The "God" Particle

Gentle reader,

A special installment, for the particle physicists out there...

In the excellent movie "Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels" there is a part where a gang of small-time hoodlums are being attacked by someone with an air-rifle.

The dialogue goes something like this:



person1: "Ouch, I've been shot!"
person2: "Ouch, I've been shot!"
person3 (annoyed): "Will everyone please stop getting shot?!"

In the same vein, I would like to ask:

Will everyone please stop calling the Higgs Particle the "God" Particle ?!

(e.g. Leon Lederman in his book )

The Higgs particle is the last-to-be-discovered particle in the menagerie that is described by the "Standard Model" of particle physics.

If the Higgs particle is discovered, will that prove, or disprove the existence of God?

Well no, actually it won't.

Is there anything more magical about the Higgs particle than any one of the dozens of other particles that are predicted by the Standard Model and that have been observed?

Let's see... One difference is that nobody's seen the Higgs yet (i.e. nobody has directly observed it). Also, the Higgs is "responsible for giving other particles their mass". But the W and Z vector bosons act as mediators of the Weak force.

The photon mediates the electromagnetic force. So why not call THEM God particles? The poor things undoubtedly have a terrible inferiority complex by now.

When the Top quark was observed back in 1994, was that seen as evidence for or against God?

Nope.

So, why use that term?

My friends, there is one reason alone: marketing (and with that, book sales).

But the Higgs particle has no more to do with God (or absence of God) than any other particle.

So, how about we just call it "the Higgs particle"? We don't want to give any false impressions (do we?).


Moving on to today's quote:

"Wisdom comes with winters."
Oscar Wilde

Until the next time, dear reader, I remain,

your friend,

Buford Twain

Buford Twain's Portfolio Possibility: Berkshire Hathaway

Gentle reader,

Warren Buffet and his Berkshire Hathaway company are truly diamonds in the rough.

Mr. Buffet is a man who is simultaneously smart, honest, funny and charitable.

As if that weren't enough, he consistently makes boatloads of money for his shareholders.

Warren Buffett started out in the textile business. When that didn't work so well, he moved on to re-insurance and "regular" insurance. For example, GEICO is a very MINOR part of Berkshire's portfolio of wholly owned companies. So is fast food (DQ anyone?), jewelry, private jets (NetJets is one of their latest acquisitions) and many other somwehat boring yet highly profitable businesses such as electronics components distribution (TTI).

Berkshire Hathaway's biggest "problem" is that they simply have SO MUCH MONEY floating around ("float" literally, from their insurance businesses) that they have a hard time finding quality things to invest in. Much of the money is invested in the stock market. Berkshire Hathaway owns around 8% of Coca-Cola and has a large stake in around 15 other large US-based companies including the Washington Post, Wells Fargo and Home Depot.

When Mr. Buffet sees a company that he thinks is priced attractively, poised to grow, and is run by good managers, well -- he buys it. Traditionally, these companies have been US-based. Increasingly, Warren is reaching further afield (e.g. ISCAR is an Israeli company that makes cutting tools).

Personally, I believe that Warren Buffet has shown that it is possible to make money AND not be morally bankrupt. Therefore, even those who lean toward socially responsible investmenting should take a look at Berkshire. Those of you who care solely about monetary matters (shame on you!) will also be intersted. In his annual review, almost the first thing Mr Buffet does is chart the performance of Berkshire Hathaway against the S&P 500. What other corporation does that? And isn't ashamed of the results??

Although A-shares of Berkshire Hathaway are currently running over $100,000 a piece, you can pick up a B share for about 1/30th of that, or around $3600. The only disadvantage of owning B shares is that they do not entitle you to vote as a shareholder. But you CAN attend the annual shareholders meeting in Omaha (May 5th this year)!

My only concern is Mr. Buffet's age (76). But, he is actively working on picking a successor
(or successors, since it will likely take 2 or more people to do what he was doing on his own).
Whether that person or persons will be able to carry on as effectively remains to be seen...
The question to ask about Berkshire is the same question Warren Buffet asks about the companies he is interested in acquiring, or investing in. That question is: "Is the company priced attractively and how quickly can it be expected to grow its profits?"

I leave you to do your own research on Berkshire and the "Oracle of Omaha".

But for now here are a few words of wisdom, taken from the Berkshire Hathaway 2006 Annual Report:

When someone with experience proposes a deal to someone with money, too often the fellow with money ends up with the experience, and the fellow with experience ends up with the money.
-Warren Buffet

If you want to get a reputation as a good businessman,
be sure to get into a good business.
-friend of Warren Buffet to WB

Be fearful when others are greedy,
and be greedy when others are fearful.
-Warren Buffet

ISCAR makes money because it enables its customers to make MORE money.
There is no better recipe for continued success.
-Warren Buffet


And until the next time, gentle reader, I remain,

Your friend,

Buford Twain

PS - This post was included in the Carnival of Personal Finance #91

[ Disclaimer: Not to be taken as financial advice. Think for YOURSELF at all times. ]

(Almost) No Women in Computer Programming

Gentle reader,

Has anyone else out there noticed there are almost no women computer programmers?

From the drab world of corporate bit-crunching to the fast-paced land of game
development, it's guys, guys and more guys. As the Pointer Sisters Weather Girls succinctly put it, "It's Raining Men!".

For those who don't believe it's all that bad - take a look at a list of the contributors to the popular UNIX utility, "curl": http://curl.haxx.se/docs/thanks.html

Notice anything? Yeah, thought so. THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL GUYS.

Lots of Pauls. No Paulas.

Masses of Erics. Nary an Erica.

Lots of Richards. No... what is the female equivalent of Richard, anyway? Whatever it is, there AREN'T ANY.

Any female name in here (and there could be one or two, maybe some foreign ones?) are the EXCEPTION THAT PROVES THE RULE.


Doesn't it seem a bit like an elephant sitting quietly in the corner of the room?

It's there, but nobody is really talking about it.

But I would like to know.

Why is computer programming such a frigging turn-off for women?

Or, as Larry Summers once conjectured, is it simply because women have less aptitude? (gasp!).

One theory is that computer programming is not social enough for most women.

It makes sense.

I don't think there are many other occupations where you are left alone to your
own thoughts as much as in computer programming.

Scientific research comes close, particularly theoretical research. And similarly, I
do keep hearing about how few women scientists there are.

On the other hand, being a writer is another occupation that is similar in
many respects. You are left to your own thoughts for long periods of time. But
in that case, there happen to be many women practitioners.

So, it seems there is something else going on here beyond just the socialization.
Or, perhaps writing a book can be considered a social activity, because in that case
you really *are* communicating with other people (as opposed to a computer).

Anyway, not content to have only one opinion on the matter, I thought I would put
this question out there:

Why aren't there more women in computer programming?

In particular, it would be interesting to hear from women who have spent some time
as programmers.

And with that question, on to today's quote. It's another from one of my favorite
authors and a humanist to boot:

To hell with the advances in computers.
YOU are supposed to advance and become, not the computers.
Find out what’s inside you. And don’t kill anybody.
-Kurt Vonnegut

Until the next time, I remain,

your friend,

Buford Twain

Step by Step Religion Detox Program

Gentle reader,

Would you like to try to rid yourself of religion?

If so, here is a simple step by step program that you can use today.








1) Read Carl Sagan, on belief in the absence of proof, "the dragon in my garage" argument - http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/Dragon.htm

2) Read "Why Does God Hate Amputees?" - http://www.whydoesgodhateamputees.com/god5.htm

3) Read "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris

4) Make like Winnie the Pooh and think...think...think

5) If still in doubt, take a walk, then go back to step 4

6) If *still* in doubt, read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins (available from amazon.com)

7) If cured, CONGRATULATIONS! Please leave a post and tell me all about it.

8) If not, please leave a post and tell me why not.

Today's quote?

There are 100,000,000,000 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers.
-Richard Feynman

Your friend,

Buford Twain

PS - If you have suggestions for additional steps (e.g. something that worked for you) please leave a post.

No Car Payments Feels Pretty Good

Gentle reader,

Allow me a moment of joy. I have NO car payments! As the younger, online generation seems to say:

"W00T!!!"

I can positively hear the "ka-ching" of my personal cash register when I DON'T send in a check for around $500 car payment to (insert car company here) each month.

Instead, that money goes to me, myself and I, and dammit, it feels good.

You can have that feeling too. Allow me to explain how I achieved what so many people do not (and never) achieve in their lifetime. Here is the elusive secret to how I managed to not have a car payment....ready...(drum roll)...

I kept my car after the payments ran out.

Yes! I did not immediately run out and buy another "shiny metal box on wheels". Pretty simple.

My oldest vehicle (a minivan) has 167,000 miles on it.

"But how " (I hear you ask) "is that sort of a vehicle reliable enough to get you back and forth to work every day?"

Actually this vehicle IS reliable. It has been well maintained and has only left me stranded ONE time in over 10 years.

But also, I am in a van pool with some other folks, so I don't need to drive my own van to/from work at all, ever!

Van pools are available where I work (Chicago and suburbs) and they probably are where you live too if you live in or near a major city. Try checking on the internet. So, my beloved minivan only needs to do short trips around town over the weekend. This frees me from having to buy another vehicle for a very, very long time.

By the way, cars can (and usually do) last a very long time these days. And even if you need to replace the engine (which I haven't had to, touch wood), that would cost me about $1500 (I asked my mechanic). Which is about 3 months of car/van payments. So even that wouldn't be so bad, eh? Moreover, I have an excellent and trustworthy mechanic who knows when things need to be done and when they don't. A good mechanic is worth his (most of them are men) weight in gold.

Moving on to today's quote, which presents an alternative point of view to the one above:

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."
Oscar Wilde

And my last thought:

"Save money, but don't make yourself miserable.
Enjoy your life as if you only get one. Perhaps you do."
-Buford Twain

Signing off for now, until the next time. Rest assured that I remain, as always,

Your friend on the internets,

-Buford Twain

PS - this article was submitted to the online "Carnival of Finance" at http://mapgirl.net/mfc/