magician https://scienceblogs.com/ en How to Give an IT Geek a Stroke https://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/02/26/how-to-give-an-it-geek-a-strok <span>How to Give an IT Geek a Stroke</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span style="font-size: 10px">tags: <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/comedy" rel="tag">comedy</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/humor" rel="tag">humor</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/funny" rel="tag">funny</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/fucking+hilarious" rel="tag">fucking hilarious</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/information+technology" rel="tag">information technology</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/IT" rel="tag">IT</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Isilon" rel="tag">Isilon</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/magician" rel="tag">magician</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Scott+Tokar" rel="tag">Scott Tokar</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/streaming+video" rel="tag">streaming video</a></span></p> <p>The moral of this short video is this: never bring a magician on a tour through your facilities. Or, if you do, don't curse on camera when this magician destroys something you've spent hours setting up.</p> <!--more--><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XRJ4zyry6g8&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XRJ4zyry6g8&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;showinfo=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><p> Okay, here's the link: <a target="window" href="http://www.isilon.com/TrickUniversity/"><i>i</i></a>.</p> </div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/author/grrlscientist" lang="" about="/author/grrlscientist" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">grrlscientist</a></span> <span>Fri, 02/26/2010 - 00:59</span> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/streaming-videos" hreflang="en">streaming videos</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/your-inner-child" hreflang="en">your inner child</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/fucking-hilarious" hreflang="en">fucking hilarious</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/funny" hreflang="en">funny</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/humor" hreflang="en">humor</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/information-technology" hreflang="en">information technology</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/isilon" hreflang="en">Isilon</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/it" hreflang="en">IT</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/magician" hreflang="en">magician</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/punked" hreflang="en">punked</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/scott-tokar" hreflang="en">Scott Tokar</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/streaming-video" hreflang="en">streaming video</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/video" hreflang="en">Video</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/streaming-videos" hreflang="en">streaming videos</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/your-inner-child" hreflang="en">your inner child</a></div> </div> </div> <section> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2073647" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1267165780"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>I'm sure it works nicely, but it requires a rather large amount of talent and effort.</p> <p>I prefer the old-fashioned way of giving an IT geek a stroke - by simply providing ample supplies of Mountain Dew and Cheetos.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2073647&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="bGVJHJwxyZMUfqz2FAMg4C58Z5ZimEtkO-4WCHGiBNc"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Phillip IV (not verified)</span> on 26 Feb 2010 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2073647">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2073648" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1267170758"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>In most systems (with less redundancy than that) the IT geek is visualizing threading in a new cable with both hands while fending off calls from outraged users and having to explain the whole thing to his boss. He apparently didn't know the guy was a magician.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2073648&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="ecpPwu9wglAdFjre4pHAdZ3ff9QxlKTvc09Ty75QkSY"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.decrepitoldfool.com" lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">george.w (not verified)</a> on 26 Feb 2010 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2073648">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2073649" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1267209904"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Ja, apparently he did not know. </p> <p>Funny.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2073649&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="UUgsbeXMAv7RAAAY4DBh7nVzWjsiPe_baOyxDTFfL6U"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://urkobold.blogspot.com" lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">highnumber (not verified)</a> on 26 Feb 2010 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2073649">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2073650" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1267227139"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Reminds me of a couple of instances in my career with tricky wiring. </p> <p>The first was 1994 at Brown University. Cleaning up a bunch of dead copper behind the Data General MV9600U, and I start hearing the console beeping. I come around to the other side and see the volumes dismounting:</p> <p>"Gretel dismounted"<br /> "Hansel dismounted"<br /> "Witch dismounted"</p> <p>I look over at the disk array just as my boss whips into the computer room. He had that red knot on his forehead. Turns out I managed to pull a cable past the locking hubbel connector that powered the disk array. It rotated just enough to break power. </p> <p>Twisted it back in and everything was good. Got my first lesson in rebooting ancient hardware. I still remember the command "B 24". </p> <p>Year later I'm working for the state. The network patch is a rats nest. I make the decision that my network guy and I will re-wire it. Hadn't planned on my net guy being a mensch and bringing two six packs of Bass Ale with him. </p> <p>It got re-wired but we spent the next day patching things up.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2073650&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="Kep2k4VH0dPo4BR4q_RX9EiYEpc0z9RddmT5ysahd0c"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://truthspew.wordpress.com" lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Tony P (not verified)</a> on 26 Feb 2010 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2073650">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2073651" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1267253275"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Ok, it's a trick. But in the real world this guy was lucky that the techie responded so mildly.</p> <p>I don't care how much redundancy you have, this sort of thing (if real) can cause real damage. It takes time for a system to fail over; and that costs money. When you also consider that some systems won't fail back after repair, or won't stand two points of failure, inducing something like this imposes real - monetary - risk.</p> <p>Personally, I would have escorted him from the room immediately and had him arrested for criminal damage.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2073651&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="8Ym_5VPUDOsrTrPHsoSVnEE6A3wL_FYc8ceigmPNwSw"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">JM (not verified)</span> on 27 Feb 2010 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2073651">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> </section> <ul class="links inline list-inline"><li class="comment-forbidden"><a href="/user/login?destination=/grrlscientist/2010/02/26/how-to-give-an-it-geek-a-strok%23comment-form">Log in</a> to post comments</li></ul> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:59:59 +0000 grrlscientist 90433 at https://scienceblogs.com Okay, How Did The Magician Do This Trick? https://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2007/10/28/okay-how-did-the-magician-do-t <span>Okay, How Did The Magician Do This Trick?</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><font size="-2">tags: <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Americas+Got_Talent" rel="tag">America's Got Talent</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/magician" rel="tag">magician</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kevin+James" rel="tag">Kevin James</a>, <a target="window" href="http://technorati.com/tag/streaming+video" rel="tag">streaming video</a></font> </p><p>Master Magician Kevin James performing at the Las Vegas "callbacks" on <i>America's Got Talent</i>. I have no clue how he did that, do you? [1:20]</p> <!--more--><object width="425" height="366"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/chvsqMgPKhk&amp;rel=1&amp;border=0" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/chvsqMgPKhk&amp;rel=1&amp;border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="366"></embed></object><p> So how did he do that trick? was that guy a couple contortionists, or two dwarves? </p> </div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/author/grrlscientist" lang="" about="/author/grrlscientist" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">grrlscientist</a></span> <span>Sun, 10/28/2007 - 04:59</span> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/streaming-videos" hreflang="en">streaming videos</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/kevin-james" hreflang="en">Kevin James</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/magician" hreflang="en">magician</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/streaming-video" hreflang="en">streaming video</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/streaming-videos" hreflang="en">streaming videos</a></div> </div> </div> <section> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057128" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193564682"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>It looks very good, but we don't know how much the show's producers were facilitating it and how much was done in post-production. Don't underestimate the motivation of ratings.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057128&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="2CGqea78jU-QBq6-ETq1FllArnMGyo8-GIeFGBxniuM"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Ex-drone (not verified)</span> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057128">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057129" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193565492"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Lots of quick "MTV" cuts - maybe if I saw it live I'd think there was something that needed explaining.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057129&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="B3nR6nKP3f-sVZ5mswQ2kVCMO3yuiiLh38B0TERkL-E"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" content="Tegumai Bopsulai, FCD">Tegumai Bopsul… (not verified)</span> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057129">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057130" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193565611"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The chainsaw is clearly fake.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057130&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="N8XlsBI78yHg-u_1EqRZ08UC3vjx31A1plF-Je4PrDQ"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" content="Tegumai Bopsulai, FCD">Tegumai Bopsul… (not verified)</span> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057130">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057131" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193567890"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Remember that chainsaw trick Copperfield did? I once read in a book someone brought out how the trick works. This seems to be a modification of it. For one thing, there are at least two people involved in the trick, one providing the legs, one providing the upper body. Both are probably very thin people with skills to fold their limps well.</p> <p>Notice how the 'upper body' is wearing layers and layers of clothing and the chest is kind of bulgy and strangely shaped. Notice how the legs' upper part is this... strange plastic-like looking stuff that is obviously fake and how the "belly" is bulgy (you can see this very well when the body gets put back together). And also notice how the victim hops away sideways one it is fused back together - why? What is there to hide?! </p> <p>And also - notice how the magician has the upper body part pat the legs before fusion - a cue to turn around in a moment and 'fuse the body'? During the fusion, our sight to covered by one of the assistants. We can't see what actually happens... but I am sure they might be rearranging clothing or snapping something together so the whole construction may hold.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057131&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="QT1b9zcW0UM-wrwhfWauBSlDg9a8Lg3wyArOk1jCPck"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Mistoline (not verified)</span> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057131">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="31" id="comment-2057132" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193571916"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>It's an old trick perfected by Dunninger. It uses misdirection and stuff. </p> <p>I can't reveal any more than that because I think my magician's card is still valid.</p> <p>This guy is very, very good.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057132&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="m-PKNWaYhL4_6k8i7M6wOVH_JqlVhZCvnpSCf_vNTCY"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <a title="View user profile." href="/author/gregladen" lang="" about="/author/gregladen" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">gregladen</a> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057132">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/author/gregladen"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/author/gregladen" hreflang="en"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/pictures/HumanEvolutionIcon350-120x120.jpg?itok=Tg7drSR8" width="100" height="100" alt="Profile picture for user gregladen" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057133" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193576590"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>the easiest way to do it is to just hire a guy who has had radical surgery.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0BukAy_dko">try this one...</a></p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057133&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="7PzuAiLTiE5-gI-JhzpFhsWsyRltLcw7qwktFmBfE-0"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">circusboy (not verified)</span> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057133">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057134" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193581119"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>That is a very neat trick. I have no idea short of hiring a guy who had a hemicorpectomy.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057134&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="i9qvBf26Csj7Kmd0d6n2gqelRzQJ0EibVS5fcjG9LPM"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/" lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">MarkH (not verified)</a> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057134">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057135" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193581771"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>g is right. I'm a cognitive psychologist and a magician. This guy has combined a number of discrete effects, some of which, as g suggests, are very very old. I've written about (reference upon request) the reaction of natural scientists to magicians and mediums, and have performed in front of natural and social scientists, and the bottom line is that natural scientists tend to be the most gullible audiences of all, occasionally easier to fool than even children. The main factor is that natural scientists are used to investigating nature, which may be complex, but which never lies or deliberately deceives. Magicians have a 3 millenia history of doing both.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057135&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="OvzZQUmJ7aWqygANO-NkyV0_-9L0BVdqk1ReA5L5fBs"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Tom (not verified)</span> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057135">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057136" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193582285"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>I actually looked at some of the other videos from the same magician there on youtube and he does this trick with some other assistants who aren't as convincing. </p> <p>He has a very small person with their legs tucked into their chest (hence the blockiness) on top of someone who is bent over (their torso is in the white cart). He knocks the top person on the the cart, while the lower person remains on the top piece. Misdirection leads to a new set of legs being brought out - they are essentially hollow. The the reconnection occurs, the top half unfolds their legs into the bottom legs (which are stilted to add height I think), stands up, voila.</p> <p>The real trick is finding someone flexible and the right size for the top half. That's a tough trick.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057136&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="6QyVU1Ax7oGmJpq1kv12q7IqhYl8HuZoCINkcQYEsmM"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/" lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">MarkH (not verified)</a> on 28 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057136">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057137" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193655571"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>three words: lower torso amputee</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057137&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="TMPGuECpP79yUsIC6AztOHAwP7VbBUiXxvAQH5aLj6s"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">boojieboy (not verified)</span> on 29 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057137">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> <article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-2057138" class="js-comment comment-wrapper clearfix"> <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1193671946"></mark> <div class="well"> <strong></strong> <div class="field field--name-comment-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>MarkH -- that's one way to do it.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=2057138&amp;1=default&amp;2=en&amp;3=" token="U7MLJyV3B0qlwwv5mn0Lf3fqx65hkn1YV2aXJTIM_oA"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> <footer> <em>By <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Pieter B (not verified)</span> on 29 Oct 2007 <a href="https://scienceblogs.com/taxonomy/term/24399/feed#comment-2057138">#permalink</a></em> <article typeof="schema:Person" about="/user/0"> <div class="field field--name-user-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <a href="/user/0" hreflang="und"><img src="/files/styles/thumbnail/public/default_images/icon-user.png?itok=yQw_eG_q" width="100" height="100" alt="User Image" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </a> </div> </article> </footer> </article> </section> <ul class="links inline list-inline"><li class="comment-forbidden"><a href="/user/login?destination=/grrlscientist/2007/10/28/okay-how-did-the-magician-do-t%23comment-form">Log in</a> to post comments</li></ul> Sun, 28 Oct 2007 08:59:24 +0000 grrlscientist 86068 at https://scienceblogs.com