So... I've been meaning to write about this for a while, but just haven't gotten around to it. A few weeks ago, I was listening to NPR's Studio 360 and they did a whole hour on Nikola Tesla. It was fascinating. Check it out here. If you can only stand to listen to some of it, I'd pick the part about Tesla and Twain. I didn't even know they were friends, but apparently I know nothing.
I don't know how much you guys know about Tesla, but he was really incredible. I mean, okay, most of my information comes from the fact that there was a heavy metal band named Tesla in the 80s, and who can forget David Bowie as Tesla in The Prestige? But anyway, amazing mind, but, you know, kind of crazy. He was a contemporary of Edison, but, while people took Tom seriously, they were always rolling their eyes about Nik. They had, um, kind of a rivalry.
Anyway, check it out. It's really interesting.