I see L & L is announcing 2 new video sets:

Richard Osterlind’s Mind Mysteries Too

Mind Mysteries Too continues on from the high-water mark set by the first Mind Mysteries series, one of the best-selling video sets in magic history. Transcending the boundaries of traditional mentalism and magic, Mind Mysteries Too completes the circle of Richard Osterlind’s life work to date. You’ll see Richard captivating and astounding a studio audience with his original material and then you’ll go behind the scenes once again, along with host Jim Sisti, as he explains every nuance of the inner workings of each effect. What’s more, each set of performances is arranged as a mini-show, demonstrating Richard Osterlind’s classical approach to routining, an invaluable lesson in itself!

If you enjoyed Mind Mysteries, as thousands did, you’ll love these Mind Mysteries Too!

L & L publishing proudly presents new DVDs Featuring Garrett Thomas

Over the last few years, Garrett Thomas has quickly become recognized as a major creative force in magic, so much so that luminaries like David Blaine, Marco Tempest, and many others have retained his services as a consultant for their television specials.

In this series, Garrett Thomas tips his mitt and offers the complete details on magic that he uses to make a living — amazing effects that have had magicians merely speculating about their methods.

Welcome . . . to the strange and wonderful world of Garrett Thomas!

I’m a real fan of Osterlind’s stuff, especially his magic items, such as Torn & Restored Post-It note and Signed Torn & Restored Newspaper. He also introduces mentalism within the reach of the magic performer. My only concern is whether we scraped the bottom for another set. We’ll see.

The usual warning about L & L should be observed. Announcing the product doesn’t necessarily means it is shipping. Call first.

Take care………

It’s pretty easy to project ones own feelings on the rest of the world. Is it just me, or is the country in a deep, deep funk? Between that stupid war that G2 gave us, the hurricanes and the reaming we’re getting from the oil companies, there doesn’t seem much to get up for. It would seem to be a time to turn to something like magic for a diversion and pressure relief, however just the opposite seems to be happening.

The message boards, the blogs and club attendance has really slowed. I can’t understand it.

Personally, I can say that writing a blog gets difficult in times like this. Readers owe an author absolutely nothing, as a blog is basically an exercise in personal vanity. Having said that, I’m sure most of us sit and write and wonder if we’re just pissing in the wind. Some interaction can help.

If you are reading a blog, let the author know. Most, but not all, will certainly appreciate the effort. I know a lot of work goes into a good post and most of us need a little pat on the ass once in a while.

Take care………

Drivel & Drool

The Haydn Saga Continues

Check out this Link on the Genii forum. Supposedly, this is from Doug Bush – the original author of the disputed manuscript included on the SfS DVD on the 3 shell game. I have no way of knowing whether this is actually from Mr. Bush, but it makes for interesting reading.

The only thing that came to mind is Mr. Bush was said to attend the same church as somebody in magic (Joe Turner, I believe). If this is, in fact, the real Doug Bush, he must study from the same book as my favorite holy man, Stephen F. Youell.

Actually, if everything is as written in that message, I guess I would be gloating too…….

I’m sure most of us really love magic. Sometimes, actually frequently, we get diverted from the performance and study of a fascinating hobby / avocation / vocation and get bogged down in crap like I cover on this blog. Few people think they want to see magic. This is unfortunate, as most people genuinely enjoy good magic – they just don’t know it. When Carson ruled the night millions of people saw great close-up magic performed by performers like Goshman, Gertner and Dill. Today we just don’t get that kind of exposure. It’s more important than ever that we all perform only the best tricks and perform them to the utmost of our ability, which includes major practice sessions. In the coming days we’ll be discussing the best tricks to have with you all the time so you can impress your audience and begin the long process of elevating out down trodden art.

Take care………

Drivel & Drool

Balancing Act

Boy, talk about Rosemary’s Baby. The last two pictures I’ve placed on this blog have been Hillary Clinton and Steven F. Brooks. I don’t even want to think about it. That’ll fuck up the blog Feng Shui big time. Here’s a little eye candy to balance things out:

That should put the Drool back in Drivel & Drool. Now I feel better and balance is restored in the cosmos.

If you’ve got a few minutes read this thread:

http://geniimagazine.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=001794;p=1

I haven’t dug too deeply into it, but basically it’s all about Rings and Things 2. They have their defenders and their detractors. Maybe somebody is right. I don’t know.

Anyway, the thread gets going pretty good and Marcella Zimmerman, the main guru at RNT2 logs in and begins to kick ass and take names.

I tell you, she pulls out the virtual shillelagh and starts swinging. What I enjoyed most is she drove head on into some of the Cafe’ insiders that are used to hiding behind Brooks’ enormous bulk and she spews testicles all over the Genii forum. I appreciate Kaufman letting this type of thing run. It’s only fair*.

It’s down to a slow smolder now and may not see more posts, but it was fun while it lasted.

Take care………

* For the Cafe’ Gestapo:

fair (fâr) characterized by honesty and justice : free from self-interest, deception, injustice, or favoritism

After returning from some mind numbing business meeting last night, I totally forgot about watching Mindfreak.

It’s possibly surprising that I fall into the “rising tide raises all boats” school and believe Criss is good for magic. Actually, given its moribund state, I don’t think anything could hurt. Criss doesn’t perform the type of magic I enjoy, but I’m certainly not in the target demographic.

I think there are over 400 posts on the Cafe’ about the Coin In Soda Can Trick and it hasn’t been released! Certainly he’s creating interest.

Since I missed the Coin In Soda Can performance, I was interested to see what was on the net about it. I now know:

1. It’s the obvious successor to Silver Shifter as the worst trick of all time and wouldn’t fool a newborn baby

OR

2. Criss was taught this by visitors from an advanced civilization and he used science unknown to our race to accomplish this miracle.

Which is it?

Take care………

I’m working on some longer things, but these are just random dumps for your consideration:

i/m in Blogland

• Blogs are kinda slow these days. Seems to be a sign of the times. I guess we’re all more concerned with paying for gas and heating our homes. Don’t worry, your crack Federal Government is on the case.
• Magician X continues to be the best writer with a currently active blog. He seems to have his hand in his pants a little too often for this old man, but I imagine he thinks I have my head up my ass too often for his taste. Obviously well educated and insightful. Frequently updated.
• Tim Ellis posts regularly and his blog is worth your consideration.
• MagicCentric must be spending his time trying to run down his lost kajonies after being neutered in the Haydn fiasco. I’m questioning whether he will ever come back. The last substantive post was on how to spell his name – and they say blogs are dull! His other blog – Atom something seems dead.
• I enjoy both Tom Frank’s blog and The Magic Whack, but neither offer an RSS feed, so I seldom see them. C’mon fellers – that’s just silly. Likewise Euan Bingham.
• Glenn Bishop tends to post in spurts, but it’s worth watching. He has some really good ideas.

I don’t understand Google

I’ve added Google AdWords to the site. Hey, if I can make a few pennies with little harm – that’s OK. AdWords supposedly reads the page and decides on what ads would be appropriate. On this page are ten articles. The Google spider persists in picking up on the couple of paragraphs regarding shoes for cross dressing men and putting ads for large size women’s shoes at the top.

One last Haydn comment

Whit Just Won’t Catch On

Unfortunately, I can’t exactly quote Hopalong Haydn here, because the Storm Troopers at Stalag Brooks deleted the entire thread about the 3 shell manuscript etc. etc. etc. etc………….

Somewhere in there Haydn AGAIN makes the mistake of saying he was reviled in the anonymous blogs for defending his friend Stephen F. Youell – he of the Bible citation email address – Sheesh!!! He must be a real holy man.

I don’t know why this is so damn difficult for him to absorb. He can perform unnatural acts with Youell 24/7 – buy billboards proclaiming how wonderful he is – name a star after him – whatever he wants. Please tell the world what a magnanimous, caring, misunderstood gentlemen he is. Feel free. I don’t give a fuck and neither does anybody else. That’s a fact. There’s actually real merit in defending a friend through thick and thin.

What is so damn irritating and unfair is Haydn virtually strutted around the Cafe, acting like some big time bad ass, knowing full well that anyone disagreeing with him would get sat on by Brooks’ ample ass. In short he was a bully. He deserves absolutely no quarter for any repurcussions arising from those actions. Absolutely none!

P.S. The article on the genesis of Whit’s name in the October Magic is worth a read.

Take care………

Drivel & Drool

Who are these people and why are they running my country?!

I guess I might as well admit it – I HATE GEORGE F. BUSH.

I’m a lifelong Republican – errrr, make that Conservative. Something G2 professes to be. Barry Goldwater must be twisting in his grave. In some respects I guess G2 is not particularly worse than many of his predecessors, but I expected more. In retrospect, that was naive. I had read his father’s lying lips as he was going to make provisions for our retirement and less reliance on Social Security – sound familiar? That lasted 1 year before he caved in and repealed the law. If you ever heard G1 talk about it, it wasn’t the fact that he broke a firm promise that bothered him, but that he made the promise in a way people remembered it.

Now I hear G2 tell us he never said imminent when talking about the Iraqi threat. That may well be true, but the clear thrust for going into Iraq was the present danger they represented. George!! Listen up!! The next time you want to play word games, make it about getting a blow job in the Oval Office and not bankrupting our country on a wild goose chase. Hell, they couldn’t even get one plane in the air. What a big time threat they were! And….. you have the balls to say you would not have changed a thing if you knew all of these facts. Maybe you are as dumb as some people portray you.

Now we’re asked to sacrifice due to the hurricanes and the energy issues. What about your fucking buddies in the oil industry! George, you’re nominally the President. You could do something!

Make no mistake – big corporations, the most corrupt institutions in the galaxy, own this administration and I fear they are striking the final blow to this formerly great country as we speak.

It is said by some, George, that you feel you are on a crusade. If that crusade was other than destroy this country, you have failed. Our future generations will pay for your malfeasance and sheer incompetence.

Nice legacy……..

Prepare for President Hillary!

I think I’m going to be ill – very ill.