Einstein was wrong! That was the news that flashed around the world just a few months ago after CERN, the European atom smasher claimed they had found evidence that atomic particles could travel faster than the speed of light!
If true, it would mean that everything we were taught in school about Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity was all for naught. Could it possibly be that Einstein wasn’t as smart as we all were led to believe?
Even though I never understood a thing about E=mc2, I accepted the fact that some classmates of mine, like Einstein, were geniuses. That’s what we called the smart guys back then, remember – “hey, Einstein, can I look at your homework for a second?”
This is what the scientists at CERN had to work with 
But wait! Just a few days ago CERN announced that they can’t prove Neutrinos travel faster than 186,000-miles-per-second. What? They blew it big time and it doing so just about upended 100 years of physics. So, why was CERN so wrong? It turns out it was simply a loose cable! A loose cable? You’ve got to be kidding me? But no, it’s true. A fibre optic cable used to connect a GPS receiver to one of CERN’s computers had simply come loose which, in turn, caused the false result. OMG!
This is what Albert Einstein had to work with
Way, way back when I was just beginning to learn Computers 101, it was drummed into my head repeatedly that the problem is always a cable until proven otherwise. Years later, as an IT Manager, I told all of our techies that when we got a call from someone complaining that their printer wasn’t working, to make sure this was the first question asked: “is it plugged in”? You’d be amazed at how often this simple question solved the problem!
Hey Albert! Those guys at CERN are no Einstein's!
So, CERN, with all your blinding speed equipment, computers and droves of brainy physicists and genius level smart guys, guess what? You’re no Einstein’s!!
The Yellow Flag – the most common sight at NASCAR races
Maybe Albert Einstein could have taught NASCAR a thing or two about speed as well. NASCAR races are sure in no danger of breaking the speed of light that’s for sure. I’m no NASCAR fan but yesterday, since the Daytona 500 was on in primetime, I thought I’d try and watch it again. Sure enough, after less than 2 laps, a whole bunch of cars smacked up and then they started their slow motion ‘round and round they go’ under caution which inexplicably counts as laps!
One guy drove his race car into the back of a jet fuel service truck – under caution
I checked in on the race off and on during the evening and most times they were going round and round under caution. The worst accident was when some guy drove his car into a service truck loaded with jet fuel causing a huge explosion and fire. All of this happened, believe it or not, while they were under another caution flag. Pretty boring stuff if you ask me but a lot of folks seem to like this slow, caution flag racing.
Paulette’s a big fan of the Academy Award Show so I got to watch most of it last Sunday evening. I hadn’t seen any of the movies up for Oscars so I had no real favourites.
My only award would be for ‘Worst Performance By A Presenter’ and that would go to the anorexic looking Angelina Jolie for sticking her stick-like leg out and posing like she was really something. My only thought looking at her was “go get a sandwich”!!
Have a great Tuesday, and thanks again for visiting!
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I'm with you Rick on the Jolie business, that woman has a problem!
ReplyDeleteCan't say I missed not seeing the Oscars. What a dreadful program. They could take it off the air as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteWe even saw a theatre on Sunday where they were showing it "live". So, that means staying up until what? three in the morning? We're nine hours later here than Hollyweird.
Go get a sandwich? Ha Ha! I watched neither of those extravaganzas. :)
ReplyDeleteNot a nascar or academy fan so I cna't comment there but CERN sure has egg on their face. Great pics of Albert! If you are a genius I guess it doesn't matter what your hair looks like! :-)
ReplyDeleteI never, ever, watch the Oscars or other self congratulatory TV programs. I never, ever, watch reality programs. Boring!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your Einstein story. It was a fun blog to read.
I follow NASCAR on occasion but never, ever, watch the race from beginning to completion. Driving around an oval has little attraction when compared to the much more sophisticated and demanding Formula 1. I do watch PGA GOLF tournaments, during inclement weather days, when there is little attraction to the outdoors. That seldom (if ever) happens here in the desert.
We couldnt get the NASCAR race here and McGyver was very upset..We are a couple of those who enjoy round and round, either "under caution" or "balls out!"..Been to the Brickyard at Indy, and McGyver road in a car at Chicagoland Raceway for his 60thbirthday..going about 140mph around that oval track. What a memory!!
ReplyDeleteThe thing with NASCAR and especially the Daytona 500, for me, is it's a sign that spring is coming, kind of like spring training for baseball. You can understand that, before you could leave winter! There's hope--it's going to get over 30 degrees someday and the snow will melt! And if you're from Wisconsin, one of the drivers, Matt Kinseth, who won this year, is from Cambridge, WI, so it's fun to watch a hometown boy do good! But the way to watch is to switch channels often-just go back and forth!
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Einstein to NASCAR to Jolie. What a well rounded man you are! (I mean that in the best way possible).
ReplyDeleteI have never been a fan of Jolie. For some reason, I find her a fake! ~wheresweaver
ReplyDeleteI had the awards show on, but was reading through the entire show. I did see Jolie's pose. She certainly is full of herself. I think she's definitely "full of it". My husband watched the race. It's not for me, although I am glad a Wisconsin boy won.
ReplyDeleteWe like to watch them go round and round. But not an Oscar or Jolie fan. Could definitely do without them. Now Einstein - he can stick around for a long time in my book.
ReplyDeleteShe needs a sandwich while sitting out in the SUN!
ReplyDeleteA loose cable???? Ya gotta be kidding right? I thought those guys knew what they were doing!
ReplyDeleteI just about puked when I saw Angelina.... she used to be good looking at one time!
Nice, Rick.
ReplyDeleteA Ding, Dash and Dish blog.. all of which is true.
In my mind as I watch Angelina I kept getting the Disney ghost flashovers of Skeletor... no wait, it was the evil brother in Wizards... that's it... but I still like what she is accomplishing world wide, despite a really bad tapeworm.
As for the Race, we are about 60 miles from it and that was close enough. We got to see and feel the weather just before they did... for 2 days. It had to set some record for the longest most boring race in history. At least, the Budwiser shootout had some action. I noticed it too so long that Danica started stripping off her suit as she heading for the can while waiting.
And speaking of cans, Uncle Albert is never wrong.. just misunderstood. His initial work has employed millions world wide for a century, just trying to prove him right and wrong. In the end, all we will prove is that we are poised in that galaxy hanging around the cat's neck... and can't get out. But wouldn't you just have loved to be a fly on the wall when he, Johnny Von Neumann and Max Planck would get together in his backyard for Sunday afternoon teas?
Nice break.
Great post:) I think that if they have not disproved the Big E by now, they might never do so:) Even I know the GPS is not always right even with out a loose cable. Often when I check the log, it says the motorhome's top speed was 140MPH.:)
ReplyDeleteHubby said the exact same thing re: Jolie. Anorexic. ...and another word...narcissistic!!
ReplyDeleteLoved your take on Einstein and the results at CERN. My nephew sends me videos by a theoretical physicist from time to time so had listened to why it wasn't true even if it hadn't been a cable loose.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on Jolie. She didn't win any awards this year so I guess the public wasn't giving her the attention she thinks she deserves, I personally think they give her way more than she deserves.
Oh, CERN. How embarrassing. My son, a physics groupie, sent me the news with the header Physicists everywhere can unclench their butt cheeks.
ReplyDeleteShe could use an order of fries with that sandwich.
Roxanne
The Good Luck Duck
Not a Jolie fan either, and didn't watch either event. Liked the Einstein story.
ReplyDeletemay be the best blog you wrote till you started talking about cars and movies :)
ReplyDeleteGuess Canadians IT depts are different from U.S. because first words they are taught here is 'REBOOT'
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