3 Feet World
Karola Mura
Are you ready for an eye-opening journey around the world this school year? Did you know that the sands in the Sahara help fertilize the Amazon rainforest in Brazil? Do you want to read one of the greatest survival stories of all time? In this course, students will travel the world to learn about its unique geography, study its incredible ecology, and read stories set on every continent. A beautiful world map provides a blank canvas for students to label every country in the world, even filling the role of cartographer and adding borders for newer nations like South Sudan and Kosovo.
Geography pairs naturally with ecology, and studying the ecosystems and biomes of the seven continents provides ample opportunities for hands-on learning. Nearly 50 activities that use easy-to-find household items help students understand the cycles of nature, ecosystem structure, soil health, effects of pollution, and much more.
Finally, 13 literature selections will transport students to Malawi, Sudan, Pakistan and India, Vietnam, Iraq, the Russian steppe, Spain, the United States, Panama, Brazil, Australia, and even Antarctica. These books relate to the experiences of people who lived in the places your student will be labeling on the map, making geography more than simply the study of place, but showing how people live in these environments through moving and heartwarming stories. We've even included a Traveler's Table with recipes that will allow your student to experience place through taste and smell.
The world's shortest woman, Jyoti Amge, and second tallest man, Brahim Takioullah, (smallest feet and largest feet respectively) pose for a photo that will contribute towards a new Guinness World Records title for the Largest Online Photo Album of Feet. The mass participation challenge, titled 'Amazing Feet' has just been launched and is open to everyone. People can take part in the record attempt by visiting officiallyamazing.tv/feet
Using just his feet, Rob Williams of Austin, Texas, USA, made a Bologna, cheese and lettuce sandwich, complete with olives on cocktail sticks, in 1 min 57 sec at the set of Guinness World Records: Primetime on 10 November 2000.
The most Toe Wrestling World Championships won in the Women's category is four by Karen Davies (UK) in 1999-2002. The Championships are held annually on the first Saturday in June at Ye Olde Royal Oak, Wetton, England. Contestants must push an opponent's foot to the other side of a specially constructed ring called a 'Toerack' using only their toes. Mixed matches are not allowed because of the danger of 'myxomatoesis'.
The most Toe Wrestling World Championships won in the Men's category is six by Alan Nash (UK) in 1994, 1996-97, 2000, 2002 and 2009. Nash, nicknamed 'Nasty' also has the honour of being knighted by His Majesty King Leo 1st of Redonda in the West Indies.
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who faced criticism from Indian fans for resting his feet on the World Cup trophy, on Friday insisted that the gesture was not disrespectful and he won't mind repeating the controversial act.
Soon after Australia defeated hosts India by six wickets in the final to claim their record-extending sixth ODI World Cup, skipper Pat Cummins shared a picture of Marsh with his feet on the trophy on his Instagram account, creating a huge furore on social media.
"It was pretty outrageous for the guys that had to stay behind. It's a fine line because we've got to respect the fact we're playing for Australia and it's a series against India which is always really big."
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3x3 with Feet is a former World Cube Association event where competitors are required to solve the 3x3 puzzle with only their feet. This blog will look at the history of this event as well as its removal from the WCA only a few years ago.
3x3 with feet was first added to the WCA along with other familiar events such as the NxN puzzles. Unlike the typical average of 5 format where the best and worst solve are removed and the mean of the middle three solves are taken, 3x3 with feet used the direct mean of 3 format. Here, the competitor would get 3 solves and their mean would be taken. The format was changed from mean of 3 to the standard average of 5 in 2017.
Kare Krig was the first person to hold both the single and mean world records for the event, setting a single time of 5:44.32 in 2004. After that, like in any other event, the times began to go down significantly. Perhaps the most famous feet solver is Jakub Kipa. He was the runner up for the event at the World Championship 2015 and the 3x3 with feet World Champion two years later in 2017. He held the single world record of 20.57 seconds for a duration of three years from 2015 till it was finally broken by Daniel Rose-Levine in 2018.
Daniel Rose-Levine broke multiple average records in 2018 and 2019, bringing down the average to 20.58 seconds. Lim Hung is the current average world record holder with a 19.90 seconds ao5 and also was the 2019 3x3 with feet World Champion. The current single record holder is Mohammed Aiman Koli, who solved a 3x3 with his feet in 15.56 seconds in 2019. Both these competitors will be the only ones holding these records from now onwards, since 3x3 with feet was removed as an event after these records were broken.
The event has been relatively controversial, with some competitors finding it unsanitary and unhygienic. Arguments for its removal say that it is uncomfortable for scramblers and it takes up resources and significant floor space when the event is held at a particular competition. It would also not be an ideal event to display to the public by media outlets compared to regular speedsolving or other events like one-handed and blindfolded. Since many top-level cubers also do not participate in the event, it was argued that its removal would give a better idea of their Sum of Ranks. However, doing so would invalidate all the records broken and the effort put in by serious competitors so far.
Intense discussion about these arguments had been ongoing for some time on online forums and in competitions. In November 2017, the WCA announced that they were changing the format from mean of 3 to average of 5. This was a test run to gauge the popularity of the event after making its format more legitimate and standard after one year.
The criteria was that more than 30% of competitions should have held Feet and more than 4.5% of the competitors should have participated in the event. In December 2018, the WCA found that this criteria was not met and in December 2019, it was formally declared that 3x3 with Feet would be removed from the WCA as an event from 2020. Hence, from 2020, the WCA offers 17 instead of 18 events and the world records broken right before its removal will stay forever.
Pranav Prabhu is the current 3x3 Fewest Moves (Single) National record holder from Chennai. He started cubing when he was 14 and has 5 years of cubing experience. Besides cubing, Pranav enjoys reading books, writing, and playing the piano. He has participated in 36 competitions and won 30 podiums including 8 gold medals and 1 National record.
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Happy Cubing!
As the sun set, we pulled into our home for the night, the Dragon Hotel in the former fortress town of Kagbeni (elevation: 9,199 feet). This was the entrance to the restricted area of Upper Mustang. Blue sheep, a major prey of snow leopards, grazed high on hills above us. Fields of buckwheat rustled in the wind. I already felt breathless from the altitude. Our group unloaded, stretched (I caught a few private practice swings and wrist-hinge checks among our group) and then headed to the dining hall for a Nepali meal of rice, meat and vegetables. I dined beside Deepak Magar, a 54-year-old golf pro at Royal Nepal, one of five professionals accompanying our group. Magar turned pro when he was 25, playing on and off the Professional Golf Tour of India. He had 10 wins, most of them in Nepal. Now he gives swing lessons. Many of his dedicated students were on this trip.
Inside the local community hall at our tournament welcome dinner, golfers passed around Tibetan biscuits called khapse. On the wood stage, beneath a string of prayer flags, 10 traditionally dressed women met my gaze. They were members of the Mothers Group local association hosting our dinner. The women sipped butter tea and smiled at us. By the door, 10 locals peered in excitedly. The show had arrived in town.
After a full year of feedback and review, the WRC and the WCA Board have come to the conclusion that 3x3x3 with Feet should be removed from the list of official WCA events as previously planned, on January 1, 2020. Although it is clear that some people will be significantly impacted, there has not been a significant change in participation in the event throughout 2019. 3x3x3 with Feet remains the least popular speedsolving event by a significant margin, and concerns from organizers about hygiene and logistics remain.
We know that this outcome is disappointing for many community members, and understand the frustration that removing an event from the official list will have a significant impact on its popularity. However, any competition is still welcome to hold it as an unofficial event, and organizers may allow competitors with medical considerations to compete using feet during 3x3x3 Speed Solving. (See Guideline 5b+ and Regulation 2s.)
We would also like to take this time to apologize for the flaws in the process used for this decision. We have learned greatly from the community's feedback, and will prioritize a clear and transparent process for event changes in the future.
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