Speed limit at C a misconception?

http://www.livescience.com/technology/050819_fastlight.html

"Scientists Mess with the Speed of Light"

Ok, so I'm reading this article and they're talking about
making light go faster than the speed of light in optical
fibers. I'm thinking they've got to be talking about phase
velocity, which they eventually do. But there's this one
paragraph that has me puzzled,

"Light in a vacuum travels at approximately 186,000 miles
per second, but a popular misconception is that, according
to Einstein?s special theory of relativity, _nothing_ in the
universe can travel faster than this speed."

A "popular misconception"? uhhhh....when did this change?

I can accept phase velocity going faster than light, but phase
velocity isn't a "thing", as in a tangible physical entity. The
cosmic speed limit applies to physical particles. Phase velocity
isn't physical, is it?

Educate me please! :)

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism

Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html

Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?
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