10-9-8...

Is it just a coincidence that today's date is forecast to be the end of the world...10.9.8....and counting? Somewhere deep within the Earth, on the French/Swiss border, lies a monster waiting to unleash a black hole to swallow us all up whole. The physicists tell us that they have constructed a giant atom smasher in a 17 mile circumference underground tunnel near Geneva, at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, known by its French acronym, CERN. Apparently, the project will generate spin off benefits for leading edge technology. Trouble is, I don't like the word 'spin offs'. For doomsday merchants like me, those spinning off will be us! Of course, the scientists say there is absolutely no danger to the world and that their experiments will be a boost for education. It may well, as they say, 'mark a seismic shift in the epicentre of world research in particle physics'. But, seismic shifts make me think of earthquakes, doom and disaster for the whole world. Why can't they leave things alone? Isn't life hazardous enough without creating more things for us to worry about? There have been quite a few sandwich boards along the streets of the world proclaiming "Will the World End on Wednesday?" Let's hope they're not right. We'll hardly be around to tell everyone I told you so! CERN it may be, but I suggest we add the word CON at the front....that would make a lot more sense.