Taser - where did that name come from?

[Timbeck2]

Would you believe that it comes from a 1911 Tom Swift novel? (similar to the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew novels) One of the books is entitled: Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle.

In 1974 a NASA researcher named Jack Cover designed his electricity weapon based on that book. He called it the Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle or TASER. Incidentally Tom Swift never had a middle initial so Mr. Cover inserted the "A" to make the acronym easier on the tongue.

And you didn't think you were going to learn anything today.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I feel as though a block of real knowledge just exited my brain to make room for that.

 

[MauleSkinner]

I feel as though a block of real knowledge just exited my brain to make room for that.

Been happening to me for years...you know how much useful trivia about Corsairs and Bearcats I’ve had to dump over the years to make room for all this worthless jet crap?

 

[Timbeck2]

I feel as though a block of real knowledge just exited my brain to make room for that.

Well although its a myth that we only use 10% of our brains, I'm sure you can find a closet somewhere to store it instead of cleaning it out for more useless information.

 

[steingar]