The really exciting news

[venator]

Forget Europe collapsing and heading toward fiscal union
Forget the Mail getting dragged into the hacking frenzy

There's a blip in the Large Hadron Collider's data! Can it be the Higgs Boson?

Again...

http://www.newscienti...rss&nsref=online-news

The race of the century, nay the millenium between the LHC and the Tevatron is hotting up!

I can hardly bear the excitement...

[starone]

I wish they (the scientists concerned) would stop trying to blow the world to smithereens (I like that word, I might use it again).

[NOX]

You sound like Dr Evil Starbuck;-)

[starone]

Dr. Evil? Why Nox? I would have thought it was the opposite. Do you want to be blown to smithereens with the rest of the world because they are messing about with something that is only postulated anyway and they do not know what will happen when they manage to isolate it. I like living and would like to go on as long as possible. This particular bunch of scientists seem to be intent on making it as little as they can with as big a bang as they can.

[venator]

Starbuck - you're right - these guys are always tinkering with things they don'y understand.

When the first atom bomb was tested and when the Large Hadron Collider was turned on, in both cases, there was a group of scientists who warned that it could result in a chain reaction which would blow us all to SMITHEREENS, yes smithereens!

[whiskeryron]

starbuckone, especially for you SMITHEREENS,SMITHEREENS,SMITHEREENS.

Ron.♥

[starone]

Thanks ron aand NOX, a lovely word - so descriptive.

[venator]

Starbuckone - I'm very hurt - I used smithereens twice and didn't get a thank you! Perhaps you didn't read my post warning about us getting blown to smithereens?

[Bobbisox]

oooh I love smithereens, can this be our word for today please ;-))))))

[venator]

Yes it can. And just to please Starbuckone and Bobbisox, here's the OED definition for further reading ...

Oxford English Dictionary online
smithereens, n.
Quotations:
Pronunciation: /smɪðəˈriːnz/ Etymology: variant of smithers n., with Irish diminutive ending, and either adopted from, or the source of, modern Irish smidirín....
colloq. and dial.

With pl. concord. Small fragments; atoms. Usually in phrases to knock, split, blow (etc.) to or into, to go to, smithereens . Also fig.1829 G. Griffin Collegians II. xxii. 157 A body would tink it hardly safe to stand here under 'em, in dread dey'd come tumblin' down, may be, an' make smiddereens of him, bless de mark!
1841 S. C. Hall & A. M. Hall Ireland I. 68 The harness that was broke into smithereens.
1841 S. C. Hall & A. M. Hall Ireland III. 303 The sun‥split it into smithereens.
1861 C. F. Bromley Woman's Wanderings 189 A celestial worthy‥whose prowess and exploits‥seem to have beaten Saint George and the dragon quite to smithereens.
1883 W. Black Shandon Bells xxxiii, He'd have knocked the whole town to smithereens.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. 361 Crew and cargo in smithereens.
1927 D. H. Lawrence Mornings in Mexico 16 The sun went bang, with smithereens of birds bursting in all directions.
1933 Sun (Baltimore) 22 Dec. 22/6 A substantial charge of dynamite—enough, in fact, to blast the bridge to smithereens.
1961 J. I. Packer Evangelism & Sovereignty of God ii. 31 Books like Deuteronomy and Isaiah and John's Gospel and Romans smash it [sc. a man-centred outlook] to smithereens.
1976 Time 27 Dec. 36/3 The result is another kind of supernova, a fantastic explosion that blows the star to smithereens, dispersing into space most of the remaining elements that it had manufactured during its lifetime.

[Bobbisox]

marry me venator, I love "smithereens" thank you

[venator]

Think that's worth a thank you from Starbuck one - otherwise I'll never drink your coffee again!

(have you tried Starbucks' VIA instant - the best I've yet come across.)

[venator]

OK Bobbi, it will have to be be kept secret from wife, daughters and good friend ex wife!

[Bobbisox]

and my Bill but I am sure we can arrange this..;-)

[Wrongn3mber]

"venator
Question Author
Starbuck - you're right - these guys are always tinkering with things they don'y understand. " How else would we get to understand things we don't understand without tinkering with it? We've had countless inventions, groundbreaking medicines, deeper understandings about our past, genetics and space travel all because "Those guys" tinkered around. Without they're tinkering we'd still be living in the dark ages living in fear and ignorance! these guys need to be commended for their work and i'm personally looking forward to whatever mysteries they uncover/unravel.

[Frank97]

Me to Wrongn3mber, fascinating!

[venator]

Hi bobbi, now I'm back with a happy computer and not in smithereens, I have to confess that I have also been secretly married to Debbie Harry for many years!

My wife and ex both understand, also agree that she is still 18, pure and innocent... I hope this is OK by you....

Off out shortly when boozing pals get sorted out - have a great weekend and watch the knee!

Oh H*** that puts me in mind of something I must post....