Physics of the Impossible

Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
by Michio Kaku (Author)

I think the biggest reason some people reject evolution is a lack of imagination. It's difficult for humans to picture the vast amount of time it takes for organisms to evolve. To speculate on the many mysteries of science takes a vivid imagination. Fortunately, author Michio Kaku has one. He brings a bright-eyed, gee-whiz sense of wonder to his subject, and his writing makes it contagious.

Kaku's passion is the impossible, and in this book he explores different kinds of impossibilities. Class I ideas -- -- force fields, invisibility, phasers and death stars, teleportation, telepathy, psychokinesis, robots, extraterrestrials and UFOs, starships, antimatter and anti-universes -- could come true within a hundred years. Class II impossibilities, such as travel faster than light, time travel and parallel universes, may be possible in the next millennium. Class III ideas, like perpetual motion machines and precognition, may never be possible, given the underlying science.

This is probably Dr. Kaku's best popular work since Hyperspace or Visions. Here is a wide range of scientific possibilities to be explored. Dr. Kaku's gift is to make modern physics comprehensible to those of us without a mathematical background. In this book he uses his gift to explain how the standard model and string field theory (which he is coauthor of) can be applied to contemplation of some of our most wildest scifi dreams. The chapters are short and easily read in short sittings, which lends well to a book that stretches the imagination so dramaticaly.

Dr. Kaku is also careful to remain objective in discussing different theoretical approaches which is an admirable feat given some of the topics ventured into in this book. If you enjoy cutting edge science, it doesn't get more cutting edge then this. Thank you Dr. Kaku for yet another wonderful journey.

The Miracle at Speedy Motors

The Miracle at Speedy Motors: The New Novel in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series
by Alexander Mccall Smith (Author)

In the latest installment of this infinitely enjoyable and best-selling series, Precious Ramotswe is doing what she does best--helping people with their problems and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Mma Ramotswe is busy investigating her latest case: a woman who is looking for her family. The problem is, the woman doesn't know her real name of whether any members of her family are now living. Meanwhile, Phuti Radiphuti has bought Mma Makutsi a glorious new bed. Unfortunately, it will inadvertently cause her several sleepless nights. And life is no less complicated at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, where Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni--Mma Ramotswe's estimable husband--has fallen under the sway of a doctor who has promised a miracle cure for his daughter's medical condition, which Mma Ramotswe finds hard to believe. But Precious Ramotswe deals with these difficulties with her usual grace and good humor, and in the end discovers that the biggest miracles in life are often the small ones.

Unconventional Success

Unconventional Success: A Fundamental Approach to Personal Investment
by David F. Swensen (Author)

"Unconventional success" should be convential. The concepts of it, that is. But, with greedy mutual fund companies soaking millions of dollars out of millions of pockets, it isn't the case, and it won't be the case in the future.

I do agree that the far majority of mutual funds are not good.

This book will be most helpful to folks who understand the basics of mutual funds already. David Swenson has beaten the market consistently over the long-term. This gives him credibility that many others in finance lack. Also applicable is his lack of conflicting interests. This said, I still read everything with extreme caution. The Layman Effect.

Today there are over 12,000 mutual funds. Many cannot even beat the S & P 500. David Swenson has beaten it for twenty years. Swenson notes the mutual fund industry and its false advertising, hidden fees, and skewed statistics on past performance, which is often the primary pitch for present buyers.

Some points Swenson noted was that mutual fund companies are accountable - surprise - to shareholders. It's also a fact that funds with higher costs are highly correlated to poorer performance.

Mutual funds run by managers charge high fees. The Funds sold by stockbrokers charge even more. Add managers buying and selling stocks at a rapid turnover, which runs up the fund's brokerage expenses, and cost to investors. The median cost to investors in 2002 was 2.35 percent. What is forgotten? The upfront commission a broker may charge. These costs significantly eat into investment returns.

Sticking to the ole' fundamentals, the most important and easiest step, is to obtain info. and stats compared to a fund's index.

Swenson's major point of advice is to invest through non-profit companies. He mentions a well-known and consistent one.

These funds that are non-profit companies that focus on index funds consistently beat out other funds. This is obvious for tax reasons also, but Swenson also advises to put deferred (retirement) investments into these funds, allocating a particular percentage to U.S. stock, total international, real estate
and Treasury Bonds.

Important to note is that Swenson has so much experience and knowledge that us "laymen" can just cover the basics of his advice, especially when looking at the ways to hedge, yet also gain. The concept of "rebalancing" may make many laymen nervous.

This book can help people. With so many people in mutuals and 401Ks, people need all the help and education they can get.