Talk:Nikola Tesla

Suggested Link

• Tesla Experiments With Alternate Currents

No. It just republishes free content from Project Gutenberg with Google Adsense. Bad link. Also, please stop spamming across article talk pages. See WP:EL and WP:SPAM. Nposs 02:25, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Intro

Tesla should not be referred to as a "subject" of the Austrian Empire. He could be called a resident/citizen or something else. "Subject" implies that he was some sort of slave.

"Subject" is the technical term for a citizen/resident of a monarchical state (of which the Austrian Empire was one), and has no such connotations. Nagakura shin8 08:40, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

Nikola Tesla was an Istro-Romanian not an serb, this opinion was widely believed by american historians but now we know that he was an Istro-Romanian, as it is on the Romanian Wikipedia. Please change ! AlexanderXVI 22:39, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

What are you talking about man?! Nikola Tesla was a Serb and that is a known fact and nobody from Romania or any other country should be attampting to alter the facts! Both his parents were ethnic serbs! And what is an Istro-Romanian ?! We might as well pronounce him as an Afro-American.

Actually, no, Istro-Romanians are an ethnic minority in Croatia. Unfortunately there's absolutely no evidence Tesla was one; he described himself as a Serb and his passport said Austrian, since he was from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nagakura shin8 (talk) 21:03, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

The Istro-Romanians are a branch of the Wallach people. Nikola Tesla was in fact of wallach orthodox ancestry. By that time all the wallach that were orthodox (almost 95% of the wallachs) were considered as serbians. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.230.154.155 (talk) 18:50, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

Monuments

I'm not really sure if this is classified as a monument or not, but the International Airport in Belgrade, Serbia is now called the Nikola Tesla airport. -LJ

This article lists Nikola Tesla's birthdate as July 10th at the top, but in this Monuments section it says July 9th.

Tesla was not born in Croatian Krajina, such thing didn't even existed, someone made it up and he is persistent,Tesla was born in the province of Lika, Croatia—then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And that is the way it should write I canon delete this Croatian Krajina and I am asking Wikipedia to delete it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Stefo665 (talk • contribs) 15:23, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Personality

"he probably disclaimed his Jewish ancestry, playing as atheist"

With all the debate on Tesla's ancestry, this claim needs some support. Where does this opinion come from? Is "Tesla" a Jewish last name? Tesla's parents were both Orthodox Christians and he was Serbian or Croatian. Since the article also claims that he is anti-semitic I believe more explanation is needed. Why is he being painted as a self loathing member of a religion when most evidence says otherwise?

Kwijibo950 02:22, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

"anti-Semitist"

I doubt about the claim of his "sporadic anti-Semitism”. First of all, I believe that he term is self-contradicting: it expresses an –ism (that means an concept, an ideology), but which is sporadic (word that expresses non regular occurring). Most importantly, the clue in which it supports what it claims it is only based in someone’s record of an out of context phrase spoken in everyday manner. I delete the phrase. I think we there is a kind of a fanatic anti-anti- Semitism emerging in our days. You really have to count your words otherwise you will be called anti-Semitist.

Soklamon 13:58, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Honestly, Tesla may have just been joking when he said that... --George D. Božović 15:38, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

The Prestige

It is quite clear in the film that the machine Tesla builds is more than simply an illusion: it creates an exact double of the subject. As such, I changed "he is called upon to build an electrical machine to simulate an illusion of teleportation" to "he is called upon to build an electrical machine capable of teleporting a human being. The machine works, but instead of teleporting someone it makes an exact clone." Demosthenes X 21:16, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

There is no proof that Tesla's machine ever worked, it is rumored that the machine never actually worked and that it was all part of the Prestige of the film itself, the part where it is seen that Angiers kills the clone might not be true. The dead body of Angier might be the double he used 2 years before with his act "The New Transported Man". Zae 22:49, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

And all the duplicated hats ? And all the other tanks in storage ? -- Beardo 11:36, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

The sentence in the first paragraph "The machine works, but instead of teleporting someone it makes an exact clone." is correct, but the one that actually appears in the article is not: "but in addition to teleporting the subject, it also makes an exact clone." The machine does not teleport - it only makes a clone (some distance away from the machine). The only reason the machine allows Angier to appear to be teleported is because he uses a trap-door. Remember that even Tesla was not aware that the machine was making clones because the object (hats and cats) never moved from their position in the machine. [Movie spoiler!] And in regard to the 2nd paragraph above, because of all the duplicated hats and all the tanks in storage, you are shown that the machine makes a clone every time. Angier never knew when Borden would go under the stage, so he was drowned every night - his clone then appeared elsewhere to be the victim the next night. This process would only stop when Borden went below stage and could then be framed for the clone's death. If there were only the one double that Angier used earlier, he would have to know when Borden would find the drowning double. Utterbee6 19:28, 12 June 2007 (UTC)

It's unclear if the machine teleported the original and made a clone in its place or made a clone appear in another location. Angier said himself he never knew if he'd be in the box or in the Prestige. 68.166.65.221 18:59, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

Mother's death date

The article (currently) says his mother died in 1892. This looks wrong in the context of the rest of the article, and it looks like this is a typo for 1882. Can someone with access to the sources used to write that sentence please check and correct if needed. Thanks. Carcharoth 23:21, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

Serb/Croat arguments

It appears that Serb and Croat nationalists have decided to make this talk page a battleground for their squabbling over Tesla's ethnicity. The talk page for the 0.999... article has a special page where arguments against the proofs given in the article are placed (to avoid cluttering up the main talk page with unproductive comments). Would anyone object to the same being done here for the serb/croat stuff? Simões (^talk/_contribs) 14:03, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

There's no productive discussion going on anyway. It's almost all anonymous nationalists on either side flaming each other. This isn't suitable for a talk page full stop. Chris Cunningham 14:05, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

Odd, because the article itself is so good. I think the idea has merit, although I would miss the fights. Karldoh 14:03, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

Update: It's funny how fast another ethnicity argument started. The subtalkpage is born, and things are already a lot quieter. Good day! Simões (^talk/_contribs) 15:08, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

It's all so silly. Croats and Serbs should just be proud that he's from the Balkans and then consider the fact that he wouldn't give a rat's a** about them since one of his proudest moments was becoming an American. haha Maîtresse 07:46, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Tesla was a Serb, born in Croatia. The article is not objective, and I think objectivity is important. One harmless example of that is presenting banknote of Serbia with his image and not presenting the croatian one. Apparently this wiki page is edited by serbian wiki page, and that's why it's not objective. I suggest that the page should be edited by another wiki project. That's how we will stop counting Tesla's blood cells and manipulating with the history. Give Tesla in the hands of neutral party. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.164.35.251 (talk) 12:04, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

- Tesla was a Serb and only because some other politicians from some other country where he was born are trying to associate Tesla's name to their country doesnt make him non-Serb. If this is not clear to you guys than do some research on his past and than you will see who is right and who is wrong(and what is true and whats not) rather than just making a vague decision's while being neutral. Very accurate article here on Wiki.

-Tesla was of wallach - serb heritage that's clear. He was born in Croatia, that's clear too. I think we should stick to his words: "i am proud of my heritage but i am also proud of my croatian homeland". That's the end of it guys. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.230.154.155 (talk) 18:56, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

Nicola Tesla Serbian Inventor?

there should be an edit where it is saying hes a serbian inventor since most of the article contradicts the serbian part, since hes croatian:

Nikola Tesla (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Тесла) (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was a Serbian inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer. Born in Smiljan, Croatian Krajina, Military Frontier, he was an ethnic Serb subject of the Austrian Empire and later became an American citizen.

any 1 who knows how to change, plz do

(i meen if i die and it turns out some one in my fam. tree was spanish or somethin, and i made a famous invention, woulnt the spanish then try to claim me sayin im a spanish person too ?)

else claim tesla for africa, thats where human life is said to have originated from

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Mitsuruki (talk • contribs) 19:47, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

I do not understand what you are trying to say. He was an ethnic Serb (not an ethnic Croat) born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in what is now known as Croatia. Keep in mind that Croatia, as we know it today, did not exist at that time: it was the Croatian Krajina Military Frontier. In an empire, ethnicities are retained. Ethnicities are defined by common cultural, linguistic, religious, behavioural or biological traits. Genealogically we are all Afrikan, but we are not all ethnically Afrikan. --Bossi (talk • gallery • contrib) 22:44, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

First of all excuse me for my English! But: I don't understand why you consider Tesla as a Serbian inventor. Well, Tesla was born and bring up in Croatia and is famous his phrase "I'm proud of Serbian origins and of Croatian homeland", therefore it's clear that he considered Croatia as his homeland. At the contrary I ask you: who are the Americans? In your logic almost anybody is American because all are Englishmen, Italian, Frenchmen, Germans, Polishes, etc. The question of Austro-Hungarian Empire is also stupid in my opinion. First of all because the same Tesla said "I'm proud of [..] Croatian homeland" so it's stupid make undo over this. Secondary for example Dante Alighieri is considered on of the biggest Italian author of XIII century, but Italy as unique state is just from XIX century. Now an other example. Mike Bongiorno is one of the most famous Italian showman of television. He was born in New York but his parents was Italian and he feel to be Italian. He always says "My homeland is Italy, in particular Sicily". So if Tesla was proud of his homeland Croatia, why we must delete his will?! Jovan Dučić from Montenegro consider that "Tesla" is an Montenegrin-origin surname so we be able to consider Tesla as a Montenegrin Inventor. Well... with this logic can excavate and excavate in the past of Tesla's family and see how he is an African inventor. The Croatians were always victim of a barbaric serbianization! Lupo90100 —Preceding comment was added at 13:48, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

What about the Serbian origins you mention Tesla was also proud of? :) Tesla was a Serb by ethnicity who was born in Croatia (well, Austrian Empire actually). Being a Serb is what makes him a Serbian scientist. Being an Italian by ethnicity is what makes Dante an Italian writer. (It has nothing to do with the country borders, just like you explained it yourself with Mike Bongiorno.) Simple, isn't it? --George D. Božović (talk) 18:57, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

How can yo say that Tesla was Serbian by ethinicity if Tesla said that his homeland was Croatia?! (and I repeat that was Croatia and not Austrian Empire, Tesla's words). He was born and bring up in Croatia, in Croatian schools and at last but not least his mother was Croatian. Here we speak only about his father side but never about his mother side. As a mattar of fact his mother was a inventor with very good memory, abilities which Tesla inherited by the mom, as the same Tesla said many times. After the marriage with Tesla's father, she converted herself in orthodox, but the religion can't be synonym of his nationality. About Mike Bongiorno I want to say that he is Italian because he feel himself as Italian. At the contrary all the world would consider him American. For Tesla is the same with the difference that Tesla was also born in Croatia. So Tesla was born in Croatia and felt Croatia as his homeland. In addition his mother was Croatian. So many things versus the idea that he was a Serbian.Lupo90100 —Preceding comment was added at 19:24, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

No, both of his parents were Serbs. His mother, Đuka Mandić, was daughter of a Serb Orthodox priest -- she did not convert to Orthodoxy after her wedding with Milutin Tesla. Mike Bongiorno truly is Italian if he feels and declares himself so, and thus Tesla was a Serb too, because he also felt so. It seems to me that you make no difference between ethnicity and nationality. You see, nationality (in BCS državljanstvo, not nacionalnost) means belonging to a country, a nation. Tesla's nationality was Austrian because he was born in the Austrian Empire, and later also American ("USA-ian") -- he could not have been born in Croatia because Croatia as a country didn't exist at that time, no matter of his own words. On the other hand, ethnicity (now this is nacionalnost or narodnost, etnička pripadnost in BCS) means belonging to an ethnic group. Tesla was an ethnic Serb. He had Serbian ancestry and he felt and declared himself so... And there you are. Tesla was born in the present-day Croatia, but he was an ethnic Serb. --George D. Božović (talk) 20:29, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

Are you sure that both parents were Serbs?! In "Nikola Tesla, covjek koji je izumio 20. vijek" I think I read something about his Croatian mother. About Austrian Empire / Croatia is famouse Tesla's phrase "I'm proud of my Serbian origins and of my Croatian homeland". This is the exact phrase said by Tesla wich was also repeted at the commemoration of 150 years from Tesla's death organized by both country: Serbia and Croatia! (So already at the time Tesla was conscious of an idea of Croatia). An other his phrase was always "I'm prooud of my Croatian birth and Serbian people" because his mother was Croatian. I'm quite sure of this. When I'll have the opportunity to read again the book, I'll confimr or no this information. He told about "serbian people" because at the time the descendence was adopted by father-side. At the end you don't replace me about idea of "americans". For you who are the Americans? If we must see their parents and granparents almost nobody would be American, but Englishmen, Franchmen, Germans, Italians, etc. also for etnicity. For example the actress Gabriela Spanic is Venezuelan actress even if his father is Croatian. And this because she born in Venezuela. Dante Alighieri is Italian, even if at his time Italy didin't exist. So also Croatia. In Austrian Empire was a reality the concept of Croatia. At last Croatia enter in Austrian Empire because asked protection to the Austria from turkish invasion. At contary Mike Bongiorno who feel as his homeland Italy, is considered Italian, even if we be able to consider him American (as a mattar of fact exist many Americans that feel themeselves so but that have foreign parents).

Why Tesla after became USA-ian?! Why he can become USA-ian and not Croatian? Being he born and live in Croatia, he adopted Croatian culture. For me it's simple. I can't undestand why he become USA-ian and why he not become Croatian (for being born in it). For me Tesla was Croatian or jugoslavian and not only Serbian.

Sorry my English.Lupo90100 —Preceding comment was added at 21:35, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

His father was a serbian orthodox priest. And you said yourself "Nikola Tesla, covjek koji je izumio 20. vijek" - Vijek, Serbian word, Stoljece, Croatian word... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.239.66.55 (talk) 14:11, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

it's a SHAME that a croat is to be listed in here as a serb. shamefull. he was a croat, born in croatia, in a part of the country called Lika, his mother was a native in a small village in Lika. also, the term 'croatian krajina' never egzisted. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.29.140.115 (talk) 15:20, 18 February 2008 (UTC)

Monument for Tesla is listed in wrong location

The monument for Nikola Tesla at Niagara Falls is in Queen Victoria Park, Ontario, Canada. It is currently listed as being in New York, USA. I just visited the site last week and posed for pictures with the beautiful statue. It is located behind the area where the Table Rock inscription is in the park.74.121.207.240 15:17, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Radio astronomy

Editors at the removing referenced and notable information about Nikola Tesla.

This is the section they are removing ...

In 1899, the eccentric Nikola Tesla, in accord with many other plans of his, planned to build a tower in a experimental station at Colorado topped by a copper ball that he would turn into a sensitive radio telescope. While investigating atmospheric electricity in 1900, Tesla noted repetitive signals that he deduced must be coming from a non-terrestrial source. Although Tesla mistook this to be radio communication from intelligent beings living on Venus or Mars it may have been the earliest observation of an astronomical radio source (A 1996 analysis indicated Tesla may have been observing Jovian plasma torus signals).

References

---

Any help would be appreciated in keeping the information there ... J. D. Redding 04:53, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

Although this seems to be a documented occurrence, describing it as "Tesla being the inventor of Radio astronomy" (as found in much Tesla literature and fan sites) is not supportable by the facts. See Talk:Radio astronomy#Furhter discussion for futher talk on this. Halfblue 13:08, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Wireless power transmission

Citations for wireless power transmission.

• Elroy McKendree Avery, Elementary Physics. Sheldon and company, 1897. 317 pages. Page 301

J. D. Redding 23:27, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Queen Victoria Park - please make correction

The "Monuments" section of the Nikola Tesla article mistakenly places Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls, New York. In fact, Queen Victoria Park is in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The caption to the photo of the monument gets it right. Please note also that "Niagara" is mispelt in this section. The confusion no doubt arose because both the American and Canadian cities of Niagara Falls have monuments to Tesla. Gsmck 04:05, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Made the note/correction awhile back. Thanks for suggesting that. J. D. Redding 16:43, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Teslascope

Other inventions Tesla is known for the invention of the Teslascope, a radio transmitter designed with the intention of communicating with extraterrestrial life on other planets.

Removed above to talk because it is not s "true" statement. The sources on this point out that the Teslascope may be the fictional invention of Arthur H. Matthews the writer of the book "The wall of light; Nikola Tesla and the Venusians space ship, the X-12", or it could be a Tesla idea. The one thing you can't state flat out is that Tesla did invent this... so needs to be re-writen. This also means that listing this device under a heading "Electromechanical devices and principles developed by Nikola Tesla" would be incorrect.Halfblue 20:36, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I have re-intergrated this information into the article in a more factual form. Also removed "Teslascope" from "Electromechanical devices and principles developed by Nikola Tesla" for reason given in summery. Halfblue 12:59, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

External link request

I'd like to suggest this essay by Mark Pilkington as an external link:

http://www.forteantimes.com/features/profiles/78/nikola_tesla.html

I am the editor of the site, so I'm suggesting it rather than adding it in myself

Confusion in "Later Years"

In this section of the article there is the line: "After the war ended, Tesla made predictions regarding the relevant issues of the post-World War I environment, in a printed article (20 December 1914)." I find this desciption confusing because it states "After the war ended", but then cites the date "20 December 1914". The War, of course, began in 1914, so how could he have commented on something "after the war" in the same year it began? Kirkesque 22:28, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Inconsistencies of dates in "Early Years"

At the end of the paragraph "Hungary and France", there is a blurb about Tesla running from Paris to see his dying mother. His mother died in 1892, but he moved to the US in 1884, and apparently gained citizenship in 1891. Which means he was no longer in Paris when his mother died. And I doubt he could "hasten" to see his mother just hours before she died, because at that time transatlantic flights were quite scarce. In addition, if he really went to see his mother in 1892, then it should be in the following paragraph, "Middle years", as this paragraph starts in 1886, and documents him being the vice-president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers from 1892 to 1894. 213.114.83.242 11:43, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

What patents?

The article presently says "Tesla said he worked night and day to redesign them and gave the Edison company several profitable new patents in the process." If this is true, then the article should include the numbers of the U.S. (or non U.S. patents) that resulted from Tesla's work. I have not been able to find any such patents. Thanks. Edison 05:46, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Tesla worked for Edison, beginning 1884, in the 300s and, perhaps, 400s range of Edison's patents. Edison routinely placed the patents worked on by other workers in his name. By recorded accounts, Tesla worked on Edison's Dynamo-Electric Machine and Electrical Generator designs. This is widely known in the biographies of Tesla. J. D. Redding 15:18, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

POV

"During this period, in the United States, Tesla's fame rivaled that of any other inventor or scientist in history or popular culture"- Inspite of the reference, this sounds dubious to me. Is it implied that Tesla's fame was more even than Edison's in the public imagination? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ashujo (talk • contribs) 22:16, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

To what extent is AC "more efficient" than DC? It is not correct as it stands, and needs qulification at the least - suggest simple removal of those two mords.

Vlach origin

I think I have fully dug into this issue and understood it. Who was the one who introduced this in the first place again? --PaxEquilibrium 12:07, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Is someone trying to suggest he was a descendent of Dracula???--Jack Upland (talk) 09:03, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Asperger syndrome

Tesla is the subject of Chapter 10 of this new book:

Fitzgerald, Michael, O’Brien, Brendan (2007) Genius genes: how Asperger talents changed the world. Autism Asperger Publishing Company, 2007.

In this essay about autism written by the President of the Association for Psychological Science she lists Tesla as one of a number of "historical figures who fit current diagnostic criteria".

Gernsbacher, Morton Ann (2007) A conspicuous absence of scientific leadership: the illusory epidemic of autism. http://jepson.richmond.edu/academics/projects/ESSAYGernsbacher.pdf

Are we going to ignore this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.169.199.35 (talk) 13:43, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

There are a number of posthumous diagnoses for famous figures. These are inherently attention-seeking and speculative.--Jack Upland (talk) 09:13, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

I would not automatically dismiss all posthumous diagnoses as "inherently attention-seeking and speculative." Neither would I immediately accept claims that historical figures had some disease or condition. The question is whether the diagnosis comes from a reliable source and whether it satisfies verifiability. Does the source have a reputation for fact checking and accuracy? Is it a refereed scholarly journal or a self-published source? Is the method of making retrospective diagnoses regarded as accurate by the appropriate scientific bodies, such as the medical community or the psychological community? Morton Ann Gernsbacher is indeed president of the major American body for psychological science, Association for Psychological Science, giving this some degree of credibility. There may be a bias operating in which people with a condition or who work with people having the condition want to adopt famous people into their community by announcing that THEY had the condition, too, whether it is epilepsy or Aspergers. Something published by the "Autism Asperger Publishing Company" might appear to have an advocacy position more than if the publisher were a major university. This could be brought to the Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard to get the views of editors who are knowledgable of Wikipedia's reliable sources requirements. Edison (talk) 21:40, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Edison, his biographers have cited that he may have had Asperger. J. D. Redding

Croatian Krajina

That term never officaly existed. It is a region which was called like that but it's officialy called Lika.--(GriffinSB) (talk) 11:44, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

Please see the article talk archives. This is a compromise solution, and no term is perfect. Chris Cunningham (talk) 12:22, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

"Robots"???

The last paragraph of "Middle years" quotes Tesla as saying in 1898: "You see there the first of a race of robots, mechanical men which will do the laborious work of the human race." However, the term "robot" is generally believed to come from Karel Čapek's 1920 play, see robot#Etymology. Thus, this quote is doubtful. Rune Kock (talk) 19:04, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

PBS http://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/ll_robots.html

The quote seems to be backed by this reputable website. robot#Etymology should be updated ... or made clearer when the term was dispersed to the general population. Tesla may have been ahead of the curve ... as usual. J. D. Redding 04:48, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

The play is universally considered to be the origin of the English term. Robot is derived from the Slavic word for worker. Is it possible that since Tesla was Slavic in origin, there is a linguistic leap in the translation here?--Jack Upland (talk) 09:16, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Highly unlikely. In BCMSxyz, the only meaning of "robot" is the one originating from Čapek's book. Zocky | picture popups 00:31, 2 February 2008 (UTC)

We need a citation to an 1898 publication with the purported 1898 usage of "robot" by Tesla, to make sure this isn't a paraphrase created in the 1940's by biographer O'Neill, who was not always a careful scholar. The demonstration of the wireless remote control boat in New York City in 1898 was covered in the media, and the quote might be found in the period coverage. "Robotics and Automation Handbook" By Thomas R. Kurfess [1] talks about the Tesla 1898 demonstration in 1.1.3, but on the next page says that the term "robot" for such a device dates only from Capek in 1920. Edison (talk) 19:58, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

The term is Old Church Slavonic. The term may have been in use ... Tesla came from the Old Church Slavonic and may have naturally used it.

From http://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/ll_robots.html:

"Tesla quickly corrected the reporter: "You do not see there a wireless torpedo, you see there the first of a race of robots, mechanical men which will do the laborious work of the human race."

Just a note. J. D. Redding

category tag

incorrectly tagged as American inventor?--Billymac00 (talk) 17:28, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

I wouldn't think so: the American categories could apply as he spent a significant amount of his time living and working in America. He may not have been "ethnically" American, but then again it can be tough to argue what exactly an "ethnic American" would be. --Bossi (talk • gallery • contrib) 17:56, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

He became a naturalized citizen .. there is no error. J. D. Redding 14:43, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

why Nikola Tessla never reacived real credits for his invventions?Beside he didnt reacived Nobel prize he deserved,many of Teslas inventions was used from others —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.240.0.66 (talk) 20:17, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Live Theatre

Why is "live theatre" included in this article but "popular culture" exiled to its own article? Does the fact that culture's popular weigh in against it???--Jack Upland (talk) 09:18, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

I think the Tesla in Live Theater would fit better in the "Tesla in Popular Culture" article. Cut and paste job for the most part. Amiaheroyet (talk) 01:45, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

Agreed and moved. Hark80 (talk) 19:14, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't understand the structure of a sentence and I don't think I'm alone

This sentence here: At Tesla's salary of $18 per week, the bonus would have amounted to over 53 years pay, and the amount was equal to the initial capital of the company.[29]

What does the 53 years of pay mean anyway? I think it is ambiguous. Someone please let me know.

Lucgallant (talk) 03:39, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Sounds to me like 53 years of $18 a week. Bassg☢☢nist T C 18:30, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

As in "He did a nice job. Let's give him a bonus equal to the initial capital of the whole company, or the pay he would earn in 53 years of employment at his present salary." Edison (talk) 19:41, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

help —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.241.101.115 (talk) 20:05, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

Aether

Tesla demurred at the concept concerning Professor Lodge's view that electricity was a mode of manifestation of the aether. He did not object to an aether associated with matter, or 'bound aether'.

ref: John Joseph Fahie, A History of Wireless Telegraphy. W. Blackwood and Sons 1902. Page 139-140.

J. D. Redding 01:25, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Milutin Tesla's birthplace

In the "Early Years" section, the birthplace of Milutin Tesla, Nikola Tesla's father, is listed as "Meduc." It's actually Raduc. Raduc, an ethnic Serb village in Medak County (Lika) was the home of the Tesla family from the time Milutin's father, also called Nikola Tesla, settled there in the 1810's until 1995, when they were ethnically cleansed along with all of the other ethnic Serbs in the region during the Croatian offensive Operation Storm. (They now reside mostly in the Belgrade area of Serbia.) Milan Pejnovich March 2, 2008 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.12.81.102 (talk) 05:15, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Milutin Tesla's birthplace

In the "Early Years" section, the birthplace of Milutin Tesla, Nikola Tesla's father, is listed as "Meduc." It's actually Raduc. Raduc, an ethnic Serb village in Medak County (Lika) was the home of the Tesla family from the time Milutin's father, also called Nikola Tesla, settled there in the 1810's until 1995, when they were ethnically cleansed along with all of the other ethnic Serbs in the region during the Croatian offensive Operation Storm. (They now reside mostly in the Belgrade area of Serbia.) 24.12.81.102 (talk) 05:17, 3 March 2008 (UTC)Milan Pejnovich March 2, 2008

Perhaps you may wish to edit the article and update that fact? --George D. Božović (talk) 21:20, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Tesla quote "proud of Croatian homeland"

This quote has been moved around, added, removed and added again: "I am proud of my heritage, but I am also proud of my Croatian homeland"... I have searched for the source of Tesla saying this and come up empty. I'm removing it once again. Binksternet (talk) 21:11, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Cited scholarly sources. This is the situation:

Here in Croatia people often quote Tesla's words, “I am proud of my Serbian origin and my Croatian homeland.” Those same words were sued by Vladko Maček in his message of congratulation, which Tesla answered with the same words. To wit, in 1936 the President of HSS (Croatian Peasant Party), Vladko Maček, sent Tesla a congratulatory telegram (some sources say that it was on the occasion of his birthday, others that it was prompted by one of Tesla's discoveries), in which he addressed Tesla as “a son of Serbian stock and of the Croatian homeland.” In his return telegram Tesla thanked him warmly and answered that he was equally proud of his Serbian stock and Croatian homeland. (from hrvatska.hr)

J. D. Redding 21:45, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Excellent! I've tweaked the reference wording for neutral point of view. Thanks for solidifying the cite. Binksternet (talk) 04:26, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Telegramme

I removed

In 1936, Tesla stated "I'm equally proud of my Serbian origin and my Croatian homeland."

Authenticity of this document is not verifiable. The truth is - there is no proof that the telegramme was ever sent by Tesla. I am under impression that this telegramme is simply invented for the purposes of political propaganda in Croatia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.252.101.51 (talk) 14:57, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Oh, come on. Political propaganda in Croatia? yeah wright. Whose political propaganda? You think that HSS had some benefits from that telegram? Well, You think wrong. They won only 8 places in parlament last year. That is not success. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.2.122.96 (talk) 11:38, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

You are banned from editing.--Rjecina (talk) 00:17, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Ethnic origins dispute

A section has been removed by user Binksternet, without bringing the problem up on the talk page. Please stick to procedure, thank you. Also, see reference provided. --Danielsavoiu (talk) 15:31, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

On March 11, I removed the Telegramme quote because it was unreferenced. I said so in the edit summary, and I brought it up on the Talk page. What part of procedure didn't I follow? At any rate, now that the Telegramme quote is referenced, I have no problem with its presence in the article. Binksternet (talk) 16:19, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Ah, I think you mean this diff which is a section deletion made on March 8 by User:72.144.183.34 directly after a minor edit of mine. Binksternet (talk) 16:34, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I must apologise. I must have mis-clicked the diff. Cheers, Danielsavoiu (talk) 19:10, 25 March 2008 (UTC)