Where magic columnists go to die

1stAnniversarySmTIn September 2005 Brooks started a new section on the Cafe called The Buffet. I guess you could call it a blog section. Several of the more prolific members were given the opportunity to post essays on any matters they chose. Brooks, so he told us at the time, was just too busy to regularly contribute to the Cafe, so this would be his way to give us his thoughts and share some of the inside poop. We were going to travel together on a new highway……blah blah blah

Excluding the self-aggrandizing introduction, he’s managed to make 4 posts in over 2 years. We see comets more often than that.

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Goodbye Mom – I love you!

Tears

My mother passed away last week and even though it was expected it sure hurts. She was a strong woman – going out on her own terms. She decided to discontinue the transfusions that were keeping her alive and let nature take its course. It was the right decision.

The end came quickly – too quick for me, but a blessing for her. I’m an only child and there’s not a corner of my life she didn’t touch. If I think of magic, it was the frequent trips to the only magic store in town and the purchase of my first real trick – the Prayer Vase. The magic set at Christmas or the money to buy the latest miracle from Douglas Magicland or Top Hat. 

In her later years she sometimes frustrated me and I got mad – real mad at times (I got my temper from her), but it probably wasn’t fair. That’s something I’ll live with. Today, everything reminds me of her. The human mind is a wonderful thing – the ability to recall the good and suppress the rest is marvelous.

See ya later, Mom…….

Take care……… 
 

Im21t 

 

I can understand that!

News

  

Joke-Telling Urinals Make Hollywood Land Sale Tricky

Bloomberg.com: Exclusive.

 

(While writing this, I ran across the following:

Entrepreneur Stuck With 40,000 Unsold Bin Laden Urinal Cakes

I guess things could be worse!)

 

Take care……..

Im21

QuoteSmOn days, like today, I would gladly trade places with a urinal cake. – i/m

The kid finally gets it right

Hero

 

 

Mr. Erland referred to yours truly as venerable in his latest post

I wasn’t sure if I had been insulted, so I checked the dictionary:

Pronunciation: \?ve-n?r(-?)-b?l, ?ven-r?-b?l\

Function: adjective

Date: 15th century
1: deserving to be venerated —used as a title for an Anglican archdeacon or for a Roman Catholic who has been accorded the lowest of three degrees of recognition for sanctity2: made sacred especially by religious or historical association3 a: calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments <a venerable jazz musician>; broadly : conveying an impression of aged goodness and benevolence <encouraged by the venerable doctor’s head-nodding> b: impressive by reason of age <under venerable pines>
synonyms see old

ven·er·a·bil·i·ty  \?ve-n?-r?-?bi-l?-te-, ?ven-r?-\ noun
ven·er·a·ble·ness  \?ve-n?r(-?)-b?l-n?s, ?ven-r?-\ noun
ven·er·a·bly  \-ble-\ adverb
Even though the old theme runs through the definition, I can live with that.
 
He classifies our little corner of magic blogland with The Phantom Notebooks. I consider this an honor. Anyone that writes with the sheer passion he exhibits has my admiration. Don’t miss the current series of The Man Who Raped Erdnase. Agree with him or not (personally I do) it’s not to be ignored if you have any real interest in the pasteboards.

 

Take care……… 
 

Im21 

QuoteSm

I asked the cab driver, “Where can I get some cheap action?”. He took me to my house. Rodney Dangerfield
 

An unusual hero

RageSm

I only wish it were a health insurance company

Taking a Whack Against Comcast – washingtonpost.com.

Fighting boredom

BoredomNo matter what I do, sometimes I get a major dose of the blahs and, honestly, there’s just no good reason for that to happen. There’s plenty of exciting things happening. Things to do – things to write about and things to observe.

Nonetheless here I sit waiting for a rush of passion to hit me so I can write with the edge I try so hard to maintain. Somebody needs to invent Viagra for writers.

I just read a thread on the Cafe, which had several posts by James Clark, MBA and, normally that would light a fire under me, but not today.

Understand, I loathe MBAs and what they stand for. I think they are FAR more dangerous than an army of Osama Bin Ladens and are the cause of many, if not most, of our ills in this country.

FartSm

Normally, these guys give me gas. I’m not talking about simple stomach acid that you cure with a couple of Rolaids. I’m talking about roll down the window – run for cover – hide the children – wallpaper peeling flatulation.

Today? Nothing! I’m just not into it. When overbearing, pompous, self-important losers like that can’t get me going, I’m better off not even trying.

Tomorrow’s another day – I’ll be back!

Take care………
Im21

QuoteSm

When all you’ve got is a hammer – the whole world looks like a nail.

i/m DVD Review – Impervious

ImperviousOK, let’s get the official stuff out of the way. Here’s the poop from the home office:

If you could perform real magic what would it look like? Could you perform miracles completely unprepared using nothing but borrowed objects? Would you be remembered by your audiences, leaving them in a complete state of astonishment?

Impervious is U.K. magician Christopher Williams and Canada’s Jeremy Hanrahan’s take on the classic Coin thru Bottle effect that creates the impression of real magic in the spectators mind.

The DVD features Christopher William’s Ocular Perception an impromptu handling for the Coin Thru Bottle effect, and Jeremy Hanrahan’s Untouchable which is an application of a never before seen principle of the Coin Thru Bottle.

Both effects are amazingly simple and very easy to do, the impromptu handling uses no gimmicks and can be performed whenever there is a coin and bottle available. The spectator can see and hear the coin melt through the plastic and into the bottle. Hanrahan’s version can be set up in seconds without the spectator knowing and the spectator is left with a bottle that is apparently sealed.

Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Too bad it doesn’t look that way. Here’s the best they could do on YouTube:

 

and remember – these are the BEST of the lot. Makes me long for the usual space queens…..

In a recent post I suggested the following rule:

Any trick that leaves the spectator with only 1 solution (and it is usually the right solution) is a bad trick

The guys from Impervious must not agree. This is exactly what I’m talking about. I can’t imagine anybody, anywhere being fooled. Not only is the method transparent, no one seems to be able to do a simple fake take. Both of them look like they’re getting ready to shoot a pumpkin seed!

…….and productions values – my goodness! It doesn’t take long to produce a decent DVD. In the November Genii, Steve Brooks (yes the same one) was slammed for his production and direction of Reed McClintock’s Classic Palm DVD. This DVD makes Brooks look like Cecil B. DeMille. A substantial part of the DVD didn’t even have someone to hold the camera. All of this is compounded by a confusing 2 screen display that only serves to magnify the total lameness of the project.

We were fortunate enough to acquire a candid photo of the post production effort:

SleepingSm

Maybe he just couldn’t get through it. I guess I understand.

Take care………
Im21

QuoteSm

Experience is the best teacher. Unfortunately, she kills all of her students.

 

Drivel & Drool

OldGuy

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I make no apologies here. I think most investment poobahs are as full of shit as a Christmas goose. This, I think, is different and worthwhile.

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Quick thought – This is why

QuickThought-sm

you should have some cold reading skills. The market is there and people are ready to accept you.

How did that clairvoyant know my knees hurt?.

 

Take care…..

Im21t