11 November 2009

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov: not the father of a Russian lawnmower

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, arguably the most famous Russian in history, even if by proxy - the AK-47 assault rifle, was recently celebrating his 90th jubilee.

The man is quite sprightly at his advanced age, and I really don't have anything against him. It is the use that his famous invention (well, with some assistance from Hugo Schmeisser, as they say) was put to is bothering the heck out of me.

Mikhail Timofeyevich, it should be said, is painfully aware of that aspect of his invention:

I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work - for example a lawnmower.
In the next reincarnation, probably, Mikhail Timofeyevich. Meanwhile, take care...

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