New name for the Large Hadron Collider: ‘Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster’, anyone?
I happily admit that I’m not a big fan of democracy. I’m with Churchill, who said that democracy was the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. Of course, he also said that the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter – and I couldn’t agree more with that latter statement.
Democracy invariably leads to Big Brother house scenarios. Again, all other forms of government are probably worse but I can’t say I respect the so-called will of the people. It’s the will of the people that sells ABBA records, fake sun tans and Obama thongs & Sarah Palin dolls.
If there’s one thing I’m reasonably sure of it’s that you can bet serious money on the likelihood that, whatever a majority of the people thinks or wants, it’s wrong.
Having said all that, the following bit of news is fun:
The Large Hadron Collider may do exactly what it says on the tin but, in an unusual move, scientists have asked members of the public to come up with a catchier name. The Royal Society of Chemistry – perhaps motivated by a little professional jealousy at the media attention given to the physics experiment – has launched a competition to find a new moniker for the atom smashing machine buried beneath Geneva.
Of course, when you invite members of the public to give names to things, quite a large number of them will come up with predictably silly suggestions.
I can already see people rooting for Paris Hilton. (Anything to do with black holes will have people making associations with the Hilton heir, of course.)
Still, I have to admit that, the moment I read the headline of that story, I was already thinking of nifty (and silly) acronyms – which immediately led to my first choice: OOPS! (Our own particle smasher.) Not a very inspired, let alone inspiring name but I’m never really into creating stuff before my first cup of tea of the day (and where I type this, it’s still that early.)
Anyway, if anyone out there is reading this, I’d love to hear their – yes: your! – suggestions.
(Though I have a sneaky suspicion that, as with many things, Douglas Adams was here first, so maybe we shouldn’t even try to improve on his ‘Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster’ – since both that famous cocktail as this new toy could be described as “expensive and bad for the head.”)
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