Search found 375 matches

by Carlo Morpurgo
July 28th, 2023, 7:14 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Interesting vdeio on the topic of Erdnase by Michael Perovich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8TpY-tOlWQ Mr. Perovich goes at great length explaining that the exercise of finding Erdnase's identity is completely useless, and how everyone who tried answering was wrong. Well, I can instead say one ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
November 3rd, 2022, 7:00 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

At first glance the artist signatures on those illustrations don’t look like ‘Smith’. Also interesting mention of centigrade temperature in the vacuum experiment with water. The original text and art may have come from Europe. Ah right I did not notice the signatures. However some illustrations do ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
November 3rd, 2022, 6:17 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

And of particular interest in relation to the publication and illustration of TEATCT: The Chicago Business Directory of 1901 shows that both the Jamieson-Higgins Co. and Marshall D. Smith both had offices in the Monon Building. The business addresses of each are given as: M.D. Smith (Artist) 1310, ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 2nd, 2022, 7:50 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I can think of several dramatic scenes that put Sanders closer than other candidates. I totally agree. Admittedly, I followed the Erdnase saga only here and there, as an "outsider", and I am not too up to date on the nitty gritty details. From what I know however, it seems unfair that in ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
October 26th, 2020, 10:33 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I've agreed to give a 50 minute talk entitled "Chasing Erdnase" as part of the upcoming United Magicians for the World event in a few weeks. This will be followed by a discussion. My talk will be in English at 8 p.m. Italian time on Sunday, October 25th. I believe that will be 3 p.m. EST ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 10:10 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Jonathan Townsend wrote:Carlo, folks, how do you distinguish writing of that time from specific authorship?

The editor of The Sphinx plays American and writes his own Sharps and Flats in first person... then offers the Modern Magicians Handbook?


Sorry Jonathan, I do not understand what you are asking.
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 8:32 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I don't think it really has that built-in assumption. I'm just pointing out the different conditional probabilities. I.e. it's distinguishing the case where two authors generated the same (or nearly identical) texts where there was little or no chance of either one of them being familiar with the o...
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 5:09 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I think lots of these duplicates are just a result of the common domain and the limited ways to phrase things, given the same or similar content. E.g. for phrases like "is now placed on top of the". And many other of the shorter overlaps are very generic, e.g. "it is obvious that the...
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 3:22 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Occam's Razor: is the simpler explanation that Hilliard borrowed from Expert, or that he was the secret author of Expert and borrowed his own work? The simpler explanation is that he just borrowed the text from Expert. Not sure about "simpler"...Perhaps more reasonable, yes, and I suggest...
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 1:08 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I should say, however, that the main idea about the comparison of text was to show similar patterns, catch phrases and such, even short. I had not gone through the whole list, but I did point out one single example "Cheap cards are clumsy".
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 12:40 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Oh right...I had forgotten about you raising that possibility earlier and the subsequent discussion! And that there is some text in AOM that's clearly copied/plagiarized from EATCT. So definitely seems like Hilliard was influenced by Erdnase. I agree... at the time I did not notice the timeline, so...
by Carlo Morpurgo
February 4th, 2020, 8:55 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Hilliard does seem to fit what's been revealed (well known figure; magic notebooks; look of the hands). I don't recall hearing any arguments for Hilliard being Erdnase in the past, so it'll be very interesting to see the evidence. Though I'm pretty skeptical that a compelling case could be made for...
by Carlo Morpurgo
October 1st, 2018, 8:14 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Very good comment! That is a valid criticism. Thank you! The way I rationalized it was that the dashes are the sides of the card, which are connected at the bottom. The next card, the fifth card, starts with a dot but it is below the vertical side line of the card. I followed the code from left to ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 30th, 2018, 6:37 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Reading the Morse Code in the Smith Cartoon Starting from the left hand: Each set of Dots and Dashes run from left to right within the card. The First Four Cards says ERDNASE Card 1 = Dot = E Card 2 = Dot Dash Dot = R Card 3 = Dash Dot Dot = D Card 4 = Dash Dot, Dot Dash, Dot Dot Dot, Dot = NASE (F...
by Carlo Morpurgo
May 3rd, 2018, 9:01 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I recommend browsing the first several (even just 5) pages of this thread, from way back (2003). I just did, and it's pretty amazing how different things were back then. Stimulating, fun, civilized. I do not find this stimulating at all, maybe because the tone of the discussion is just plain annoyin...
by Carlo Morpurgo
April 23rd, 2018, 8:23 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

All practitioners of logic will admit that they can be wrong. I have seen Chris concede this many times. I must have missed something.... can you point out a few examples? Regarding logic, with enough time at hand, and with enough skills in rhetoric, arguing, debating, etc., I claim that you can al...
by Carlo Morpurgo
April 13th, 2018, 6:08 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

This is indeed looking like two/three lawyers arguing about the fine details of a crime scene....I guess it's kind of inevitable.....better this than nothing at all, in my opinion...
by Carlo Morpurgo
March 23rd, 2018, 5:09 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Bob Coyne wrote:
Carlo, Thanks for posting this again and updating with mine timbering. Interesting raw data!

btw, do you include all of Mine Timbering or just the Sanders part when generating the sequences?


Just the Sanders part.....
by Carlo Morpurgo
March 23rd, 2018, 10:02 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

A while back I wrote a program that would extract common sequences of words from two text files. I compared eatct with several books of the time period. I am not sure why I had not posted the comparison with Sanders' book back then, but I have done it now (see eatct-mine.txt). https://drive.google.c...
by Carlo Morpurgo
January 31st, 2018, 7:29 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I'm sorry, but if you are going to present someone as a candidate to have been S.W. Erdnase, then you're going to have to CONVINCE a lot of people. That's part of the deal. Well yes, ultimately that is the goal, ultimately. But one thing is to present convincing evidence another is to present a con...
by Carlo Morpurgo
January 26th, 2018, 7:38 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Carlo, there's a lot of ground between a 1) video, 2) convincing circumstantial and physical evidence and 3) an intriguing hypothesis. No one expects #1, and it's certainly fun to have #3; but I think most on this board are hoping at least #2 with regard to identifying Erdnase. It's still not clear...
by Carlo Morpurgo
January 23rd, 2018, 9:03 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I'm lost. Map, please? Still have many questions about evidence vs. conjecture. We've seen lots of trees, time for the forest? If you have seen the trees, then you have the evidence. Some people can see the forest, or at least A forest, reading in between the lines, that is what makes them special....
by Carlo Morpurgo
March 7th, 2016, 11:22 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Spain's Got Ripoffs... :(
Replies: 5
Views: 3836

Re: Spain's Got Ripoffs... :(

I dislike this routine (original or not) very much. I personally do not consider this magic, at all.
by Carlo Morpurgo
October 27th, 2015, 2:51 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: Cantu in Laurel & Hardy short
Replies: 10
Views: 5877

Re: Cantu in Laurel & Hardy short

Nice....this must be the only Laurel and Hardy movie I have not seen before. Thanks for posting!
What version of the Torn&Restored newspaper is he performing?
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 17th, 2015, 7:04 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

To move the James Andrews case foreword we need to look at M. D. Smith’s testimony and start to look at the mystery/anomalies concerning the illustrations in the EATCT. I know the M. D. Smith information has been presented before, but I would like to recap: The book was illustrated by M. D. Smith. ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 11th, 2015, 6:48 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Carlo wrote: “However, from the document I pointed out it appears that the French Lick Springs hotel was also a casino only after Taggart took over (hence after Andrews) It would be nice for you to provide additional information regarding Andrews' activities as a casino operator.” Please follow the...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 6:21 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Carlos wrote: In this document you will find better info regarding the ownership of the Hotel... Thank you so much for finding this document! I am completely overjoyed! Do you think there is another document for the West Baden Springs Hotel? The story will really start coming together if you look a...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 3:40 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

In this document you will find better info regarding the ownership of the Hotel...see pages 57-58 regarding Andrews (with the final "s") http://focus.nps.gov/nrhp/AssetDetail?assetID=176d363b-aead-4067-a9e3-229786f9b87c (download left asset) Don't get me wrong, I am not supporting anyone.....
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 3:15 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

I would take on any lead that has a ***ES*ANDREWS operating a casino in the midwest around 1900...... I'm not sure one could ever find the logic in a casino owner ever sitting down and writing a book like EATCT, a book detailing (in the most advanced form to date) how to cheat at cards such that th...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 1:47 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Acute observation Mr. Observer ;) .... I had already explained what I meant by "reversing" and Tom has already answered. It's certainly not the first time that this kind of reversal has been pointed out for a "James Andrews" potentially connected to SW Erdnase Ah - so as long as...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 1:24 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

James M Andrews The name in reverse gives SW Erdnase, No it doesn't. Acute observation Mr. Observer ;) .... I had already explained what I meant by "reversing" and Tom has already answered. It's certainly not the first time that this kind of reversal has been pointed out for a "James...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 8:31 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Tom Sawyer wrote:Personally, I missed any reference to owning a place in Chicago. Wikipedia shows the French Lick location to be in southern Indiana.


--Tom Sawyer


I agree, I incorrectly wrote Chicago. It's not really a relevant detail, however.
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 8:22 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Personally, I missed any reference to owning a place in Chicago. Wikipedia shows the French Lick location to be in southern Indiana. I don't think the "expert card dealer" idea has been demonstrated convincingly. I don't think the name has been shown to be James M. Andrews. I get the vibe...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 10th, 2015, 7:05 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Just curious, Roger, what would be your ideal "connection to Erdnase", I mean a connection that would satisfy you.... Carlo, something beyond saying that because a candidate lived in the United States, played cards, and was 28 (or whatever similar age) years old in 1902 - he becomes a can...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 9th, 2015, 5:26 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Is there additional information you've yet to provide that links your candidate to EATCT Scott? French Lick, like Hot Springs and Galveston were certainly ripe with gamblers and hustlers, as "wide open" cities across the country were back in the day. I like the French Lick connection for ...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 7th, 2015, 10:01 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Scott, I'm having a very hard time making anything out of the materials on your website. It's an enormous collection of notes of mostly people that seem to have no connection to the Erdnase case. Frederick J. Drake and a couple of others are mentioned, but most of it is about their various ancestor...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 7th, 2015, 8:16 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

1. Is there any utility to the inquiry into the S.W. Erdnase identity question? 1. David Alexander answered the first question in his Erdnase article: The question naturally arises, "Why should we care who Erdnase was?" This was answered by Ross MacDonald's hard-boiled but occasionally se...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 4th, 2015, 5:20 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

There were other (even more important) books on advantage play and cheating that were also published prior to EATCT. Erdnase penned original material, which doesn't in any way conflict with books being written before EATCT on advantage play and cheating at cards. I have a first edition of Sharps an...
by Carlo Morpurgo
September 3rd, 2015, 8:06 pm
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12303240

Re: ERDNASE

Conjuring Arts has also had the McKinney Bankruptcy papers for some time and have decided to release them to all, free of charge. The files are now available to search and view via Ask Alexander to all account holders (even at the free level) and are in the S. W. Erdnase directory located here: Erd...

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