Snapping Spaghetti - why it never breaks into two pieces

Feynman fans will know that he was interested in all sorts of everyday questions, including the matter of how uncooked spaghetti breaks into multiple pieces when it is bent.  (Google spaghetti and Feynman and see just how many articles have been written on this topic!).

Why doesn't it break into two pieces, like a hockey stick does when it is overstressed?

Destin at Smarter Every Day has applied his high speed camera to this phenomenon and can show us in slow motion exactly what happens.

Does this explanation satisfy you?

Enjoy!

The Rest Of The Lectures Now Free Online

The portion of the Feynman Lectures that were not previously made available online for free are now on the internet at no charge to the reader.

Go forth and study!

http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/

Links to video of the lectures can be found here!

A different Feynman gains fame

Who knew there was another well-known Feynman?

http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/television/story/hong-kong-actor-francis-ng-does-not-mollycoddle-only-son-20141011

I suppose fans of this Feynman might have no idea of the physicist.

QED to be presented in Philadephia

The Lantern Theater Company will present QED from
November 20  to December 14, 2014.

If you're going to be in the Philadelphia area, why not take in the show?

See Broadway World for details!

New Ondar Recording - with Dirtwire

Greetings, friends of Tuva and fans of Ondar,

On the night before his return to Tuva after riding in the Rose Parade in 2013, Kongar-ol Ondar recorded some tracks impromptu for Dirtwire artists Evan Fraser and David Satori, who are big Ondar / Tuva fans.  

The result can be heard -- free -- here: http://www.dirtwire.net/music/ondar-ep/

There is a free download on their site (for the moment), and if you're so inclined, you can buy the EP for $5 at BandCamp, a great site that supports artists well. (A portion of the proceeds will go to Ondar's legacy in Tuva.)

You can find more of Ondar's music, along with recordings of the godfather of the Tuva adventure, Richard Feynman, here: http://kongar-olondar.bandcamp.com

The remixes of Dirtwire might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like them a lot -- and I know Ondar was always keen to expand the horizons of his artistry and the reach of Tuvan music (witness Genghis Blues and Back TUVA Future), so I'm sure he would have enjoyed this EP.  

What a tragedy that Ondar left us so soon -- he had so much energy, it seems his body couldn't hold it in.

Tuvanly yours,

RL

Feynman Van on Display Until June 26

Teh Feynman van (gloriously restored!) is currently on display at Fermilab, until June 26, in connection with the Edward Tufte exhibit there:

http://www.fnal.gov/pub/tufte/

RichardFeynman.com

The official site of Richard Feynman, RichardFeynman.com, has been launched.

This site contains exclusive historical photos, a bibliography of notable works, and contact info for those interested in licensing opportunities.

Visit today!

Xöömei Symposium and Festival - June 2014

A Xöömei Symposium and Festival that will take place in Kyzyl this summer. The dates are set, June 27-28th.

What other details do you need?

If you're interested, алдар тамдын (Aldar Tamdyn) would have more info.

Soviet-era Maps of Tuva Online

Lots of cool maps of Tuva are available for free online:

Soviet Military maps

http://mapn46.narod.ru/map1   for the maps in square N-46

http://mapm46.narod.ru/map1 for the maps in square M-46    and so on for maps in the scale 1 : 100 000

You will find maps in different scales here

http://mapn46.narod.ru/index.html

for N-46 and so on.

The maps are from the Soviet era but the best to get.

For Tuva you need the squares N-46, N-47, M-45,M-46 and M-47

Or try

http://www.afanas.ru/mapbase/
you will find the same maps but all of one square in one zip file.

Saving the Feynman Van

Great article online about saving the Feynman van - read all about it at http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/may-2014/saving-the-feynman-van

Bady-Dorzhu Ondar with Kongar-ol Ondar - on the Chevy Chase Show, 1993

A video of Bady-Dorzhu Ondar performing on the Chevy Chase show (with Kongar-ol Ondar) has been available on Youtube for many years, but the audio was somehow corrupted.

The VHS tape has been accessed again and a fresh copy uploaded and available for your enjoyment at

http://youtu.be/TnFT8bNBg0U