Which of these is not like the others?
‘MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR”
“THE CAINE MUTINY”
“A HOLE IN TEXAS”
‘THE WINDS OF WAR’
Answer: None of the above
OK, it was a trick question worthy of the author of the blog Fight Against Stupidity and Bureaucracy. All of the books named above were written by Herman Wouk, of course. How many of you knew he wrote “A Hole in Texas?”
On July 4, 2012 physicists worldwide celebrated when CERN, headquartered in Geneva, announced they had discovered a new subatomic particle that did indeed look like the Higgs bozan. Named after Peter Higgs, who along with other physicists discovered what was called Higgs field in 1964. Higgs, 93, was in Geneva for the announcement and stated that he never thought his theory would be proven in his lifetime. It was also called the God particle and seems to be thought to be the glue that holds everything together. My understanding is that they smashing atoms deep underground in a circular tunnel deep underground on the Franco-Swiss border. I think I am digging myself into a non-scientific hole so I had better stop digging and get back to my main topic.
All of this talk of super-colliders and physicists reminded me of a book I read a few years ago. I found it while I was randomly searching the shelves and stacks of books at Half-Price Books. While I have read manyl of Herman Wouk’s popular books, I had never even heard of this one, “A Hole in Texas,” and promptly added it to my purchases after checking the blurbs on the back cover to make sure it was by THE Herman Wouk.
Photo from his website
Published in 2004, it is a satirical novel revolving around the real-life Superconducting Supercollider (SSC), a particle accelerator, that was being built in Waxahachie, Texas from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Several states had vied for the project, but Texas politics and bravado won the prize. America had put the first man on the moon; America would prove the existence of the Higgs boson. In 1991 work began in Waxahachie, a small town about forty miles south of Dallas. The town and surrounding area experienced a boom similar to an oil boom with an influx of scientists, engineers and construction workers and jobs for the locals. The tunnel would be constructed 200 feet underground deep in the bedrock.
President Reagan and President George H.W. Bush both had supported it. However, with estimated costs soaring and its scientific value questioned, Congress and President Clinton cancelled the project in 1993 even though $2 billion had already been spent and over fourteen miles of tunnel had been bored. A hole in Texas indeed!
Abandoned Buildings at SSC site -Photo from Wikipedia
Back to the book. Confident with his years of successful writing, Wouk seemed unafraid to have a little fun in his golden years. The plot centers around the realities of the project in Waxahachie, the politics of Washington, scandal and Hollywood. Guy Carpenter, an ordinary scientist, gets caught up in something he never could have imagined. One reviewer describes it this way, “…occasionally corny but also playful, thoughtful and passionate.” Wouk tries to get serious and provide the reader with light scientific facts but in reality he doesn’t “…know what the Sam Hill a boson is.” I recommend it as a look at the lighter side of science, politics and the media.
After the abandonment by the United States of the quest for the Higgs boson, CERN went on to build their own particle accelerator, the Large Hadron collider in Europe. And the rest is history.
It may be twenty years too late, but what do you think? Should the United States have abandoned its hole in Texas?
Related articles:
Physicists Find Particle
Herman Wouk to Publish New Book
Status of site today
THE COASTAL CRONE 
Hi, thanks for the mention, much appreciated.
What an interesting post too.
Re the hole, it annoys, irritates and dumbfounds me that governments can waste $2 billion on a project and abandon it half finished. It isn’t the first time it has happened. I’m sure some use could be found for things like this if the politicians and bureaucrats had brains, but alas they haven’t.
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I thought you might consider it in the stupidity category. Glad you liked it – thanks!
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Without educating myself on the issue, I cannot fairly weigh-in here, but an interestingly posed thought.
Hope you are well, friend.
~ Cara
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I don’t think many of us could weigh-in too fairly either! But it was fun to consider the what-ifs and I learned some things in the process. It it way over my head. I guess that is why I enjoyed the book as it was not too serious. All ok here…hot July. Take care!
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PBS did a documentary report on it, and I watched it with my husband. But, I didn’t understand the physics part, $2 billion was enormous…
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I am sorry I missed it on PBS. Was it recent? The physics is beyond me but $2 billion does seem a waste! Thanks for taking time to comment.
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A couple of years ago… It could a rerun though.
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Most interesting………..I missed this…….how? It is a shame to invest so much money and then abandon projects……….reminds me of the Applewhite Reservoir near San Antonio…….cost more to shut down the project than finish it………OMG wish I had that budget.
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I barely remember seeing it 20 plus years ago – busy with other things then I guess. I missed the Applewhite Reservoir – must check it out. Yes, it is amazing what it cost to shut such projects down! Government waste is appalling! Thanks for the comments.
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Sounds like an interesting and fun read. Not sure what I think about the shut down of this project. Hmmm.
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Yes, it was a fun read. Who knows if the project would have been worth the expense. Maybe it was just a hole to nowhere! Thanks for the comment.
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I live less than 20 miles from the ill-fated Superconducting Super Collider. The project was the talk of the town when it was under construction. It seems very wasteful and typical of our government to spend all that money and effort on a project and then just abandon the whole thing. Supposedly it was bought by private developers, but I would be surprised it there still some kind of top secret government mischief going on out there. 😉
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*wouldn’t be surprised
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No, I would not be surprised either as developers do not care about the locals. Keep us informed! Thank you for your input and comments.
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Hi ! I nominated you for the One lovely blogoer Award. two-award
I think your blog is fabulous. Best wishes!!
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You are too much too kind! Thank you very much for the honor. I will comply with the rules soon!
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I remember being excited about the project when it was announce and begun. I wonder if anything is going on there now. This was a very interesting post, Jonel. I enjoyed it! Thanks for the information.
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Yes, it was exciting at the time. Thanks for the comment!
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Sharing the love http://blessyourhippieheart.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/share-the-love/ Check it out 😉
Lori
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I believe in science. I think they should have been allowed to continue with the ‘hole’, especially after spending 2 billion on the project. These days, people believe in shopping. They have no interest in science 😦
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I agree – too much money was wasted. Thanks for sharing your thought on science and shopping!
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