Arresting Anecdote

I was recently rereading one of my favorite books, "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"--if you haven't read it, go out and buy it now. One story in particular struck me. (I don't have the book in front of me so I'll relate it from memory.)

When Feynman was a young physics professor at Cornell, he was discussing with another professor whether a student was good enough to matriculate there. The other prof wanted to show Feynman a photo of the student. Feynman was shocked--what difference could that possibly make? The other professor was pleased. That was what he wanted to hear.

How times have changed.