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Switter’s World's avatar

What misconception did I always think was true, but wasn't?

The Coriolis effect, which I learned about in my high school physics class. I decided to test it the first time I crossed the equator. I was flying in a KLM 747, the Sir Frank Whittle, on a flight from Amsterdam to Johannesburg. Because it was a night flight. I forced myself to stay awake and watch the map with the little airplane on the cabin tv screen. When we were over the Sahara desert and still well north of the equator, I went to the bathroom, filled the sink full of water, pulled the plug and watched which way the water circled as it drained from the basin.

About an hour after the little airplane crossed the equator, I went back to the restroom, filled the basin with water again, and let it drain out. it swirled in the same direction as it did the first time.

It was at that moment I realized that the earth is flat, the moon is only 200 miles above the earth, and the lunar landings were all filmed at a secret studio in Area 51. Everything became clear to me at that moment.

What else did they lie to us about?

Oh no, I'm picking up Radio Moscow in my teeth fillings. I better go back to bed. It's encased in a Faraday shield to keep out all the brainwaves from the contrails. You will need to carry on without me.

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Jill Ebstein's avatar

Another wow message. I always leave your Friday newsletter with an expanded list of things to check out. News alert: I'm not keeping up. Debunking the apple and Isaac newton was real news to me, but in hindsight I should have seen it for what it was. Regarding Hemmingway, I never paid much attention to his being credited with the short, punchy, famous sentence, but having read him, I would have said it didn't sound like him.

Thank you. I'm going to check out some of what you suggested, though I wish it were more. Keep 'em coming

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