some of these things, but he patented practical versions. Edison was interesting in that he was very much of a garage shop type inventor. He disdained mathematical analyses, and preferred to try all possibilities and keep the ones that worked. This often helped him to achieve practical inventions, as they were based on hands on work. At the same time, it sometimes led to huge inefficiencies, and tragic mistakes.

Henry Ford

Inventor and Innovator week continues here at OPOD with this photograph of Henry Ford. Ford was the first to bring mass production techniques to the automobile, making them affordable to average people for the first time. A Model T could be purchased for about $300. He succeeded in putting America on wheels. The picture above was taken in 1938, and Ford is seated on the right side of the picture.


Well, I had a great time with you all over the Christmas Break, and had some fun on the blog. But, today it is back to work.

Calling Dr. Bell

Welcome to a brand new week in a brand new year in a brand new decade. We kick all this off with Inventors and Innovators week here at OPOD, and we start with this picture of Alexander Graham Bell. He is remembered as the inventor of the telephone. Interesting that both his mother and his wife were deaf. Also, he apparently did not like the telephone much, as he refused to have one in his office.

Now, last Sunday we did an experiment to see if it is possible to judge a book by its cover. We showed 4 pictures of nurses, and asked you to simply look at them and determine who the scoundrel was. By a 2-1 margin, Angel of Mercy #4 was chosen as the scoundrel. Initially, there was some unease with #1, but then people decided that she was just a stern woman, and maybe not a very friendly woman, but perhaps a tough woman in a tough job . . . not a scoundrel. Sure enough, #1 was Mabel Boardmen, who became director of the Red Cross, after Clara Barton. Certainly not a scoundrel. #2 and #3 were two worker nurses in the Red Cross. No scandals there. Now, #4, she was Ethel Langdon Drake, and she was the scoundrel. She was collecting money in World War I for her ambulance service to bring aid and comfort to our boys on the front line. She would also set up schools to train nurses, collect $175 per perspective student in tuition. Come to find out, she had no ambulance service, and would skip town after collecting the $175 tuition from students. Interesting well over half of you picked her, and she was picked with a 2-1 margin over any other candidate. So why did you pick her? When I saw her picture, it sort of gave me the creeps, so I looked into her, and found the items mentioned above. For me, it was sort of her self-pious look in the picture.

DOMESTIC UPDATE:

Thought I would give you a quick domestic update. Yes, I survived that great furniture buying expedition, but just barely. I learned some new stuff on the trip. While our household governing system in the past had been the "King of my Household" system, apparently, without anyone telling me, we moved to the "majority rules" system. I also noticed that my wife and daughter formed a unified voting block, and hence in all cases on the trip, I was voted down. I like the old King of My Household system much better. Will see if we can move back to that one in the coming weeks.

Also, quick update on Chickie Town. I have purchased a scientifically developed feed for the peacocks. It was developed based on years of research to guarantee beautiful plumage, healthy flock, and overall vitality and robustness. I also purchased a scientifically developed feed for the chickies to guarantee robust growth, exceptional egg production, and overall good health and balance for the chickens. Now, when I go out in the morning, I let the peacocks out of the peacock palace, and fill their feeder with the specially formulated feed. Then I go let the chickies out, and I throw their feed on the ground, as they like to scratch around and eat it off the ground. Well, as soon as the chickies start eating, Handsome Jack comes around the corner, and flairs his feathers up, and starts doing this menacing dance. He herds them under the chicken coup with all types of fearful moves. He holds them at bay there until the rest of the peacock flock comes in and eats all the chickens food. The chickies have an escape route on the other side of the coop, and they sneak out, go over to the peacock palace, and they eat the peacock food. When handsome catches on to what is going on, he goes over and gives them the evil eye again, but he has trouble keeping all the chickies in check. Anyway, the bottom line is that the chickies are eating the peacock food, and the peacocks are eating the chickie food.

I feel like if I had a tractor I could build an earthen berm between the two coops and solve the problem.

Mystery Man

Good Morning everyone. This is Saturday, and that means Mystery Person contest. Hope you all are ready for a hard one. You must identify the man in the picture above.

Grace Coolidge

We wrap up Angel of Mercy week here at OPOD with this picture. It was taken in 1927, and shows Grace Coolidge at a meeting of the Society of Nurses.

Well, hope you all are having a great New Year's Day. My new year's resolution is to try and make OPOD more fun, and more interesting. Over Christmas Dinner with my extended family, half my family members said that they had stopped reading OPOD because since this fall they said it was not very interesting any more. I will admit, that I had been pretty busy once the school year started, and had not put the effort into it that I should have. The other thing they told me was just day in and day out I was too mean, and needed to turn my meanness dial down about two clicks. They also said I was lazy, and never do any real work. They said they were amazed that I was not a homeless person. Then we all had big piece of pecan pie and ice cream.

Gas Masks

This picture was taken in 1942, and shows Army nurses training for Gas Warfare in World War II. This picture always had surreal look to me.

Wanted to let you know that I have a really good mystery person picked out for this Saturday's contest. Be sure to tune in, as it should be a good contest. Poor, Poor Nate. He will not have a chance.