How the LHC destroyed my marriage (not really)

Natalie is a science teacher (for at least part of most days). One of the topics that Natalie teaches is the basics of atoms. Yesterday, CERN started the LHC, which some folks believe is going to result in the destruction of the Earth, the Universe, or at least a very significant subset of All of Reality.

Considering the fact that we are all still here, and I am able to write this (and you read it), it would seem that it is safe to assume that just turning the beam on was no where near as large an existential threat as those people predicted. But it is nice to know that someone is monitoring the situation -->link. (Thanks to Paradox for the link).

My position is how often does one get to cover the topics of study for the largest, and most expensive, research experiment ever, that just happens to also be in the 6^th grade curriculum you are going to start teaching any day now? And that there are people that think that this experiment, if successful, will destroy the whole planet, the universe and a large part of all of reality.

Cool, or what?

"Butch, you have no idea of what I actually teach, or how I have to do it."

Natalie's a special education teacher. So it seems that the LHC is not exactly something her group is ever going to actually deal with (why not, it's still fun?).

And it really doesn't help that I'm trying to have this conversation while she is rushing to get her tea made and her body out the door. It's not really my fault. Paradox and XKCD reminded me via posts to their respective sites.

And, let's face it, existential threats, even just movie plot ones, are really kind of interesting when you don't have that much going on.