[985] in Humor
Printer errors and the Particle Data Group
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jeff Bigler)
Thu Jul 27 15:38:35 1995
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 15:31:45 -0400
From: Jeff Bigler <jcb@MIT.EDU>
To: humor@MIT.EDU
Reply-To: jcb@MIT.EDU
----- forwarded message -----
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 13:48:08 -0400
From: Calvin Clark <calvin@charlesview.com>
To: apo-printshop@MIT.EDU
Cc: iris@almaden.ibm.com, lori@pmd.org, mosquito@leland.stanford.edu
Subject: Printer errors and the Particle Data Group
I just got my new free copy of the Particle Physics Booklet, published
by the Particle Data Group at Lawrence Berkeley Labs. Since it is
only published once every two years, the latest issue is from July
1994 and the booklet came with a separate pink sheet of errata. Most
of the errata are corrections of typos or updates to values listed in
the booklet. However, one erratum is:
* The "centimeters" on the ruler on p. 227 of the Booklet are 0.97 cm
long, because:
a) The booklets were returned from the printer at 0.25 times the speed
of light;
b) A theorist is in charge of the Particle Data Group;
c) The PDG feels it has the right to redefine anything it wants;
d) There is a general decline of standards;
e) There was an international conspiracy;
f) It was a congressionally-mandated cost-saving measure;
g) PDG gives you more cm/inch than anyone else.
Sure enough, on page 227 there is a paper "centimeter" ruler on the
edge of the page which is about 0.97 off of scale.
-Calvin
----- end of forwarded message -----
Jeff Bigler
