Somebody Has to Write to Write This Stuff

From BoingBoing.net comes this post about a 1945 book of patter for magicians.

Protecting Big Idears

From BoingBoing.net comes this post about magic and intellectual property.

One of the interesting takeaways from Jim Steinmeyer's Hiding the Elephant is the extent to which magicians preyed and continue to prey on one another's intellectual property.  The traditional model of protecting such creations through copyright is contradictory to the magician's code of secrecy in that the effect must be described in sufficient detail to distinguish it from other effects and, in so doing, its secret becomes available to anyone who might care to visit a patent office or make an online search.

The post contains a link to a legal paper that argues that the apparent lack of protections for the creator actually has benefits for the art form as a whole.

Cups, Balls and SCIENCE!

From InsideScience.org comes this post about yet more research into the neuroscience of magic and the classic cups and balls effect.

The Society of Magicians - Pt. 3

This article from ThisIsPlymouth.co.uk features another British-based magic club.  The Magic Circle of Plymouth has seen their membership dwindle to 8.

Not content to simply disappear, the club is actively trying to recruit new members.

First they came for our magic shops and we said nothing....


View Larger Map

The Society of Magicians

From Telegram.com comes this article about tonight's benefit performance of magician and Genii columnist David Oliver.

A long-time bird worker, Oliver developed hypersensitivity pneumonitis from the bird dander and, as a result, is now in need of a double lung transplant.  Proceeds from the benefit will help to defray medical costs and related expenses.

Best wishes for a good show--what is the magical equivalent of the actors' motto:  "Break a leg"?--and to Mr. Oliver and his family.

Behind Schedule

I am still not done writing about the October Genii Bash in Orlando.  I have notes but no time just at the moment.

As a place holder, I offer this video that I came across in a Tweet from Mr. Teller.

Be amazed by Yann Frisch.