Edison was a real asshole. I did not know that until just recently.

I always knew that Nikola Tesla was an underappreciated genius, but I never actually knew why. Probably everyone knows this but me, but it turns out that Thomas Edison was a real asshole! Why don't they mention this in textbooks? I know that history is written by historians, who are in turn heavily influenced by the PR/propaganda of their time... but Edison is always painted in such a glowing yet matter-of-fact light! When I read that he only slept for 2 hours at a time (the power nap principle at common practice), I became rather a fan of his... I've always wanted to be able to pull that off. Think of how productive you could be!

BUT NO, Edison! No more! You, sir, can suck it. I don't much appreciate your treatment of Tesla and I doubt he did either.



Don't you look off into the distance like that, with your slightly austere hint-of-bully introspective black-and-white turn-of-the-century photograph stare! I'm on to you, buddy. I know all about how you asked Tesla to help you make your plan of electrical distribution effective and marketable. I know all about how he took your lame-ass direct current system and created an alternating current system and how you launched a massive (for the time) media campaign against him (which included the electrocution of innocent dogs and horses as "proof" of the dangers of AC versus DC). I know all about how the electric chair was invented by you as a byproduct of your vendetta against Tesla!

We can no longer be friends, Mr. Edison. I don't care anymore that you were an efficient nap-taker. We are OVER.

next time I complain, remind me of this movie...

Adrienne and I, on some sort of sick whim, decided to watch this movie over dinner tonight. I'm not really sure why it seemed like a good idea (I'd wanted to watch "You Don't Mess with the Zohan"), but I'm still glad I saw it. It was a striking reminder of the helplessness of women even in this so-called modern age. The 20 minute depiction of Soraya's barbaric execution is excruciatingly true-to-life, and it's chilling to know that people (mostly women) are still being killed this way on a regular basis.

It made me feel so lucky... and so guilty for my simple, easy life.