Comicstry
Written at: 19:16 19 Apr, 2005
As a chemistry teacher, Julia is not unfamiliar with the joke about two atoms, one of whom loses an electron, causing the other to ask if he's sure it's lost (I'll leave the hilarious punchline for those of you who bothered to click on the previous Google link). In fact, her students often remind her of said joke.
Frankly, I'm sick of that joke. I decided there needs to be another joke that chemistry teachers can tell their students. So here's the bon mot I came up with:
Three atoms walk into a bar: a German atom (germanium?), a Polish atom (polonium?), and a Swiss atom (oh, I don't know ... Ytterbium?).
The German atom says to the Polish atom, "I want der SudetenElektron! Give me der SudetenElektron!"
To which the Polish atom replies, "No."
But the German atom is adamant: "I need der SudetenElektron to complete my vaterla ... er, valence frontier!" But still the Polish atom refuses.
Realizing that this is going nowhere, both atoms turn to the Swiss atom and ask him what he thinks.
The Swiss atom, which neither desires additional electrons, nor wants to get rid of any of the electrons it already has, shrugs and says, "Don't ask me — I'm neutral!"
A perfect blend of chemistry, history, and hilarity! I'm so gonna start writing for Leno.
Comments on "Comicstry"
1 comment so far.
Not that I want to be a pretentious know-it-all...okay, who am I kidding? It's what I live for. Anyway, I have to point out, as a graduate of your fair alma mater with a history degree, that the joke should include a Czech atom instead of a Polish atom, as the Sudetenland was located in northwest Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic. More specifically, the Sudeten in a mountain range stretching from Germany through the Czech Republic and into Poland, but mostly in the Czech Republic (or, if you will, the Magic Czechdom.)
Also, Czech girls are hot.
Written by: David C. Wells
Written at: 10:42 25 Jul, 2005