ONTO THIN ICE (and maybe into thin air) — by Steve Nadis
Earlier today, I had a difference of opinion with an editor for whom I write regularly. I thought it was the kind of difference we could shrug off–not a big deal–but I was wrong. It turned out to be a big deal, and maybe even a deal-breaker. I’ve been served noticed. I’m officially on probation and it could be the end of the line for me, at least so far as this gig is concerned. Unless I shape up.
I was on probation with another magazine almost 20 years. (They’ve been out of business for more than 10 years; at least I’m still going.) I was writing about solar neutrinos and carelessly said that a neutrino could reach the Earth from the sun in about 30 seconds (far faster than the speed of light) when I meant to say 30 minutes. Well, an editor kept reminding me of that mistake for almost a year. But I didn’t blow it like that a second time and gradually worked my way out of the doghouse. Now I’m back in the doghouse trying to find my way out again.
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02:54:21
