Close

Caption CERN Contest Week 11

A contest log for Caption CERN Contest

Caption CERN, win a prize!

adam-fabioAdam Fabio 04/16/2015 at 05:2952 Comments

Week 11: 4/15/2015 - 9pm PDT 4/22/2015

We've got something a bit different this week: Two images from CERN's archives! Both of these images feature a lovely PDP-11 from Digital Equipment in Galway, Ireland. They also feature two CERN researchers. The scientist on the left is wearing typical hacker attire - sneakers, jeans, and a comfy shirt. The hacker on the right went for something which we're guessing was a bit more stylish back in 1982, but hasn't quite held up to the test of time.

These scientists must have been doing some heavy duty number crunching to need a PDP-11. Do you know what that strange hand wired rack of equipment is in the center? Do you have any idea where we can find a pair of harem pants like the woman on the left? Write a caption and let us know!

Link to the original left CERN image, and original right CERN image.

Add your humorous caption as a comment to this project log. Make sure you're commenting on this project log, not on the project itself.

As always, if you actually have information about the image or the people in it, let CERN know on the original image discussion page.

Good Luck!

Discussions

The Green Gentleman wrote 04/22/2015 at 17:47 point

Go ahead, jackass.  Make an Easy Bake oven joke.

  Are you sure? yes | no

boucher.clement wrote 04/22/2015 at 02:09 point

A testimony of CERN's technology change rate. Left side, meet Agatha, on day one of her master's degree research project. Right site, meet Agatha, on day one as Chairman of the board, twelve years later.

  Are you sure? yes | no

maker.strate wrote 04/21/2015 at 16:57 point

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

  Are you sure? yes | no

gurdeepc wrote 04/21/2015 at 07:06 point

Introducing our new platform of "scale out" architecture.

  Are you sure? yes | no

gurdeepc wrote 04/21/2015 at 07:05 point

We're proud to introduce "Containers for the 20th century"

  Are you sure? yes | no

Jack Nelson wrote 04/21/2015 at 05:43 point

CERN once again made history with the invention of the 186E: the first digital timed drip-coffee maker, pictured here with the two lead scientists of the project who went on to contribute directly to pivotal breakthroughs in high energy physics, thus proving the timeless adage - "Coffee before science".

  Are you sure? yes | no

Dylan Bleier wrote 04/20/2015 at 21:12 point

Left: before operation of TARDIS prototype v1.3; right: after.

Very early TARDIS prototypes caused excessive regeneration – and, most notably, made the operator sincerely believe that she had been born in the 18th century, causing her to implement the most horrific fashion and hygiene.  When the managers finally caught word, these serious side effects would justify the abrupt demise of the whole project.  The technical team was dismantled and reassigned to various other projects, and all the records, lab notebooks, and operational logs were confiscated and sealed until now (2015).  Happily, the woman pictured (name redacted from all records) eventually lost her anachronistic sense of self and was ultimately able to mostly re-assimilate into modern society.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Jarrett wrote 04/20/2015 at 20:43 point

The 168E was quickly discontinued, as it was found that one of the side effects was turning scientists into grandmas

  Are you sure? yes | no

joe_pumpernickle wrote 04/20/2015 at 15:01 point

A new type of lense developed at CERN. Better 1, or better 2?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Andre Esteves wrote 04/19/2015 at 13:18 point

« Everybody's sweetheart, the PDP-11 was a natural picture partner at CERN Data Center, even for people that clearly showed up IBM mainframe and CDC Cyber proclivities... »

  Are you sure? yes | no

m wrote 04/18/2015 at 17:06 point

Successful demonstration that the PDP-11 can be operated by both geeks AND nerds.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Rollyn01 wrote 04/18/2015 at 13:11 point

"And you to can win this high-speed, state-of-the-art retro-computer... if the PRICE IS RIGHT!!"

  Are you sure? yes | no

instruct, tutor, train... wrote 04/18/2015 at 12:43 point

CERN develops first spatial/temporal stereoscope imager.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Maxhirez wrote 04/17/2015 at 22:42 point

What do you mean there's something wrong with your "Google Cardboard?"  It works for me...

  Are you sure? yes | no

NliteN wrote 04/17/2015 at 18:39 point

DRTFM

  Are you sure? yes | no

Jason Howard wrote 04/17/2015 at 18:36 point

A example of the computational uncertainty principal.  It is clear from these photos that observation changed the outcome.

  Are you sure? yes | no

crawdingle wrote 04/17/2015 at 18:33 point

Our first tests of the Wednesday Addams converter have been a success.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Josh wrote 04/17/2015 at 18:14 point

CERN's Female Automated Makeover unit was short lived after the debut of these internal marketing photos.

  Are you sure? yes | no

el.cannibal wrote 04/17/2015 at 18:01 point

"Linda! We didn't get a PDP-11 to play Zork!"

  Are you sure? yes | no

Kalle wrote 04/17/2015 at 17:47 point

Spoiler alert below.

Can you spot the real difference in the two photos before reading further.
.
.
.
.
.
.

I suspect the second photo was an attempt to cover up a crime by re-staging a photo shoot again at a later time. Perhaps one of the ladies was planning to be in a high security zone and needed the photo shoot to take place later as an alibi.

Little did they realize that the phone on the window sill had been moved in the interim and this could have resulted in their exposure.

PS. The stuff in the middle looks like it might be core memory.

  Are you sure? yes | no