Unitary gauge considered harmful

A bit dated now, partially superseded by Higgs discovery, new observational data, additional analysis and numerical results described in "The Forgotten Landscape". Still worth reading.

Abstract: I informally review the Higgs mechanism, focusing on fundamental aspects which should be common knowledge but apparently are not, explain why your understanding of gauge symmetry breaking is a decreasing function of your reliance on the unitary gauge, and discuss some implications for cosmology (domains, dark energy, CMB cold spot).