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Norbert Weiner – Absent-Minded Professor

Three Absent-Minded Stories about Norbert Weiner

1.  On one occasion, Weiner drove from MIT to a conference at Yale.  When the conference was over, Weiner could not remember where he had parked.  Not only that, he couldn’t remember what kind of car he drove!  So, he patiently waited until everyone had left, and when there was only one car left in the lot, he drove it home!
2.  Apparently, Weiner was once giving a lecture and a student asked a question.  He replied “that’s obvious”, and then stopped and stared into space.  He walked from the classroom and didn’t return for quite awhile.  When he returned, he said “yes – it’s obvious”, and picked up where he left off.
3.  My favorite.  The Weiners had just moved to a nearby neighborhood.  Weiner’s wife – knowing he was liable to forget the location – wrote out directions for him.  That evening, Weiner headed home, but -of course – forgot the instructions!  So he drove to his old neighborhood, and found a young girl sitting outside on some steps.  He asked the girl, “Little girl, can you tell me where the Weiners have moved?”  The reply:  “Yes, Daddy.  Momma said you’d forget, so she sent me here to bring you home.”  🙂

2 thoughts on “Norbert Weiner – Absent-Minded Professor”

  1. There was a similar one on Albert Einstein contained in a sermon I read recently for our church. Seems the professor was on a train, and the conductor came by to punch the passengers’ tickets. Einstein reached in his pocket and couldn’t find his. “That’s okay, Dr. Einstein,” the conductor said, “I recognize you and know you have tickets.” But Einstein continued to search for the tickets. He looked in his briefcase and on the seat. The conductor continued to reassure him that he was believed. Finally, Einstein went down on his hands and knees and was looking under the seats. “Please, Dr. Einstein, believe me when I tell you I am certain you have your tickets.” In exasperation, Einstein replied, “I’m sure you are, but I need them so that I’ll know where I’m going.”

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