Try to imagine where we would be today if Bell Labs and/or MIT had fired him for his eccentricities, "trivial" distractions and prolonged absences. Imagine if h

Try to imagine where we would be today if Bell Labs and/or MIT had fired him for his eccentricities, "trivial" distractions and prolonged absences. Imagine if he hadn't been present when Bardeen & Brattain(and subsequently Shockley) produced the modern transistor and took off on one of his tangential side projects. Just "wow". edit: giving Bardeen & Brattain their due.