Comments!

Hi, everyone!

As you know, Mrs. Feynman is a little technologically challenged. Everyone else seems to have a hot link that allows them to manage their comments, but for the life of me I can't make the darn thing come up on my dashboard. I asked my resident expert, but Mr. Feynman couldn't figure out how to fix the comment thing, either, so I'm just going to paste in the e-mails I've been getting until it gets really late and I fall asleep.
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how is your caterpillar work doing?


-Jake

Hi, Jake -

Funny you should ask because today was a day that might seem like it was frustrating. We went to a part of the woods where there has been a lot of hurricane damage and many of the trees fell down. This means that there is a lot more sun hitting the forest floor all of the sudden, so lots of plants have a chance to grow that couldn't before because the big trees were shading them. There is this new kind of tree called Chinese Tallow growing in these places - it is not usually here, people brought it from China because it is pretty. It has spread like crazy, though, and there were absolutely no caterpillars on it. We were looking for 2 hours!!!
It would seem frustrating, but it is very important data - do you know why? Because it is an OUTLIER!!!!!! You always have to look into outliers - Rebecca (our scientist) was very interested in this result. Make sure to go into science, Jake. It is interesting and lots of fun! Tell your sisters, too!

Mrs. Feynman

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Hi mrs. Feynman how is it seeing all the kinds of caterpillars

-Hayley

Hi, Hayley

It is really cool - I love seeing all the caterpillars and waiting to see what happens to them. I wish we could see the parasitoids, too, but it turns out they are microscopic.
I've been thinking that we could make a TV soap opera about them. What do you think?

Mrs. Feynman
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hi mrs. feynman it was great to see you at the video conference yesterday! That was crazy how all of the caterpillars fell out of the truck! I would of posted this sooner but it was not working!

Hi, Marissa -

Thanks for sticking with it! I agree, it is so frustrating. Sometimes the technology that is supposed to make things "easier" actually makes things take SO much longer!! But look! Now we have a (kind of) solution

Rock on!

Mrs. Feynman
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hi mrs Feynman what kind of caterpillars have you caught . from lee

Hi, Lee,

great question!! If you watch the Paula Nye videos, you will see one of them! We have caught some really cool looking caterpillars - my favorites are the ones related to inchworms, noctuids (which look like little slugs), and the Tephra Tussock moth caterpillar. I have lots of pictures of them that I hope to post over the weekend. You won't believe they are caterpillars - they look like rock stars!

Say hi to everyone for me!

Mrs. Feynman
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How long ago did people start to realize that the Ivory Billed Woodpecker was not extinct? Who discovered they were still living?

Krystal Phu

Hi, Krystal -

This is a great question - and I actually gave it as a homework challenge today. I'm betting that by our conference tomorrow people will be able to answer your questions. If not, we will figure it out together!

Take care,

Mrs. Feynman
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hey mrs feynman i was in my backyard when i found a really cool looking caterpilllar. i tried picking it up when it rolled up in a ball and its hair got all spiky. it was really weird so i decided to email u 2 see if u guys maybe knew any characteristics that a caterpillar may do to figure out this mystery caterpiller.

Hi, Ryan,

Good for you for doing backyard science!
Spiky hairs often mean that it is stingy, so I think it was a good decision not to pick it up! Can you give me some more info? What color was it? any spots or stripes?
Take a look at the whatsthis caterpillar website and see if you see something that reminds you of your guy - let me know and we'll get on it!

Thanks for writing!

Mrs. F
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http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/51290398
this is the web we found the twig caterpillar that has not been identifeyd yet.


-Robin, Hayley, Susan(by hayley graff)


You guys are SO AWESOME!!!! It does look like our guy - tomorrow I will compare the picture to the real thing and let you know. I didn't see a name with that picture, though, did you?
What great scientists you are!

Mrs. Feynman

PS are you trick or treating together tomorrow?
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That is a big ol' tree. It's awsome that he saw that Ivory Woodpecker or whatever it's called. And I bet that the wild pigs that he hunts... aren't so cute. It's cool, the stuff about the shallow roots. I bet that if a tree had holes in it so that the wind went through it, but still had deep roots it would stand well through a storm. Luv ya! <3

Posted by Emmahappywoot!

Hi, Emma!

I love you, too! You are right - the pig isn't so cute - see video above. You are right about the trees, too. Some of the tupelos have spaces in the trunks for the wind to go through, and some of them even have snakes living in them! Maybe you can help me make the next videos and we can call you Emma Nye!

Miss you SO MUCH!!

Mama
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Poor Brenda! Tell her to get better! You write such long blog entries. It's cool about all the adaptation stuff. Luv ya! <3

Brenda is feeling much better - and thanks you for your concern. I know - my blog entries are so long - but there is so much cool stuff here. That's why Ms. McCarthy suggested I start making videos - what do you think? Do you like them better?

Posted by Emmahappywoot!

Mama