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Advances in the Body of Knowledge

Jim Spence
The processes that have led to advances in the body of knowledge in physics, chemistry, and biology are a great source of fascination. Scientific advances tend to be layered. Without the foundations laid by Issac Newton (universal gravitation), Dmitri Mendeleev (the table of periodic elements), Daniel Bernoulli (hydrodynamics), Michael Faraday (electromagnetic induction), Rudolf Clausius (thermodynamics), Albert Einstein (relativity), Karl Heisenberg (uncertainty principle) or Neils Bohr (quantum mechanics), modern day scientists would not be……modern.
Albert Einstein
Likewise, students of investing can learn plenty from the layers of investment knowledge available. Peter Lynch is one of the most brilliant money managers to ever run a stock portfolio. His book, “One Up on Wall Street” was published more than twenty years ago. There is a chapter entitled “I’ve Got It, I’ve Got It, What Is It?” that provides an overview of company types including: Fast Growers, Slow Growers, Stalwarts, Turnarounds, Asset Plays, and Cyclicals. If there were a Smithsonian museum devoted to investment thought processes, this chapter by Peter Lynch would be a major exhibit.
The first volume of Bernard Baruch’s two volume biography, “My Story” is an investment knowledge jewel. According to Warren Buffett, Ben Graham’s the “Intelligent Investor,” is the best investment book ever written. Phil Fischer’s “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits,” explained qualitative analysis with extraordinary preciseness. Gerald Loeb’s “The Battle for Investment Survival” is considered a classic in our circles. “Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger,” is also a must read. And finally, Warren Buffett’s annual letters to shareholders since 1977, which are available at Berkshire Hathaway’s website for free, are loaded with deep insights. Read rest of column here: News New Mexico

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# 25 NMSU Baseball Continues to Defy Odds

Rocky Ward
Update - NMSU completed a sweep of Louisiana Tech Saturday with a 10-0 win.
The 25th ranked New Mexico State University baseball program does more with less than any program in the nation. Several high school facilities in the state of New Mexico are superior to Presley Askew field, the home of Aggie baseball.
Head coach Rocky Ward and his assistants draw salaries that are dwarfed by those paid by programs all around the country. Assistant Gary Ward (Rocky’s father) is one of the greatest baseball coaches in NCAA history. His resume is tremendous and he is a magnet for college baseball talent. Such is the reputation of both Rocky and Gary Ward for baseball coaching prowess that players from all over the country make inquiries about playing at NMSU. Still, recruiting is a tricky task for the Aggie baseball program. Recruit visits are not part of the winning formula. A player who looks at the resume of NMSU’s baseball principals via internet search engines will be impressed. A player who visits the ramshackle baseball facilities at NMSU will think twice about signing.
NMSU is always a leading offensive team in the country. This year the Aggies are also blessed with a remarkably talented pitching staff. NMSU has a pair of road wins at Arizona, three wins over in-state rival UNM, three wins over the ACC's Wake Forest, and a road win at Texas Tech. Thursday and Friday NMSU notched come from behind WAC wins over Louisiana Tech. If they continue their winning ways they seem likely to make the post season NCAA tournament, again.

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