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Re: Non-tech Question
Hi Ted,
Well it all started thousands of years ago when people invented agriculture
and domesticated animals which essentialy left us with time on our hands
that could be spent doing other things. This spare time has been increasing
ever since. At one time and place this enabled us to build pyramids or the
Great Wall of Chine. More recently we have even sent people to the moon,
built sufficient nuclear weapons to kill the population of the world several
times over and even built the pc and Internet. However these days there is
no slavery and taxes are a dirty word. So were left with the most powerful
supercomputers (our brains) on earth with spare processing time. So to
satisfy our innate curiosity and various other desires we have hobbies. One
of which is Tesla coils probably well in to the three sigma tails of the
distribution of hobbies and strongly correlated with the possession of a
male chromosome and probably a mad scientist gene too
So like the famous response "because its there" the short answer to your
question is "because we can" In fact the same reason you asked the
question and I responded.
Regards Bob.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Date: 15 May 2000 14:44
Subject: Non-tech Question
>Original Poster: "Ted Rosenberg" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
>
>
>
>To All Coilers...
>
>Ever since I stood in the total darkness of the Hangman's House of Horrors
>last October, playing my theremin to scare folks as they walked by and had
>an idea of building a coil for this upcoming October, I have learned much
>from all the list contributors.
>
>My modest 6 inch coil is well on the way to completion. The concept for the
>use of the coil with appropriate safety measures provided by respected list
>members, has been accepted by the management of the haunted house. I hope
>that it works and is as successful in its intended purpose...to make the
>patrons "wet their pants" as Dr Resonance so aptly put it.
>
>But ever since I began to understand what a Tesla Coil did and having seen
>a reasonably sized one in operation last May and learning what was involved
>in building one, there has been one question that has gone unanswered.
>
>I do not mean to start a war or an unending thread.
>
>That would be my last intention. I owe much to all the posting people whose
>knowledge far exceeds mine in matters Tesla.
>
>But I really want to know why...
>If it were not for the Hangman's House I do not think I would ever really
>want to build a coil.
>But there are those of you who not only start with a coil capable of 6 inch
>streamers and keep building more and more until 10 footers or more are
>attainable. As a challenge, I recognize that.
>People build cars to go faster. Athletes are always trying to better a
>record.
>
>But, what real purpose does a coil have other than to scare someone or
>worse, injure or kill or merely light fluorescent tubes?
>
>Once someone has achieved that 10 foot arc...what becomes of the coil once
>it's power has been shared with all either in person or on the web?
>
>This may sound like blasphemy. But this posting is truly a desire to
>understand something of the philosophy of the coiler that so far has
>escaped me.
>
>The truth is out there and I want to believe...someone once said.
>Help me to understand. And I will thank you all.
>
>Ted Rosenberg
>
>
>