Editing 1206: Einstein
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | Nobel laureate and ''Time'' Person of the Century {{w|Albert Einstein}} is often considered one of the smartest and most influential men in world history. His theories revolutionized our understanding of the Universe and inspired generations of scientists. Here, though, [[Randall]] plays with the notion that everything Einstein said constitutes words to live by: A casual observation on the quality of sandwiches is treated as a major hypothesis, and any contradictory evidence "disproves" it. | |
− | + | The title text is a reference to the fact that when Einstein published his first major papers he was working at the Swiss Patent Office, a fact that was also alluded to in [[1067: Pressures]]. According to [https://www.ige.ch/en/about-us/einstein/frequently-asked-questions.html the Einstein FAQ] on the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property's website, patent #39561 is one of several patents that "we can assume ... were personally examined by Einstein". A PDF of the patent, which was indeed a gravel sorter, can be found [https://www.ige.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Institut/d/i109401.pdf here] (in German). | |
− | + | This is not the first time that xkcd has addressed people taking scientists too seriously. In [[947: Investing]], Randall comments on how people put too much credence in a joke Einstein made in passing, and in [[799|comic 799]] we see {{w|Stephen Hawking}} in a similar predicament, every word he says taken as a major declaration. | |
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− | In [[947: Investing]], Randall comments on how people put too much credence in a joke Einstein made in passing, and in [[799 | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball and friend eating at a table.] | + | :[Cueball and a friend eating at a table.] |
:Cueball: I'm currently conducting an experiment which may prove Einstein wrong! | :Cueball: I'm currently conducting an experiment which may prove Einstein wrong! | ||
:Friend: Ooh, exciting! | :Friend: Ooh, exciting! | ||
− | :1947 | + | :1947 |
:[Einstein and Cueball walking.] | :[Einstein and Cueball walking.] | ||
:Einstein: It's ''impossible'' to find a good sandwich in this town. | :Einstein: It's ''impossible'' to find a good sandwich in this town. | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | ||
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