The Genii Forum

Make sure to listen to the audio supplement to Jamy Ian Swisss article. Its really good.

Can you share the link of that article to listen.

Donald1:

Since you are new to the forum, I'm not sure if you know this: You can get free access the article (and the audio supplement) in question if you subscribe to Genii.

IMHO, JIS' article is well worth the subscription price.

"Donald1" was not a real individual: SPAM, and now he's gone.

Eric Mead is a real individual, and he wrote a great review of Swiss' Devious Standards in this month's issue of Genii.

I've read some of the Swiss columns (from Antimony) that are now incorporated into the Swiss compilation book and thought they were...OK.

I'm sure the material will have strong appeal to Swiss fans, but I don't personally share Mead's enthusiasm for it.

Swiss' essay on etiquette in Antinomy #15 should be required reading for every magician--except Max Maven. Especially those who only read some of his essays.

Leonard Hevia wrote:Swiss' essay on etiquette in Antinomy #15 should be required ...

What specifically did you learn from it and what leads you to believe that EVERYONE else needs the lessson(s)?

Jonathan Townsend wrote:What specifically did you learn from it and what leads you to believe that EVERYONE else needs the lesson(s)?

+1

Jonathan--RTFA

Leonard Hevia wrote:Jonathan--RTFA

Thank you for demonstrating the caliber of etiquette you wish for yourself.
I have seem more cordial discourse and hope you are not trying to drag Jamy into your mire.

Incredulously,

Jon

This actually happened at a lecture by Patrick Page:

Student: How do I find the correct sized thumbtip?
Page: You will know when you find it.

Student: But, how do I find the correct sized thumbtip?
Page: You will know when you find it!

Children cover your ears.

Now see here Mr. Hevia, first you diminish Jamy by claiming him as your etiquette instructor and now you sully Patrick Page and Vernet by discussing "knowing" with a thumb tip? Surely how one "fools themselves" in the privacy of their own home is not the best of topics for public exposure.

Be it every so slippery, you may keep it when you get it. ;)

Jonathan Townsend wrote:Be it every so slippery, you may keep it when you get it. ;)

That's what she said.

Jonathan Townsend wrote:Children cover your ears.

Now see here Mr. Hevia, first you diminish Jamy by claiming him as your etiquette instructor and now you sully Patrick Page and Vernet by discussing "knowing" with a thumb tip? Surely how one "fools themselves" in the privacy of their own home is not the best of topics for public exposure.

Be it every so slippery, you may keep it when you get it. ;)

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Appeals to authority, first Jamy then Patrick Page and now Shakespeare might lead the astute reader to wonder if you need a bigger thumbtip or perhaps if your d'lite needs a new battery.

At least you continue to amuse.

Those who fail to understand the Somerset Maugham story "Mr. Know All" are not so likely equipped to understand audience feedback. And that is a genuine pearl, at least according to a well known swine.

Jonathan Townsend wrote:

Leonard Hevia wrote:Swiss' essay on etiquette in Antinomy #15 should be required ...

What specifically did you learn from it and what leads you to believe that EVERYONE else needs the lessson(s)?

Shame on you for showing up to class and daring to initiate an academic discussion of the text before reading it.

Shame on you for presuming the readers here to be your students.

Kindly demonstrate some of the prerequisites for "etiquette" and leave some doubt as the extent of your foolishness. Or are you going to continue to demonstrate what you learned from Jamy?

If you were going to be congruent you'd at least be providing copies of the essay in question. But that would be another of your unfounded presuppositions exposed, that you would take responsibility for what you presume to impose upon others.

Pray continue Mr. Know All, more cards tricks please.

Leonard,

I don't have access to #15 of Antimony. I do have the Shattering Illusions book though.

Is the essay you're referring to in there or is it only in the new collection of his essays?
I'd like to read it.

Jon,

Let's read the essay and then we can see what's so insightful about it. Possibly, something could be learned. You may not ascribe the import Mr. Hevia does. You'll only know that if you read it. I enjoyed the "Shattering Illusions" tome. I don't think every magician needs to read it. I can think of quite a few that should read it, but wouldn't understand that Jamy is talking about them.

Kent

Tell you what Kent, send me your copy of the item. If I find it of merit I will buy you a new one. If not you can get yours back with my notes written into it - likely similar to what "Andy" did to a certain mentalist's work that he sent me some time ago.

call it a win/win or a lose/lose as you will

J

PS Imagine suggesting all the rabbits read Carroll's Alice - and them wondering why it's all about a naive young woman who can't bother to learn how the world works and doesn't even ask where the rabbit is expected and why it's important.

All:

The article in Antimony #15 is not included in Shattering Illusions or Devious Standards.

Jamy's article concerns the way magicians sometimes act towards other magicians--during their performances, when discussing their proprietary material, and when selected as spectators. He cites multiple specific examples of poor behavios and adds contributions by 5 young, but experienced, performers on the topic. He closes with several common sense proposals of his own to address the issue.

I think the essay is well worth reading--many will wince in sympathy with some of the horror stories, others may be even more uncomfortable if they recognize themselves in one of the anecdotes.

Certainly many of those who choose to read the essay probably don't need to--while some who do not, might in fact benefit (if they took it's lessons to heart). It is not a universal panacea for the issues discussed--no mere essay could ever be that.

Nevertheless, I think, like the vast majority of Jamy's writings, it is well-written, intelligent, and thought-provoking.

It's also only one of the things in Antinomy #15 that makes it worth purchasing, IMHO.

I wonder why it was left out.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."


original. do you often cart out the "kill the lawyers" one, as well?

El Harvey Oswald wrote:"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."


original. do you often cart out the "kill the lawyers" one, as well?

In short: Yes.

Also--my own name is original. I defy you--Mr. El Harvey Oswald--(Where have I heard that name before?) to locate someone else with my name. Good luck.

Many thanks to Erdnasephile.

Quit dissing Gertrude. We all know what she did and that she got hers at the end. If only she had set her sights on Fortinbras - or perhaps that's what started it all?

Pretty sure Leonard of the purportedly "original" name, for whatever that's worth, can't quite articulate who Gertrude is, or certainly who Fortinbras is/are. But he is steadfast in his conviction, like our President G.W. Bush, who never did call his electorate "merkins."

Also, a quick Google search yields this result: "2 people named Leonard Hevia in Florida | WhitePages." Lo siento, Leonard; though I don't quite follow where the challenge to prove your name not unique arose from.

great story, bro

EHO--
For an individual with a supposedly Harvard education...you certainly are wasting your time. You are without a doubt an unfortunate waste of tuition money. I can only imagine the benefactors who paid your way through Harvard shaking their heads in disbelief.

Gentlemen, please return to your corners.

El Harvey Oswald wrote:But he is steadfast in his conviction, like our President G.W. Bush, who never did call his electorate "merkins."

No, that would be mrgoat. (Spelling it "merkans" would alleviate some of the misunderstandings about pubic wigs, BTW)

Wow, who unlocked the coffins on these two after six months of silence?

JMD

The dead never rest.

No, that would be mrgoat. (Spelling it "merkans" would alleviate some of the misunderstandings about pubic wigs, BTW)

Actually, it was several people. Unfortunately, a link to an external site listed an erroneous definition saying it was derogatory (it's not) and that there was a connection to the wig thing (there's not).

Also, GWB never called anyone a Merkan, he called than American, but to anyone over here, that's what it sounded like.

I know it's not derogatory, because I used the phrase myself before I had heard it used elsewhere (I'm not claiming originality, just independent invention) and I made no connection to the wigs, nor was it used in a derogatory fashion.

Just saying.

The spelling is -merkin- re the wig thing.

We know. We're using a different spelling to highlight the fact that it has nothing to do with the wig thing.

Chas Nigh wrote:The spelling is -merkin- re the wig thing.

That's central to observing how spelling can misdirect or how grammar shifts perspective.

No doubt they are shaking their supposedly heads in disbelief. Where are you on the civil service pay scale, by the way?

I suspect the great majority of uses, written and spoken, to which "merkin" is put are derogatory and/or jocular; and current pudendal hirsute fashions being what they are, actual merkins rarely find genuine, non-ironic use. And there is something pretty degrading about being reduced to using a pubic wig.

All the girls at the Crazy Horse in Paris wear them, and there's a new documentary about the club that's getting a lot of notice. I suspect that merkins will be the talk of the town 'ere long.

http://www.indiewire.com/article/freder ... film_forum

Had no idea; but it makes sense in that line of work that it could add some real flair. and perhaps I'm behind the times on bald nether-regions being all the rage.

Your range of on-point references is amazing (and, to veer ridiculously on- or off-point, depending on your perspective, I've just been looking at your early coin and card books, and they are stunningly good. I'm trying to decide what my 3-for-2 book purchase will be, and I think I'll have to make it 6-for 4. The compiled Almanac is one of the top-10 all-time great magic collections.)

Thanks for your kind words, and I can assure you that I've never worn a merkin. However I believe that David Roth could add an entirely new perspective to his act by performing "The Portable Hole" with a merkin instead of a piece of felt.