Monday, October 31, 2011

Magic Monday - How to Become Sherlock Holmes

I've studied Sherlock Holmes for the past two years. Here's a small snippet from the first part of my notes to get you on your way:

I would have to say that this next paragraph from Watson is the best way to describe the Sherlock Holmes character.

“I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had seen what he has seen, and yet from his words it was evident that he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and grotesque.”

Here's an example of Holmes at work; giving a very, very simple impression such as “I perceive that your bedroom window is upon the right hand side.” What's most fascinating about Holmes, to me, is not that first impression he gives, but his explanation as to how he perceived it:

“My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness which characterizes you. You shave every morning, and in this season you shave by the sunlight: but since your shaving is less and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and inference…. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in the inquest and which are worth considering.”

Sherlock Holmes seems to work around a certain aspect of things to predict. He will predict strange body flaws, facial traits, psychological ticks, and careers.

Remember that Sherlock Holmes is a character himself, he is not a real person. Think of what you do and who you are as though you were a mystery novel writer, Sir Conan Doyle himself. Write the events in an interesting, fascinating, and believable (enough) manner. That is what is truly important. Name unique, wild, and wonderful impressions that come to mind

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Outsourced - How to Live Forever






“People will do almost anything if they think it will help them cheat death. The futurist Ray Kurzweil has utterly transformed his lifestyle in a bid to live until 2050, by when he thinks technology will allow his consciousness to be uploaded into a computer, making him immortal.

His anti-ageing regimen is based on established research that has identified ways to slow the process. Cutting your intake of calories and getting plenty of exercise both seem to help.

One of Kurzweil’s ploys is to get lots of sleep too. In this, he is unwittingly emulating the Djungarian hamster. These rodents use short hibernatory naps to reverse the ageing process.”

Dozy hamsters reverse the ageing process

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Where I Stand - Short-cuts






I've forgotten what it's like to sit outside. I just did it, just now, a few minutes ago.

Well, two weeks ago. I'm writing this just after having done it, but my website robots decide when to post it.

Anyway, it was really nice to sit on my patio. I've been here six months and haven't really taken advantage of that patio. I also haven't taken advantage of the swimming pool. I have, however, taken advantage of the garbage can at the swimming pool that is much closer than the dumpster at the other end of the apartment complex. I received a letter today telling me to no longer throw any of my garbage in the trash can or else I will be charged for them having to dump it!

Some people would get upset, but not me. I was taking a short-cut and got called out on it. That's just what I do. I test the system, I look for holes, I crawl up in those holes and take a nap. Oh yeah, I also show up late.

This week I'm testing my own system. I'm going to call myself out on keeping to my budget. I didn't go out and do anything today. I didn't get in my car once. Normally that would upset me or make me feel like I didn't accomplish anything today, but I did. I saved! I saved gas, I saved money I would have spent wherever I went out. I stuck to my budget AND am even getting ahead of it. It's quite exciting.

Next year I have to start paying upwards of $100 a month on insurance. I'm not looking forward to that at all and I feel that it is a H U G E waste for me to get. Perhaps I should have only gotten dental insurance or only medical, but both? I don't feel that I'll be able to afford it or make it worthwhile. However, I am still the same person I've always been, so I'll find the way to make it worthwhile and somehow I'll afford it (sorry mom, but maybe in 2013 I'll start paying my phone bill...?)

However, this week is my first step. Not necessarily towards paying for my insurance, because living insanely frugile and saving an extra $20 is not going to be a big enough step, but it is a step. Once I get rid of my old credit card debt I'll have a decent sized gap that I can push a new bill into. Unfortunately that gap won't be created in time for January 1st's new insurance bill, but you really never know.

Long story short, I've been doing good this week, but I've also been doing a lot of nothing. I miss having hangouts, having someone to come home to, and having a purpose for the downstairs portion of my townhouse. I should really get a kitchen table, a tv stand, and/or a couch.

Perhaps my secret goal to win the lottery next year should be an actual goal. Until then, hooray for short-cuts.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Quick Update - 1994 Tour




I've had a bit of a technological problem with the videos recorded in Michigan. Apparently DSL really is slow and it's caused my MI based camera man to be unable to upload anything, but I went out yesterday afternoon in Texas and recorded some brand new videos to put up this Thursday.

The 1994 Tour continues on. I'm in the middle of four shows in three weeks, how exciting! This is perhaps the busiest I've ever been and it's such a nice kind of busy. I had a show on Saturday at the Autism Walk at Reliant Park. This is the first walk I've been involved with that had no grass in sight, just a parking lot and Reliant Stadium blocking out the sun!

I had a blast and I say that at each show, but it's still true. I made it snow, which is something that I've been claiming to do for years and finally saw my chance to make it happen! I read some minds, bent some forks, and got kidnapped by some mascots to do magic for thirty minutes in their bus!

November is fast approaching which gets me excited for my next #SecretShow! The first #SecretShow went much better than I expected. I picked out a nice performance spot, got to practice some material, and also met my current Texas camera man. So I can't wait to see when, where, or what the next #SecretShow will be!

Until then, thanks for subscribing, liking, following, sharing, and watching. I'm going to get to sleep by listening to some Sea Change by Beck.

Friday, October 21, 2011

New Playlist up in Steve TV

"The Playlist"

On Fridays "The Playlist" will be updated with magic videos from YouTube forming a full magic show.

Along with The Playlist is the regular Steve TV section which is updated each week with The Used Magician videos forming it's own full 22 minute magic show.



This week, The Playlist celebrates a different kind of magic.

Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and comment links to your videos if you want to include them in The Playlist!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Fan Poll - Hidden Designs

Join the Facebook Fan Page and let your opinion be known in the Tuesday Fan Poll!

What designs would you expect to see in the upcoming "Steve, The Amazing" deck of cards? What designs would you Like to see?

Monday, October 17, 2011

Magic Monday - 8 Tracks

I spend Mondays working on creating my own magic effects. I sit back with the cellphone off in my little work space at the apartment and put on some music. Usually it's NIN's "Ghosts" in order to promote an atmosphere of creativity as well as to shut out other distractions.

Here's a mix for your own days of creativity:

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Outsourced - Hipnotizados!

Hipnotizados!

Forty-one Colombian high school students experienced mass-panic and had to be taken to hospital following a hypnotism show at the culmination of their annual ‘Fun Day’.

Out of an amassed (paying) audience of 590 students, eight were put into a trance by Miller Zambrano Posada who then made them lift their arms, walk in circles, cry like babies, laugh hysterically, bark like dogs and act like chickens (were it not for the setting, one could be forgiven for thinking that they were behaving like a very normal group of teenagers during breaktime).

The performance was concluded to a round of unforced applause, but as the eight students made their way back to their seats the proceedings appeared to go a bit “Pete Tong”.

Some children in the audience began crying while others dived to the ground for no reason Others beat their chests with the palms of their hands and one female student screamed that she could see ‘the devil’

A total of forty one students experienced what has been described as a mass panic, only one of whom had been an on-stage participant in the hypnotism routine.

Whilst the children were escorted to the hospital, Miller Zambrano Posada was escorted off the premises in police custody facing charges of witchcraft from the parents and teachers.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Export 4

Export is my video diary that documents my move from Michigan to Texas. Here is the fourth video, which I'll admit, get's a little wild. I was going through a bit of cabin fever at the time from being inside the apartment too much!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

October Fan Page Discount

Look for a new Promotion each month exclusively on the Facebook Fan Page!

Click "Like" to learn about October's current Promotional Discount. A new money saving promo will be available the first Sunday of each month.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Outsourced - Nicolas Cage is a Time Traveler

www.TheStir.cafemom.com

Nicolas Cage 'Vampire' Claim Is Pretty Creepy
Posted by Cynthia Dermody




I always knew there was something off about Nicolas Cage, and not just his drunk and disorderly behavior, penchant for wacko baby names, or his eyebrows. I mean, that's like every other celebrity you throw a rock at on the street. Isn't it strange that the supposedly 47-year-old actor looks virtually unchanged since his first big hit Moonstruck all the way back in the '80s? Well, Jack Mord and I don't think so. And the Seattle photo archivist has a photo to prove it.

He claims the Civil War photo at left is none other than Nicolas Cage. And looking at it, there can only be three possible explanations:

1. It's a fake (Mord says it can be proven authentic).

2. It's a guy that just really looks like Cage, and Cage's youthfulness is due to plastic surgery tips he picked up from his co-star Cher while filming Moonstruck.

3. The photo proves Nicolas Cage is really a vampire!

I'm going with number 3.

I'll admit there are some holes in this theory. For some reason, Mord's auction of the photo on eBay today (for a cool $1 mil) was either pulled by the site or Mord himself, but not before explaining the origins:

Read More...

Friday, October 7, 2011

The Playlist

The Steve TV section has been updated with a brand new set of videos:

"The Playlist"

On Fridays "The Playlist" will be updated with magic videos from YouTube forming a full magic show.

Along with The Playlist is the regular Steve TV section which is updated each week with The Used Magician videos forming it's own full 22 minute magic show.

Now the Steve TV page is not only a great way to see me perform before booking me, but also a spot to see some of the web's greatest magic moments.

Also, subscribe to the YouTube Channel and comment links to your videos if you want to include them in The Playlist!



This week on the Playlist is perhaps David Blaine's best special to date. Lots of magic in this. It's called "What is Magic?"

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Facebook Fan Poll - Stanley Cup Prediction

Join the Facebook Fan Page and let your opinion be known in the Tuesday Fan Poll!

Two months ago I made my most challenging prediction of my career, attempting to predict the Stanley Cup Champion before the season even begins.

Now it's your turn. Head to the Fan Page for this week's Fan Poll asking:

"Who will be the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion?"

Monday, October 3, 2011

Secret Shows

The first Saturday Secret Show has been announced!

Each Secret Show will be announced on the Facebook Fan Page and on The Used Magician Twitter feed.

What is a Secret Show? It's a full (free) magic act in a random, secret, location. Secret Shows will occur one Saturday a month and be announced only a week in advance. They can occur anywhere, so make sure to "Like" or "Follow" The Used Magician this Fall.

Got a suggestion for a Secret Show location? Please feel free to leave a comment below or at the Fan Page.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Steve du Jour

Here's the Website Update Schedule for the "1994 Relaunch"

Monday: Magic Monday's
Magic podcasts of what I'm working on and music uploads of what I'm listening to in order to get into that creative mood.

Tuesday: Facebook Fan Poll

Wednesday: Where I Stand Blog

Thursday: Steve TV video update

Friday: "The Playlist"
Part of the Steve TV section

Saturday: Secret Shows

Sunday: Promotions
Monthly Show Discounts on the Facebook Fan Page

Saturday, October 1, 2011

"Fan Obsolescence 6"

Unplanned Obsolescence: Live Live by fanqmon

Guest Mixer Fangmon

a mix that consists of all live music called
"Unplanned Obsolescence: Live Live"

Rammstein - Seeman
The Cinematic Orchestra - All That You Give
The Great Society With Grace Slick - Arbitration
Sonic Youth - Hard Work [Live]
Bob Grossman - Viva la Quince Brigada
The Cinematic Orchestra - Flite
Beck - Howling Wolves (Bon Jovi in a Vacuum Cleaner)
Beck - Casio (Good Stuff)
Bob Grossman - Fox
Rammstein - Das Modell (Kraft Werk Cover)
Arlro Guithrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Strong Bad - Everybody To The Limit (Live)
Sonic-Farnicle - Is Your Name (Rob, Robbie, Robert, Bobby, Or Bob?)
The Great Society With Grace Slick - White Rabbit
Neil Young - Natural Beauty