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100 Years of Einstein

Posted by michael on from the learn-a-thing-or-two dept.

spacerabbits writes "A century after Einstein's miracle year, most people still do not understand exactly what it was he did. The Economist tries to elucidate what AE did in a recent article."

22 of 378 comments (clear)

  1. Their you go, Mr. Einstein. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your desk is all squared away. Yep, all squaaaaaaaaaaaared away.

    1. Re:Their you go, Mr. Einstein. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Mod missed the Far Side reference. Hang your head in shame.

    2. Re:Their you go, Mr. Einstein. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      If you don't get this, it's a reference to a Gary Larson "Far side" strip.

      Eintein is at a chalkboard with e=mc^4 and ^5, ^3 and someone is finishing cleaning his desk, saying "it's all squaaaaaared away"..get it?

  2. What he did in a recent article... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Oh so Einstein is writing articles from the grave? His technology really is sufficiently advanced!

  3. Einstein has one thing to say... by mOoZik · · Score: 4, Funny

    Einstein speaks!

    --
    A blog like any other.
  4. Speaking of people understanding by bradleyland · · Score: 5, Funny

    I asked 7 people in my office what elucidate meant. Only one person knew, some shrugged, and one asked me if that was really a word *sigh*

    1. Re:Speaking of people understanding by nizo · · Score: 4, Funny
      My favorite quote from the article:
      Once one learns the complex mathematical language required to express his ideas, Einstein's theories are the simplest and most obvious of any in physics.

      And ummm, how many semesters of college level mathematics must one pass to really understand what he is saying?

      --
      I Am My Own Worst Enemy
    2. Re:Speaking of people understanding by FarmerDave · · Score: 2, Funny

      elucidate: What Ricky had before he and Lucy were married.

      Fred: Ricky, whatcha doing tonight?
      Ricky: I've got elucidate.

      --

      THINK
    3. Re:Speaking of people understanding by RangerRick98 · · Score: 2, Funny

      ouch. you need better cow-workers ...for better milk!

      --
      "You're older than you've ever been, and now you're even older."
    4. Re:Speaking of people understanding by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why don't you elucidate, and I'll get a cloth and mop it up.

      --

      -WolfWithoutAClause

      "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
    5. Re:Speaking of people understanding by sqlgeek · · Score: 4, Funny
      Hmm, lets see:

      Calc I, II & III

      Differential Equations

      Partial Differential Equations

      Abstract Algebra

      Higher Algebra I (and maybe II, depending on your school)

      Topology I (and maybe II)

      Differential Geometry

      And then I believe you're ready for Tensor Calculus and rudimentary Gauge Theory.

      Now just where is it that they cover this in high school?

      Scott

  5. Old relativity joke by fm6 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Old Man to his grandson: All you talk about is this Einstein and his relativity. What is this "relativity"?

    Grandson (who hasn't a clue, but can't admit it): Well, you see, relative to me, you're old, but relative to a sea turtle, you're young...

    (Long silence.)

    Old Man: So. From this, your Einstein makes a living?

  6. even non-geeks appreciate him by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    For example, this on-air quote:

    "There are no geniuses [among coaches] in the National Football League. A genius is someone like Norman Einstein."

    - ESPN commentator Joe Theismann

  7. Re:Relativity In Words of Four Letters or Less by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    For a bunch of four-letter-words, "fuck" and "shit" are used very sparsely. Please revise. One has certain expectations, as I'm sure you understand.

  8. Biblical proportions by Dorsai65 · · Score: 3, Funny

    And God said "sqrt(e/m)=c" - and there was light.

    --
    --- Asking inconvenient questions for over 30 years...
    1. Re:Biblical proportions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      About your sig... for the same reason, you are not eating your girlfriend....oh wait

  9. Patent Clerk?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    But wait, Einstein started out as a patent clerk. Aren't we supposed to hate him for that?

    I'm so confused......

  10. Some highlights from my annus mirabilis.... by mogrify · · Score: 3, Funny

    ate a pound of pasta in one sitting

    avoided every single episode of Fear Factor

    bowled a 150 game

    watched the entire Godfather trilogy, pausing only to switch discs

    obeyed nearly all traffic laws

    finally cleaned out the laundry room

    played Civ II for 13 hours straight

    washed the car

    --
    perl -e 'foreach(values %SIG){$_="IGNORE";}while(){}'
  11. Re:I know this isn't a book review, but... by midav · · Score: 3, Funny
    AFAIK, any theory requires assumptions. Even in math, where they also called axioms.

    For example, in Standard Model you have to make up 19 different shits in your terminology (particle masses and various physical constants) to make it working. String theory requires only one make up shit parameter to make it working (string tension, IIRC.)

  12. Re:General Theory of Relativity in two lines by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny
    Space tells matter how to move. Matter tells space how to curve.

    And the Heart of Gold tells space to get bent.

    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  13. Right on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Right on brotha!

  14. Re:Ah yes... by tarquin_fim_bim · · Score: 1, Funny

    such as evolution

    No, you're mistaken that was Benjamin Franklin.