If you think the torn and restore newspaper involves too much preparation consider Richard Osterlind’s Torn and Restored Post-It note or the Torn and Restored Cigarette paper. There are many sources for the latter, but the work done by Martin Lewis is the best in my opinion.
Many years ago, there was a Dean Martin (or Friar’s Club) roast of Johnny Carson. The details escape me, but I vividly recall one of Carson’s come backs at the end of the roast.
One of the Presenters was the great Don Rickles and he had killed Carson – he was at his best. Carson’s comeback was simple:
I’ve always enjoyed Don’s joke.
I feel that way every time I listen to Eugene Burger or watch one of his DVDs. I know it’s not MC (magically correct) to question Mr. Burger, as he has become an icon and the godfather of magic presentation, but I find most of the stuff he does mind numbingly dull.
Light some incense – light a candle – tell some relevant story….. Yawn!
I’ve read his book, seen his DVD and lecture. That’s enough for one lifetime.
Take care………
It’s now old news, but on 1/13/2008 at 12:20 PM Richard Kaufman announced that the Genii Forum would no longer be public, but available to subscribers only. He’s given nothing but vague reasons from what I’ve read – it’s his forum and he’s free to do with it as he pleases. Non-subscribers will be able to view but not post.
I’ve been very impressed with his very noble attempts to treat those that buy Genii at a magic shop fairly. I don’t know him, but I suspicion he has a very high level of integrity. I just wish he weren’t so publicly crabby. I can’t believe that’s good for business.
OK – call this pure speculation, because that is what it is, but on the same day Kaufman made the announcement, he published this Apology to Thomas Wayne earlier in ther day:
In a now-deleted thread I made several remarks concerning Thomas Wayne. One of these was that he threatened a moderator on this Forum via e-mail. Unfortunately the hard drive on the computer on which this e-mail was stored has crashed, so we no longer have the e-mails to prove it. Subsequently I deleted that portion of my message.
However, I also stated that Thomas Wayne is “mentally ill.” Since I am not a trained health care professional, I cannot use that phrase since it insinuates a trained opinion.
Thomas Wayne’s ill-mannered behavior resulted in his expulsion from the Genii Forum, so you may draw your own conclusions from that.
Coincidence?
Take care………
I just picked up Steve Martin’s autobiography. What a funny, inventive guy.
As I’ve told people for so long, he was doing this schtick for 14 years before Saturday Night Live “discovered” him.
Anyway, it has nothing to do with magic, but I just posted the You Tube video of Ear Scruggs, Steve Martin and a lot of greats doing Foggy Mountain Breakdown.
Magic in its own way.
Take care………
My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by. Today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.
Obituary
Common Sense
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m a Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Author unknown
Take care………
If only he was half as entertaining.
It’s working on its second million views.
Take care………
