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From: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: More on the Interesting Seminar
Message-ID: <57@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Mar-85 18:22:39 EST
Article-I.D.: decvax.57
Posted: Fri Mar 15 18:22:39 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Mar-85 00:25:47 EST
References: <10087@browngr.UUCP>
Lines: 27

First, I don't want to suggest that there is anything wrong with
neuro-linguistic programming or a "you can do it" seminar.  If
you attend such a seminar and believe you've learned something,
you probably have.  If the techniques change your life, than
you have my congratulations.

Firewalking and board breaking are two examples of things that
are not impossible, but rather amazing.  As such, they should
be seen not as goals in themselves, but rather as metaphors for
more difficult problems.

The physics of firewalking has been discussed elsewhere -- in
Scientific American a few years back, and in "The Flying Circus
of Physics" by Jearl Walker (I am told -- I haven't read it.)

There are two effects at work: first, coal doesn't conduct
heat well, nor does it contain much heat.  Second, the leidenfrost
effect which you can demonstrate by dropping some water on a
very hot iron frying pan.

It would probably be much more difficult to put your hand into
a working french-fry cooker, even though the oil temperature is
"only" 350 degrees F.  In fact, I'd strongly recommend you don't
try it.

Martin Minow
decvax!minow