Was Einstein wrong - or was the cable loose?

The world of science was upended last year when an experiment appeared to show one of Einstein's fundamental theories was wrong - but now the lab behind it says the result could have been caused by a loose cable.

Physicists at the CERN laboratory near Genevaappeared to contradict Albert Einstein last year when they reported that sub-atomic particlescalled neutrinos could travel fractions of a second faster than light.

Einstein had said nothing could ever travel faster than light, and doing so would be like traveling back in time.

But James Gillies, a spokesman for CERN, said on Wednesday the lab's startling result was now in doubt.

Earlier on Wednesday, ScienceInsider, a website run by the respected American Association for the Advancement of Science, reported that the surprising result was down to a loose fibre optic cable linking a Global Positioning System satellite receiver to a computer.

Gillies confirmed that a flaw in the GPS system was now suspected as a possible cause for the surprising reading. Further testing was needed before any definite conclusions could be reached, he added.

The faster-than-light finding was recorded when 15,000 neutrino beams were pumped over three years from CERN to an underground Italian laboratory at Gran Sasso near Rome.


"A possible explanation has been found. But we won't know until we have tested it out with a new beam to Gran Sasso," Gillies told Reuters in Geneva.


Physicists on the experiment, called OPERA, said when they reported it last September that they had checked and rechecked over many months anything that could have produced a misreading before announcing what they had found.

A second test whose results were announced in November appeared to provide further evidence that neutrinos were travelling faster than light. But many experts remained sceptical of a result that would have overturned one of the fundamental principles of modern physics.

Top Three Interview Questions..!

The only three true job interview questions are:
1. Can you do the job?
2. Will you love the job?
3. Can we tolerate working with you?

That’s it. Those three. Think back, every question you’ve ever posed to others or had asked of you in a job interview is a subset of a deeper in-depth follow-up to one of these three key questions. Each question potentially may be asked using different words, but every question, however it is phrased, is just a variation on one of these topics: Strengths, Motivation, and Fit.

Can You Do the Job? – Strengths





Executive Search firm Heidrick & Struggles CEO, Kevin Kelly explained to me that it’s not just about the technical skills, but also about leadership and interpersonal strengths. Technical skills help you climb the ladder. As you get there, managing up, down and across become more important.

You can’t tell by looking at a piece of paper what some of the strengths and weaknesses really are…We ask for specific examples of not only what’s been successful but what they’ve done that hasn’t gone well or a task they they’ve, quite frankly, failed at and how they learned from that experience and what they’d do different in a new scenario.

Not only is it important to look at the technical skill set they have…but also the strengths on what I call the EQ side of the equation in terms of getting along and dealing or interacting with people.


Will You Love the Job? -Motivation

Cornerstone International Group CEO, Bill Guy




…younger employees do not wish to get paid merely for working hard—just the reverse: they will work hard because they enjoy their environment and the challenges associated with their work…. Executiveswho embrace this new management style are attracting and retaining better employees.

Can We Tolerate Working With You? – Fit





Continuing on with our conversation, Heidrick’s Kelly went on to explain the importance of cultural fit:


A lot of it is cultural fit and whether they are going to fit well into the organization… The perception is that when (senior leaders) come into the firm, a totally new environment, they know everything. And they could do little things such as send emails in a voicemail culture that tend to negatively snowball over time. Feedback or onboarding is critical. If you don’t get that feedback, you will get turnover later on.

'Businessman' throws rules to the winds..!

HYDERABAD: Whether 'Businessman' that is being touted as the 'biggest box office hit' in the 81-year-old history of the Telugu film industry' is the subject matter of debate, but surely Mahesh Babu-starrer is breaking rules.
The movie has violated provisions of the Cinematograph Act and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been taken for a ride. This pertains to the title of the movie. The CBFC cleared the movie with the title 'The Businessman' but the filmmakers have dropped 'The' on their own. The publicity of the film is being done without the definite article.

In fact, the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce, too, through a letter on January 1, 2011 had cleared the registration of the film title as 'The Businessman'. The title was also renewed up to April 22, 2012.

However, the definite article is missing from the posters and other publicity material of the movie which was released on January 13. Curiously, a set of publicity posters submitted to the CBFC for certification carry the full title.

According to sources, such violation - publicizing a movie with change in title - is an offence and punishable up to three years of imprisonment and also with a fine. Clearly, R R Movie Makers, the producers of the film, showed no respect for rules and regulations as laid down by the Cinematograph Act.

The movie which is running for the successful fifth week has also courted controversy for other reasons. Another glaring omission was 'A' certification. A film which is given 'A' certification is meant for only adults. This prompted some activists to lodge a complaint with the police.

Taking objection to the lyric 'Bad boys...' in the film, VHP activists also lodged a complaint with the police. But the police failed to take these violations to the notice of CBFC. The length of cuts the film was subjected to by censors shows to what depths film director Puri Jagannadh stooped to in projecting obscenity, including liberal doses of 'f...' word.

Strange as it seemed, film hero Mahesh Babu justifies the existence of the mafia in settling problems. In the film, the hero even goes to the extent of suggesting that those who do not have a purpose in life would do better to commit suicide rather than be a burden on the earth.

Valentine’s Day Savings: 20 Ideas to Spend Less..!

While the origins of Valentine’s Day show it as a day to celebrate love and romance, today, centuries later, it’s a day as much about spending money on your loved ones as it is about showing them your love.

Last year, couples spent $1.7 billion on flowers, $3.4 billion on dining out and $3.5 billion on jewelry, according to a survey released by CouponCabin.com.

Men spent about $160 on their valentine, while women spent nearly $75 on theirs, the survey found.

And this year, total spending will hit $17.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

Despite the statistics, showing your love doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget.

Try these 20 low-cost ideas for turning your Feb. 14 back into a celebration full of love, not an empty bank account.
Take a hike or a walk on the beach, or just get outside to enjoy whatever environment in which you live.
Treat your loved one to breakfast in bed.
Make paper flowers full of heartfelt messages your loved one can keep instead of spending money on real flowers that will wither.
Make a CD of your and your loved one’s favorite love songs.
Turn loose photos and memorabilia into a scrapbook documenting your relationship or a special time you shared together.
Create a coupon book of tasks or special things you’ll do for your loved one throughout year.
Make it a movie night in to avoid the crowds and curl up with popcorn and your favorite classic.
Go on a picnic and make it elegant with candles and a tablecloth.
Make something homemade for your loved one, such as jewelry or a painting or a collage. Even if you don’t think of yourself as crafty, just a homemade card made with your best efforts will be appreciated.
Try something new together like a dance, art or music class.
Check with your neighbors and friends about going in on a group babysitter so the kids can have a fun night together while the adults get a night off.
Make your loved one’s favorite homemade meal instead of dining out at a pricey and likely crowded restaurant.
Create a DVD of your favorite memories together.
Search online daily discount and coupon sites for special deals on restaurants or activities in your area.
Give your loved one a massage and a basket of soaps and lotions in his or her favorite scent.
Celebrate a day, week or even a month later so that you can avoid holiday price hikes and take advantage of restaurant, travel or shopping deals down the road.
Find a free activity like an art show, park or public concert in you’re area to enjoy.
Write a love letter. Paper and pen are cheap, the tradition never gets old and you can’t beat a truly heartfelt gift.
Commit to shortening the “honey do” list that may have been building since last Valentine’s Day.
Turn an old shoebox or other container into a keepsake box and start the collection off for your loved one by including a few special mementos.