Neil C

After watching QI and seeing them talk about the higgs boson I thought I would get a book on the subject and see what it was like.

I did what I usually do and searched through the books on the ereader site and picked the one which seemed interesting to me and not too tedious. I went for “Natures Blueprint – Supersymmetry and the Search for a Unified Theory of Matter and Force” by Dan Hooper and I was pleasantly surprised as it is quite an enjoyable read.
He narrates a tale, rather than going into the mathematics of it, and takes you from the 1900´s through to the present day. Although I am only half way through it I have found the evolution of particle physics damn interesting. As well as whom did what and the roles that were played in taking the science to the next level or discovery.
His descriptions and analogies help to make a difficult subject seem easy to understand (and I do mean seem as quite evidently you cannot hope to understand the finer points without the deep mathematics involved)
Those physicists need to learn a bit about naming things as calling something “strangeness” and defining quarks by colour just seems abnormal…although I am starting to like the colour definition..I must be succumbing to the dark side!
On the whole I can highly recommend the book as an enjoyable read.

Ahh the Shed, I now have two weeks off so it is with great trepidation that I plan to do version 3 of the roof. The roll off roof project. The last removable roof, version 2, turned into a 3 meter Kite during high wind so I have decided that pond liner doth not makeith the roof.
I understand I have to make a frame, remove the roof, put it on wheels and chuck it all back together. It all seems too easy!
Only problem is I have no idea were to get the materials in spain but I will post some pics as I go along.
Add to that the inability I have to make anything, even those blue peter things were impossible for one as incompetent as me!

Well 2 weeks so we shall see what happens.

Neil C

Ahh yes the sky is clear ready for another night of stargazing but unfortunately I am too knackered…if only I could flog my good weather to someone else and then buy it back again when I am less tired. Imagine the possiblilities! Mother in law coming over? no problem buy in some rain and save the clear weather for another night. Unwelcome guest? thunderstorm and force nine gale should do the trick!…aaahhh stinking reality….my imaginary world functions so much better.

Ahh a new forum so I have decided to play with everything. First the blog where I have nothing funny or interesting to write so will aim to cause mass narcolepsy.
Well I say mass but as no-one will actually read this I may have to add fake links to it from the internet from dodgey websites. Perhaps a form of torture the CIA could use.
Anyhoo this afternoon involves the search for the mythical Shed grail of a shed that doesn´t turn into a swimming pool every time it rains. I am hoping sealing it in a water proof paint will work but we shall see.

NC