Jim Coles writes an intelligent and insightful blog, unlike the spittle you’re currently reading. I found the following article on e-book pricing particularly well done.
Unexpected Wonders: Magic E-Book Pricing.
Take care……..
September 27, 2007
Magic doesn’t need this kind of publicity (or magician)
A professional magician was charged yesterday with multiple counts of sexual assault on allegations he molested a Collingswood girl numerous times over 10 years, authorities said.
Local magician charged in sex assaults on girl | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/27/2007.
Take care……..
Things are more like they are now than they ever were before. – Dwight D. Eisenhower
September 26, 2007
A little love for Magic Chicago
These guys have something good going here:
Time Out Chicago: Tricks of the trade.
Take care……..
Only fools are positive. – Moe Howard
September 26, 2007
I wonder if he used a thumb tip
September 25, 2007
Requiem For A Real American
This is hard to write – Damn hard. A business across the street from me had to close its doors – fucking China again . I know global competition and all the other horse shit spouted by the MBAs and CPAs that are running, and ruining, this country.
They had the doors open yesterday so the vultures could come and preview the body before it was sold off today. I was walking the dog and inside was a gigantic American flag – one he had put up after 9/11. He’s a veteran, also.
Unfortunately the poor soul has no real idea what happened. All he knows that honesty and hard work have been rewarded with bankruptcy – still he flies the flag. Damn!
This story is written thousands of times every week. Good people destroyed by people like Dick Fucking Cheney and his corporate buddies. People that kill more before morning coffee than Bin Laden can in his wettest dreams. All the while that moron we have for a president is running around playing guns to prove he has a bigger weenie than his old man.
What a mess – what a terrible mess.
I had other priorities in the ’60s than military service. – Dick Cheney
September 25, 2007
Interesting Article On Magicians & Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property Among Magicians
Finance Blog – Market Movers by Felix Salmon: Intellectual Property Among Magicians – Portfolio.com.
September 25, 2007
Al Capone’s Vault – The Magic Version
For those either too old or too young to remember, Al Capone’s Vault was a TV Special aired in 1986, hosted by Geraldo Rivera. Here’s the promo:
The two hour special was greatly hyped as potentially revealing great riches or bodies on live television. This included the presence of a medical examiner should bodies be found and agents from the Internal Revenue Service to collect any of Capone’s money that may be discovered. When the vault was finally opened the only things found inside were dirt and several empty bottles including one Geraldo claimed was for moonshine bathtub gin. Despite the ending the special became the most-watched syndicated television special with an estimated audience of 30,000,000. – Wikipedia
Does this sound more than a little like the hype surrounding so many magic tricks and the pre-release comments on the Cafe approach that number it seems. This was brought to mind while reading the massive thread on a new product called Linked. At this point I’m not sure whether Linked isn’t just an elaborate scam – it really smells, but that’s not my point here. I began thinking about over-hyped products that really stunk.
I’m not talking about just bad, I’m talking about wallpaper peeling – gas mask required stinkers. Remember this:
For centuries rumours have blossomed: tales of gurus, shamans, mystics and the secret powers of the mysterious “Third Eye” have fascinated the populous. But, can the myth’s reality actually be demonstrated? Now, Ben Harris brings this fantastic mystery to life—creating a unique, freaky and visually-arresting effect—one slick enough for even the most savvy of today’s street-wise performers.
HOLE IN THE HEAD has been one of the art’s most closely guarded secrets of recent times—it has fooled, amused and delighted some of magic’s biggest names. Using no mirrors or reflective devices and no stooges, HOLE IN THE HEAD is a radical and visual NEW PLOT—an exciting piece of street-theatre that simply MUST be experienced live! What’s more, it’s 100% practical! This is a one person—do anywhere—illusion.
In effect, the performer gathers a crowd around himself in a brightly lit, sunny spot. Discussing the amazing legend, he offers to open his own “Third Eye†allowing the sun to shine right through his head. As this would be too dangerous to observe directly, he suggests that everyone focus attention on his shadow. After some concerted effort, a small blob of light appears in the centre of his shadow head. Amazingly, this blob of light then grows larger at his command. To prove that it is no mere optical illusion and that the light does indeed pass through his head, a spectator is asked to wave her hand behind the performer’s cranium. Incredibly, when she does this, the actions are reciprocated in the shadow head—her fingers are clearly visible in the shadow hole! THE CONCLUSION IS INESCAPABLE—THE SUN IS INDEED SHINING STRAIGHT THROUGH A HOLE IN THE PERFORMER’S HEAD! The process is now reversed and the hole slowly closed. YOU CAN PERFORM THIS STUNNER VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE THE SUN SHINES. Complete with bonus handlings and clever ideas by Paul Harris and Michael Weber. YOU CAN EVEN OPEN A SPECTATOR’S OWN “THIRD EYEâ€!
“Bravo! Mind expanding magic, in every sense of the word!â€
- MICHAEL AMMAR“The rumors are true: Ben Harris does have a hole in his head. And it’s surrounded by a brain filled with clever ideas, of which this one is delight.”
- Max Maven“Truly a wonderful thing… a totally original breakthrough plot.â€
- PAUL HARRIS“…situational, astonishing and a devilishly clever piece of magic —the best effect I’ve seen in a long time!â€
- JOSHUA JAY
“Something that’s never been done before using a method that’s never been used before —very cool!â€
- RICHARD KAUFMAN“Fooled me… you could probably start a religion with this!”
- GARY KOSNITZKY
“Just remarkable, I love it!â€
- RICHARD OSTERLIND
Open your “Third Eye†and let the sun shine through!
Certainly something that ranks right up there with the classic Silver Shifter.
Nominations are now open for the all time winner. Either comment here or I can be reached at intenselymagic@gmail.com
Take care………
i/m in Hell
Anyway, one of the topics started daily (can’t anybody use the search function?) is suppose you were on a desert island….
According to your perspective, I’m either on a desert island or taking a sojourn to hell. Visiting a mother in her nineties is a tortuous duty. I’ll spare you the details. I pray that I have the money left to buy a bullet to spare my boys these excruciatingly horrible obligations – if you are an only child, you have my sympathies.
Anyway, I usually grab a couple of books when I make these trips – something to divert my attention. I’m increasingly convinced that the recent books of John Bannon (I don’t own the earlier ones) represent the best of the modern writers:
If you have the books, but don’t have the DVDs, I strongly recommend you add them to your collection. Be warned, John is a $450 an hour lawyer and not a performer. The tricks, even the most difficult, are competently performed, however, and you will traverse the great divide from the printed word to performance much quicker.
One disappointment, though, either Yedid has no eye for women or somebody’s wife chose them for the video. We’ll be charitable and say uninspiring.
Take care………