Search found 1549 matches

by David Alexander
December 13th, 2010, 5:35 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 11990889

Re: Erdnase

I applaud Jason's research. It has always been my opinion that the conjuring section was there to disguise the books real purpose: a primer on cheating with cards. Jasons observations clearly explain the lack of Erdnases voice in the second half of the book. This ploy worked reasonably well until th...
by David Alexander
December 10th, 2010, 6:58 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Apologies
Replies: 13
Views: 4496

Re: Apologies

Richard edited out the link in this character's original post so no one here was hustled by his review although a few did comment. What we have is an anonymous poster wanting forgiveness from people he doesn't know and has hardly interacted with. Would that be a tenent of the First Church of the Int...
by David Alexander
December 8th, 2010, 6:51 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Magical History Tour
Replies: 3
Views: 1461

Re: The Magical History Tour

The exhibit is thoughtfully done. Well worth your time.
by David Alexander
December 8th, 2010, 12:23 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Counting Down ...
Replies: 52
Views: 11148

Re: Counting Down ...

Sorry Richard, but my birthday two weeks away, not six days. No need to make a big deal out of it, but thanks for the thought anyway.
by David Alexander
December 4th, 2010, 6:13 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Movie Illusions
Replies: 27
Views: 6711

Re: Movie Illusions

The mention of L.O. Gunn reminds me of Len. He was a member of SAM 22 when I was a very young man. Len was a character. Les Smith used to tell a story that put people in stitches about how Len conned some construction guys into moving the contents of a rented house for him for nothing so they could ...
by David Alexander
December 3rd, 2010, 7:04 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Movie Illusions
Replies: 27
Views: 6711

Re: Movie Illusions

Thanks for the clarification, Pat. Interesting photo...I see Dr. Saint and Caryl Fleming and several others who I know through photos only. Who is the gal sitting to the left and behind Dr. Saint?
by David Alexander
December 3rd, 2010, 5:56 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Movie Illusions
Replies: 27
Views: 6711

Re: Movie Illusions

Not to be too fussy about a point, Pat, but if we're talking about the same Bill Taylor, he and I are the same age and we weren't around in the thirties, were children in the forties and fifties, graduating high school in the early sixties. Bill owns Illusion Arts and is the only magician I know of ...
by David Alexander
December 1st, 2010, 12:32 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Copyright Wars
Replies: 5
Views: 3240

Re: The Copyright Wars

A small victory, possible mainly because the company was in New York. Most P2P sites are out of the US.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/ ... c=Outbrain
by David Alexander
November 30th, 2010, 11:36 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Belief in magic?
Replies: 19
Views: 5187

Re: Belief in magic?

A key sentence from the article Pat linked to: "From reviews of their shows in Victoria and South Australia, its clear that audiences roared with laughter throughout the night, watching the brothers make fools of important members of their local communities." So you can see why people show...
by David Alexander
November 29th, 2010, 5:21 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Copyright Wars
Replies: 5
Views: 3240

Re: The Copyright Wars

Actually, I don't believe these folks believe in Fair Use. They went after one real estate agent who used 8 sentences of a 30 sentence article in his blog/website. The judge found in his favor but he'd already reached a settlement with the plaintiffs and wanted to abide by it as he'd used content fr...
by David Alexander
November 29th, 2010, 3:50 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Copyright Wars
Replies: 5
Views: 3240

The Copyright Wars

For one of the latest developments in how to make money from copyright see this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com/2010/07/stephens-media-llc-righthaven-llc-and.html">http://onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com/20 ... c-and.html</a><!-- m --> Not sure they're making a...
by David Alexander
November 28th, 2010, 10:42 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

A bit more on the TSA's spending of our tax dollars: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/22/tsas-behavior-detection-technology-wrong-99-of-the-time/">http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/22/tsas- ... -the-time/</a><!-- m --> Gun accidentally carried on plane, missed by TSA: ...
by David Alexander
November 28th, 2010, 10:28 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

So some drone sitting in front of the screen sees the "protest," decides he can't see beneath the wording and calls out for an intrusive and especially vigorous pat-down for the tenth clown he sees wearing that underwear.
by David Alexander
November 28th, 2010, 12:56 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Jim Maloney asked, "Did they catch Nancy Botwin?" As long as Nancy produces good ratings for Showtime I suspect she'll be safe from the law. That and she probably has renewal clauses in her contract that will keep her out of prison for at least another season or two. She would probably fin...
by David Alexander
November 27th, 2010, 4:55 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

This particular tunnel was BIG BUSINESS as it was nearly a half-mile long and professionally constructed. Tons of marijuana was seized. With the border getting tighter the drug cartels are looking at more expensive and imaginative ways of bringing product to market. Some in South America have built ...
by David Alexander
November 27th, 2010, 1:06 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Here's a bit more on the developing story on people in religious garb: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.c ... versia.php
by David Alexander
November 27th, 2010, 9:26 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: www.CheatingAtTexasHoldem.com
Replies: 126
Views: 36237

Re: www.CheatingAtTexasHoldem.com

Quoting John M. Dale: "Yes, but I came here for an argument!!

JMD

No...you didn't!
by David Alexander
November 27th, 2010, 12:31 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

It was, of course, just a matter of time...

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/201 ... abc?hpt=T2
by David Alexander
November 27th, 2010, 12:27 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

The Christmas Day bombing attempt with the explosives in his underwear is the rationale the TSA puts forward for its "enhanced" pat downs. The problem is the enhanced secruity measures came 8 months after the Christmas Day bombing attempt. Apparently the appointment process had become some...
by David Alexander
November 26th, 2010, 5:56 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: I want to know if Richard has an appreciation of Dave O'Brien
Replies: 3
Views: 1345

Re: I want to know if Richard has an appreciation of Dave O'Brien

Dave O'Brien played Captain Midnight in the serial of the same name that came out of radio. Ed Prentiss played the Captain the longest on radio and I was a regular listener. It was sponsored by Ovaltine.

I have a Captain Midnight serial poster that I have to get mounted and framed.
by David Alexander
November 25th, 2010, 1:14 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: www.CheatingAtTexasHoldem.com
Replies: 126
Views: 36237

Re: www.CheatingAtTexasHoldem.com

Sorry, this is abuse.
by David Alexander
November 22nd, 2010, 11:56 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 11990889

Re: Erdnase

John,

The quote you use from the first section is Erdnase writing in what was considered a Negro dialect in those days, specifically imitating a "colored attendant." It was not Erdnase speaking in his own voice.
by David Alexander
November 22nd, 2010, 11:52 pm
Forum: Reference Room
Topic: Smaller hands and flourishes
Replies: 5
Views: 2770

Re: Smaller hands and flourishes

A simple excercise for the hands that Bill Pearl gave me years ago - take a double sheet of newspaper by one corner and crumple it up with one hand using only the fingers and thumb of the hand that's holding the paper. The paper must hang down so you can't use gravity. Crumple up a few double sheets...
by David Alexander
November 20th, 2010, 2:25 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Jonathan's take would be interesting if it wasn't a fantasy. The "best product" doesn't always meet the buyers without strong sponsors inside and outside the government. Manufacturers hire lobbyists who contribute to politicians who then promote the manufacturer's product. They also hire s...
by David Alexander
November 20th, 2010, 12:50 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Here's a gem of an article that notes that the TSA spends $200 million a year on 3,000 "behavior detection officers" deployed at 161 airports, they didn't catch a single terrorist. Further, the article states that "...the GAO noted that at least 16 individuals later accused of involve...
by David Alexander
November 19th, 2010, 7:01 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Go here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://fedupflyers.org/resistance-101/mom-restrains-dad-films-while-tsa-torments-3yr-old#more-225">http://fedupflyers.org/resistance-101/m ... d#more-225</a><!-- m --> and look at the video. It's a few seconds of a fat cow of a TSA agent abusing a 3-year-o...
by David Alexander
November 19th, 2010, 12:19 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

I read the article Dustin linked to. The "assurances" that the machines are safe sound suspiciously like they came from the machine's manufacturer or people hired by the machine's manufacturer. I would value the assurances if they came as a result of independent tests done by people with n...
by David Alexander
November 18th, 2010, 5:06 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

The fear is explosives now that the pilots have been safely protected behind reinforced doors.

There are the explosive sniffing machines and trained dogs but they don't have the former head of Homeland Security pimping for them.
by David Alexander
November 18th, 2010, 1:55 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Here's John Tyner's entire account, what really went down. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UqM56e-kRA&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UqM56e- ... re=related</a><!-- m --> Read his post underneath the screen. His father is a retired cop and ask...
by David Alexander
November 18th, 2010, 1:32 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

I described the El Al procedure back on page 5. It requires highly trained interviewers. It wouldn't work in the US because there are thousands of flights a day. The TSA would never be able to hire and train the needed people. El Al is a government airline so they don't have to worry about turning a...
by David Alexander
November 18th, 2010, 12:21 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

A woman on the news tonight out of Chicago had recently flown in from St. Louis. She's had knee replacement surgery as evidenced by the scars on her legs. The replacements set off the metal detectors so she requrested a full-body scan. Sorry, "not available" she was told. She requested a w...
by David Alexander
November 17th, 2010, 11:53 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Cups and Balls
Replies: 11
Views: 4376

Re: Cups and Balls

A good source of information on cups would be Bill Palmer who has a large collection.
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 4:26 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: Bad experience with Snapillusions
Replies: 49
Views: 16669

Re: Bad experience with Snapillusions

Before I spent any money I'd call the City Clerk of the town and find out what his business license says. Then Google that address to see if it's real or a fake.
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 4:23 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

So the people mailing bombs to the United State from Japan (this is a problem?) will have to design better, longer-lasting fuses. Think computer chips with delayed timers and high-quality batteries.

I wonder what Japan will do in response.
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 2:17 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

For those of you who think the TSA should be more like El Als security, its a nice thought but its never going to happen as it requires highly trained employees, something the TSA could never find in sufficient quantity to emulate what El Al does. Heres a description of El Als procedures which has w...
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 1:49 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

The simple solution for bombs in luggage is building bomb-proof luggage containers but the airlines don't want to spend the money and accept the liability so they have the government x-ray everything going on board hoping to spot the bad stuff. Chances are this will be a boon for Amtrak but almost c...
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 11:46 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Online Piracy Solution?
Replies: 10
Views: 3293

Online Piracy Solution?

This morning's Chicago Tribune has an interesting article about a lawyer who hunts down porn pirates. He developed some software that tracks bit torrent usage. It cost about $250,000 to develop. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-porn-attorney-2010111...
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 11:03 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

This matter made the headlines in this morning's Chicago Tribune. Several things occur to me: That the draconian and intrusive full-body searches are a ploy to push people into the scanners as the "lesser" of two evils. You have to wonder what sort of a person signs up to work for the TSA ...
by David Alexander
November 16th, 2010, 12:59 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New TSA Security Procedures
Replies: 177
Views: 39492

Re: New TSA Security Procedures

Dodd, I like the term "security theater." Most appropriate. Years ago I had an experience that caused me to radically curtail my flying. I was returning from a lecture in Phoenix (non-magicial) in the days before there was a TSA. I asked that my briefcase be searched manually. As I stood w...
by David Alexander
November 13th, 2010, 4:13 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: Illusion
Replies: 3
Views: 1749

Re: Illusion

The problem with your post Karsten is that you give us no criteria from which we can give recommendations.

What are your working conditions? Is there a proscenium, lights, sound, proximity to the audience, availability of assistant(s), budget, portability, rehearsal time, your experience. Etc.

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