Cool Feynman Stuff

[livius drusus]

I know this thread will get at least one post thanks to Dragar, but I suspect we have more than one Feynman fan in our ranks.

The first cool piece of stuff is the new US Feynman stamp (http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2004/sr04_076.htm) (scroll down about halfway):

http://www.freethought-forum.com/images/feynman.jpg
I had no idea he was so handsome. I love the design, too, with the characteristic squiggles Skep made into a smiley for us. :feynman:

The second and even cooler piece of stuff is his daughter Michelle Feynman's book of his letters. It's an extensive collection, and from the few excerpts I heard on NPR this morning (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4632994), a fascinating one. It's got a great title too: Perfectly Reasonable Deviations From The Beaten Track: The Letters Of Richard P. Feynman (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0738206369/qid=1116339249/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-3790989-8420034?v=glance&s=books&n=507846).

So Dragar, feeling a sudden urge to get a letter from the States? :wriggle:

[Dragar]

Yes!

Feynman is my hero. That stamp is so awesome!

Thanks liv, this is great news. :yup:

[beyelzu]

I think that it's cool that the usps is honoring scientists, but I also find it irritating that they are honoring kermit first.

[Godless Wonder]

Feynman is one of my heroes too. Sometimes when I'm working on some programming problem that has me stumped, I think to myself, "What Would Feynman Do?" Not that it really helps, because he'd probably do something like take apart the computer and redesign it in a way that made my problem irrelevant. It does help a hell of a lot more than saying "What Would Jesus Do?" though.

[Dragar]

I'm a big fan of the Feynman Problem Solving Algorithm.

1. Write down the problem.
2. Think very hard.
3. Write down the answer.

[Crumb]

I think that it's cool that the usps is honoring scientists, but I also find it irritating that they are honoring kermit first.
:kermit:

[Shake]

I'm a big fan of the Feynman Problem Solving Algorithm.

1. Write down the problem.
2. Think very hard.
3. Write down the answer.
Yeah, I just wish it was that easy.

[John Carter]

I must admit I don't know enough about Feynman to say one way or the other, but If Dragar's sig is any indication, I doubt I like him much.

[ceptimus]

Feynman is my hero too. I have most of his books.

"You know, the most amazing thing happened to me tonight. I was coming here, on the way to the lecture, and I came in through the parking lot. And you won't believe what happened. I saw a car with the license plate ARW 357. Can you imagine? Of all the millions of license plates in the state, what was the chance that I would see that particular one tonight? Amazing!"

[Dragar]

I must admit I don't know enough about Feynman to say one way or the other, but If Dragar's sig is any indication, I doubt I like him much.

Sorry Carter! I'm gonna change it when my evil exams are over.

Actually, Feynman was originally going to be a mathematician. So the story goes, he wasn't terribly good at it - so he became a physicist. It was something of a semi-serious sore point ever since!

So the story goes. Considering he was quite the mathematician himself, the quote is more a bit of fun than anything.

[ceptimus]

There are 10¹¹ stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national defecit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers.<!-- stupid post editor won't let me make a post that is just a quote, so I added this invisible fudge -->

[Skep]

Feynman had a delightful sense of humor. He was quite the practical joker as well. :D

[Abdul Alhazred]

Feynman more deserves a commemorative stamp than some of the silly types who already have one. :feynman:

[godfry n. glad]

Feynman had a delightful sense of humor. He was quite the practical joker as well. :D

He was the safe-cracker at Alamagordo, wasn't he?

[Skep]

Yup.

[Ensign Steve]

I must admit I don't know enough about Feynman to say one way or the other, but If Dragar's sig is any indication, I doubt I like him much.

Sorry Carter! I'm gonna change it when my evil exams are over.

Actually, Feynman was originally going to be a mathematician. So the story goes, he wasn't terribly good at it - so he became a physicist. It was something of a semi-serious sore point ever since!

So the story goes. Considering he was quite the mathematician himself, the quote is more a bit of fun than anything.

I take it exams are over? Or is the Babylon 5 reference over my head? What was the quote before you changed it, Dragar?

[dannyk]

Hi,

Have you seen the Feynman's online lectures (http://www.feynman.com/). Really cool.



Cheers

Graeme

[John Carter]

I must admit I don't know enough about Feynman to say one way or the other, but If Dragar's sig is any indication, I doubt I like him much.

Sorry Carter! I'm gonna change it when my evil exams are over.

Actually, Feynman was originally going to be a mathematician. So the story goes, he wasn't terribly good at it - so he became a physicist. It was something of a semi-serious sore point ever since!

So the story goes. Considering he was quite the mathematician himself, the quote is more a bit of fun than anything.

I take it exams are over? Or is the Babylon 5 reference over my head? What was the quote before you changed it, Dragar?


It was a quote attributed to Feynman that said something like: "I love only nature, and I hate mathematicians."

[albert cipriani]

I've gotta rain on this parade. I've listened to two of Feynman's books and, while liking his libertarian attitude enough, found his personal life a shambles of shallowness. Endless nights wasted in bars, painting nudes, all those mean-spirited "jokes" played on ignorant people who did not get his humor, and dying bored.

Sorry, all these character flaws leave much to be desired. He's someone I could enjoy having lunch with (which is more than I can say for the 95% of humanity) but someone whom I could not be friends with (which is something I could do with 95% of humanity). So he falls very short of the mark. I'm sure his atheism helps explain some of his ugliness. -- Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[Crumb]

I'm sure his atheism helps explain some of his ugliness.
I guess offensive prejudicial generalizations are fine as long as they are directed at atheists, eh?

[albert cipriani]

I guess offensive prejudicial generalizations are fine as long as they are directed at atheists, eh?

No. Offensive prejudicial generalizations are never fine. And I don't make them.

I find Fynman intellectually beautiful. I carefully defined the ugly aspects of him to be in the category of his character. When seeking to explain this Jekel/Hyde dichotomy to myself, I noticed that his ugliness was associated with his morality and sexuality, the two areas most closely associated with Catholicism. Ergo, his lack of Catholicism, specifically his avowed atheism, must be associated with his ugliness as I know of no Catholic saint who was ugly in those ways.

This is really quite elementary my dear Dr. Crumb. I'm surprised you didn't connect the dots yourself. -- Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[Crumb]

I noticed that his ugliness was associated with his morality and sexuality, the two areas most closely associated with Catholicism. Ergo, his lack of Catholicism, specifically his avowed atheism, must be associated with his ugliness as I know of no Catholic saint who was ugly in those ways.
Because there are no Catholics that have character flaws related too morality and sexuality. :rolleye1: Your jumping to a causal connection between his atheism and his negative character flaws is an offensive prejudicial generalization. I would go as far as to calling it bigotry. I don't want to mess up this fine thread though, so do with this what you will.

[albert cipriani]

Because there are no Catholics that have character flaws related too morality and sexuality. :rolleye1:

Ya know, you really need to try to write in complete sentences. It helps one know what you're trying to say... But then again, if you have nothing intelligible to say, I can understand the functional value of your verbal smoke screen.

Your jumping to a causal connection between his atheism and his negative character flaws is an offensive prejudicial generalization.

And now you're just repeating yourself. Trust me, we all got it the first time. It not so hard to understand a flat-footed assertion for what it is that it needs to be repeated.

I would go as far as to calling it bigotry. I don't want to mess up this fine thread though, so do with this what you will

Calling what I say "bigotry" is like a cousin once removed from calling me a "bigot." I guess that makes you feel better when you've got nothing rational to offer. But it's a rather coarse development in this otherwise "fine thread" you're so in love with. -- Disgusted, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[viscousmemories]

I'm sure his atheism helps explain some of his ugliness.
No doubt his atheism explains some of what you perceive as moral ugliness. Just as I don't doubt his rejection of religious dogma explains some of what I perceive as beauty and elegance in his opinions on the nature of things.

[albert cipriani]

No doubt his atheism explains some of what you perceive as moral ugliness. Just as I don't doubt his rejection of religious dogma explains some of what I perceive as beauty and elegance in his opinions on the nature of things.

Ergo, I’d enjoy having lunch with him and not consider befriending him. Moral ugliness will trump ever other type of beauty in the long run. That’s why, since lunches are short, Feynman could be stomached while imbibing the elegance of his non-moral opinions. – Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[livius drusus]

Endless nights wasted in bars, painting nudes, all those mean-spirited "jokes" played on ignorant people who did not get his humor, and dying bored.


I would agree that most of these are negative behaviors, but what's wrong with painting nudes? Michelangelo did just that in your avatar. Did Feynman do more than just paint them, perhaps? Is that the sexual ugliness you refer to? :confused:

[albert cipriani]

What's wrong with painting nudes? Michelangelo did just that in your avatar. Did Feynman do more than just paint them, perhaps? Is that the sexual ugliness you refer to? :confused:

Yes, Feynman did more than paint them; in my book he was a sexual predator. Why else would a man with all that intellectual potential squander so much time among ignorant drunks. Why would he “cruise” Colorado Blvd. in his van? Why was he an emotionless dweeb when his wife died circa 1942? These behaviors fit the pattern of a cold-blooded sex addict. His father made him half the man he was and his father deserved the Nobel Prize.

As for painting nudes, the Church touched up Michelangelo’s Last Judgment with fig leaves. Of this, I approve. The unabashed flouting of genitalia, the naked assertion of what in times past were pagan fertility symbols has no place in a Catholic Church that celebrates the living body and blood of Christ.

The leading cardinal in Michelangelo’s day thought the same and had his penises covered up and was repaid for his effort by being painted into the Last Judgment in hell with a snake biting off his penis. That’s how Michelangelo successfully trounced his opposition. That’s what’s ugly. Shame on Michelangelo and shame on you for being on Michelangelo’s side. – Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[viscousmemories]

Shame on Michelangelo and shame on you for being on Michelangelo’s side.
Livius asked what's wrong with Michelangelo's painting of nudes, and pointed out that your avatar is an example of just that. It looks like by your own standard you are the one who should be ashamed, not her. You're the one unabashedly flauting the genitalia around here. Why haven't you put a fig leaf on your avatar?

[livius drusus]

Yes, Feynman did more than paint them; in my book he was a sexual predator. Why else would a man with all that intellectual potential squander so much time among ignorant drunks.

I haven't the foggiest. Perhaps he was an intellectual drunk?

Why would he “cruise” Colorado Blvd. in his van?

I'm sure I don't know.

Why was he an emotionless dweeb when his wife died circa 1942?

He could have been in shock, or simply refused to be expressive anywhere where you might be able to see it.

These behaviors fit the pattern of a cold-blooded sex addict.

They fit several other patterns as well -- alcoholism being the salient one. I really don't know anything about the man, however, so I have no idea if he actually behaved as you describe at all and if he did why.

His father made him half the man he was and his father deserved the Nobel Prize.

I don't think there is a Nobel Prize for character building. Do you mean his father worked with him?

As for painting nudes, the Church touched up Michelangelo’s Last Judgment with fig leaves. Of this, I approve. The unabashed flouting of genitalia, the naked assertion of what in times past were pagan fertility symbols has no place in a Catholic Church that celebrates the living body and blood of Christ.

I think there's a thematic place for it, certainly, when painting Adam and Eve. Their nudity has a speaking part in the play, if I recall correctly.

The leading cardinal in Michelangelo’s day thought the same and had his penises covered up and was repaid for his effort by being painted into the Last Judgment in hell with a snake biting off his penis. That’s how Michelangelo successfully trounced his opposition. That’s what’s ugly.

Well at least his genitalia were covered.

Shame on Michelangelo and shame on you for being on Michelangelo’s side.

Why, Albert, are you hitting on me?

[albert cipriani]

Perhaps he was an intellectual drunk?

No. He claimed to be too concerned over what alcohol could do to his Nobel Prize winning brain to get drunk. However, after many years of drinking away his nights in bars, one afternoon, as he walked past a bar, he felt an uncontrollable urge to step in for a drink. He did. And the experience scared him straight. From that moment forward he never drank another drop. But it didn’t stop him from continuing to waste his nights in bars, only difference is he drank water.

“Do you mean his father worked with him?”

His father literally made him a scientist. When Feynman was in the womb, this uniform salesman told his pregnant wife that she was carrying a great scientist. That man created Feynman both physically and intellectually. He was the pure genius. His son, by comparison, was a lackey. – Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[livius drusus]

Perhaps he was an intellectual drunk?

No. He claimed to be too concerned over what alcohol could do to his Nobel Prize winning brain to get drunk. However, after many years of drinking away his nights in bars, one afternoon, as he walked past a bar, he felt an uncontrollable urge to step in for a drink. He did. And the experience scared him straight. From that moment forward he never drank another drop.

I don't understand the chain of events, I'm afraid, Albert. For years he drank all night without getting drunk then one afternoon he took a drink which scared him into abstemiousness? :scratch:

But it didn’t stop him from continuing to waste his nights in bars, only difference is he drank water.

Interesting. I'm not much of a drinker myself and I can't imagine hanging out in a bar without something of a spiritous nature to sip on. Was he there with friends or really good at darts or something?

His father literally made him a scientist. When Feynman was in the womb, this uniform salesman told his pregnant wife that she was carrying a great scientist. That man created Feynman both physically and intellectually. He was the pure genius. His son, by comparison, was a lackey.

How did he create him intellectually? Did he teach him science at an early age or expose him to it in some unusual way?

[albert cipriani]

How did he create him intellectually? Did he teach him science at an early age or expose him to it in some unusual way?

I’m in a black moist cave. A gust of cold air flows over me into the cave. Then a gust of warm air flows over me out of the cave. Where am I? Hint, it’s in our living room.

That’s an example of an age-adjusted problem Feynman’s father posed to his son. The answer was their family dog’s nose. Then it’d be Feynman’s turn to try to stump his Dad. At around 10, Feynman’s epiphany (like a born again Christian) came as a result of one of these riddles.

His dad told him that their car (or maybe one of his toys) was solar powered. Through a gauntlet of questions and answers he eventually got it. And when he did, when he realized that the sun’s energy was responsible for all other forms of energy in this world, he became a scientist. That was the day he became the Nobel Prize winner, the rest is epilog. – Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic

[livius drusus]

That's fascinating. Did Feynman's father write anything about this for posterity or did you learn about this from Feynman's writings?

[albert cipriani]

Did Feynman's father write anything about this for posterity or did you learn about this from Feynman's writings?

Feynman's father wrote of nothing I am aware of. I learned of these anecdotes in, I believe, the Feynman book, "The Pleasure of Finding Things Out."

One of the reasons his upbringing made such an impression on me is that I conscientiously did the same sorts of things in bringing up my stepson. I used to feel even a bit guilty about it, cuz it was so fun for me and a bit of a frustration for him. But he ended up graduating from the same institution Feynman taught at, Cal Tech, and is going after his Phd.

So, in short, I want his future Nobel Prize to go to me!!! :glare: See what a poor sport I am!? -- Cheers, Albert

[Crumb]

That is very interesting stuff. Feynman had a very cool father. :1thumbup:

[livius drusus]

So, in short, I want his future Nobel Prize to go to me!!! :glare: See what a poor sport I am!?

:laugh: You're a veritable stage dad.

Thank you for the info, Albert. I've added The Pleasure of Finding Things Out to my Amazon list.

[Skep]

I've added The Pleasure of Finding Things Out to my Amazon list.
You can have my copy. :yup: PM me.