Now Thomas Edison is certainly worthy of Doodledom; that's obvious and not my point. The point is that Google has chosen to recognize Edison today because today is the 164th anniversary of the inventor's birth.
Yes, the 164thentennial.
(2011's 25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries)
It's almost as though Google looked at a list of people born on Feb. 11 and decided that, yup, Edison is today's Doodle.
So, let's actually look at a list of people born on Feb. 11 to see who they passed up. And while Doodledom is generally granted to notables no longer with us, we'll include the living as well as the dead in this examination of Edison also-rans.
Edison clearly stands out among the other inventors and scientists born on Feb. 11, unless you want to make a case for physicists Willard Gibbs and Leo Szilard, or William Henry Fox Talbot, who apparently made advances in photography.
Born on this date in 1907, William Levitt invented the cookie-cutter suburb.
Leslie Nielsen didn't invent anything, but he made Airplane.
One name virtually jumps off the list: Sarah Palin, who turns 47 today. Now the Palin haters out there would object were she to be honored by Google, but I think the former governor would be perfect for a Doodle ... if for no other reason than her list of accomplishments could fit on one.
Want more gravitas in your failed vice presidential candidates? Lloyd Bentsen was born on this date in 1921. And he's dead.
If Palin and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ever ran and got elected on the same ticket, the White House chef would have to bake two cakes on Feb. 11.
Are dictators eligible? If so, Google passed up Panama's Manuel Noriega and the obvious temptation to use enormous stereo speakers for the Doodle's double-O.
No strongmen? How about a strong man? Boxer Max Baer was born on this date in 1909 and would become most famous for besting Max Schmeling in 1933 and fathering Max (Jethro Bodine) Baer, Jr. four years later.
Finally, there is mechanical engineer Burke J. McNamara, who was born on this date 85 years ago. Forget about Vint Cerf and Tim Berners-Lee and all those other "fathers" of modern day technology; without McNamara's contributions to this world, you would not be reading this blog post right now.
Happy Birthday, Dad; you deserve a Google Doodle.
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