AtDTDA (12): 326 - 351

[David Morris]

Hi folks,

I'm running a little behind with assembling my notes for this hosting,
but here is my initial synopsis of the first section of ATDTDA (12).
More will follow over the next few days…

This section finds Kit and 'Fax warming themselves, after their
"desperate struggle" crossing the Long Island Sound, in the "shack"
Tesla has had built for his "great skeletal tower."  Tesla fondly
remembers Kit from their association in Colorado Springs, and the two
empathize over their shared pure love, religious fever for science, as
opposed to the short-sighted pursuit of "applied" science.  In the
previous section Vibe had exhorted Kit to become the "next Edison,"
and in this section we are presented with Tesla as a contrast to
Edison.

>From the Chumps of Chance blog:
Tesla recounts to Kit his initial vision that led him to begin his
researches in electricity and "wireless" power transmission. He speaks
of his "Magnifying Transmitter" as existing already, "as if time had
been removed from all equations" (327:18); he speaks too of how he is
expected to be "consciously scientific," rather than subconsciously,
or unconsciously, in stark contrast to Edison's "perspiration" that
can be translated so easily into those comfortably tangible "billable
hours" that clients desire...

Edison Quote:
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

Kit's "expression of solidarity" with Tesla is thus:  "I have been
around them long enough, Dr. Tesla.  They have no idea what any of us
are about."

The "shack" is actually anything but.  It is of grand scale and high
design (designed by the office of McKim, Mead & White – the designers
of the Agricultural pavilion at the Columbia Exposition) with opulent
fittings and fine consumables (coffee imported from Trieste).   From
the Tesla Wiki, we learn that $150,000 with 51% supplied by J.
Pierpont Morgan.

Before "the boys" depart the next morning, Tesla offers Kit warm
thanks for his help in the Colorado project, but regrets his inability
to invite him to help with the present project, a nod toward 'Fax,
Vibe's son and proxy, explaining why.



A map showing the Long Island Sound between New Haven and the Tesla
tower at Wardenclyffe in Shoreham, Long Island.:
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-18,GGLG:en&q=Shoreham%2c+Long+Island

The Tesla Wardenclyffe tower:
http://www.teslascience.org/

Trieste coffee:
Founded 1933, illycaffe is the quality leader in the espresso coffee
industry, annually producing more than 6 million kg of 100% Arabica
roasted coffee - via Flavi 110, Trieste, Italy 34147 - Tel: +39 40 38
90 111 - Fax: +39 40 38 90 490 - Url: www.illy.com

McKim, Mead & White:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKim,_Mead,_and_White