posts from 2008.08

Edison was known to electrocute animals to demonstrate the dangers of Tesla’s alternating current. He seemed to believe that this was a valid argument for direct current, which he preferred despite it being less practical for wide-spread use. While Edison’s insanity is certainly good for a laugh,

At the end of a busy day filled with hubris and animal execution, wouldn’t you like to relax to a good light show and musical performance? I know I would! Luckily for us, Tesla not only developed the better method of current, but also made some pretty ingenious devices which to this day people are still finding new uses for.

The tesla coil above is not dancing along to the music; it is making the music. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Edison! (Video via The Miskatonic Archive, where you can see some more of the same, including some musical tesla coils frolicking with a jedi.)

Ironically, while people eventually came to their senses and agreed that Tesla’s mode of current was the more practical of the two, and despite the fact that Tesla invented radio and at the time of his death was working on a death ray for national defense, Tesla died impoverished and alone and is unknown to all but the cognisanti today; while Edison’s name is forever driven into the heads of school children.

On another note, I think a musical tesla coil would make a really awesome, yet highly impractical, steampunk doorbell. Just the image of opening the door to find solicitors have soiled themselves in abject terror and run from the premises makes me giggle like a schoolgirl.

Via Rue Morgue, a stop-motion silent film and bloodbath.

And, via jwz, another good installment in the series:

From VideoSift, a beer advertisement with a heaping serving of surreal and a hint of theremin.

Sacrifice, indeed.

Via VideoSift, an examination of childhood psychosis and the transient nature of friendship:

Like a Fiji Mermaid, only more dashing:

Complete with faithful on-the shoulder cephalopodic clam-eating side-kick, Poly (not Polly).

Part 1:

Part 2:

From the creator:

A 12 minute short depicting the origin of “The Bat-Man” and introducing his amazing skills and abilities… Bob Kane and Bill Finger drew on a lot of silent films to create Batman, and I’ve always wanted to give the story a try using silent film techniques. What with that whole copyright/waste of time thing, you’l