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Diss-Illusioned! Magic and the Supernatural..

Diss-Illusioned! Magic and the Supernatural..

Magic, like religion, is ubiquitous, existent in all societies since the dawn of human civilization. Sometimes—in some cultures—the two phenomena have functioned interchangeably, indistinguishably, even in harmony. Since the emergence of monotheism, however, a schism developed as organized religions gradually separated miracles from magic, faith from legerdemain.

Despite such doctrinal determinations, magic and religion (or the supernatural in general) have continued to cross paths, whether inadvertently or intentionally. In the process, proponents of the supernatural have often employed the skills of magic, invariably for profitable ends; adversely, certain magic practitioners have willingly exposed the illusions of their trade in order to unveil the trickery and deceit of those boasting supernatural powers. Such debunking has invariably arrived in humorous form, with “incongruity” humor used as the element of surprise to reveal technique and “superiority” humor deployed to ridicule intents and purposes. Read more..

    http://www.popmatters.com/column/192374-diss-illusioned-magic-and-the-supernatural/       

Atlantic City loses its magic, magicians look elsewhere

Atlantic City loses its magic, magicians look elsewhere

NICOLE LEONARD, Staff Writer Press of Atlantic City.com

On a recent afternoon, Matt Cadabra surveyed the dark warehouse room of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Atlantic City. He pulled off canvas covers and opened boxes to reveal a water torture chamber, medieval guillotine, rabbit boxes, wands and other magic props.

Cadabra performed some of his tricks in front of the museum on the Boardwalk as a sort of sneak peak of his Magic and Dreams show, which he’ll perform in Vineland May 14 to 16.

At one time, Cadabra’s dream was to get a long-term gig at one of Atlantic City’s casino theaters, but the dream has changed as the city has — literally — lost some of its magic. Read more at…

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/atlantic-city-loses-its-magic-magicians-look-elsewhere/article_a8abd0e8-f827-11e4-9154-57086731528b.html

Meet the Magician who Performs for Millionaires

Meet the Magician who Performs for Millionaires

Steve Cohen has been performing magic shows at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel for the past 15 years. As the in-house spell conjurer at one of the world’s most iconic hotels, he’s been dubbed the “Millionaires’ Magician.” Watch the video on the NYP site. I tried posting it here, but couldn’t disable autoplay.. and I HATE autoplay.. Watch it at:

http://nypost.com/video/meet-the-magician-who-performs-for-millionaires/

CONJUROR ON THE RIVER KWAI: How Britain’s oldest magician performed his greatest trick – surviving as a Japanese PoW

CONJUROR ON THE RIVER KWAI: How Britain’s oldest magician performed his greatest trick – surviving as a Japanese PoW

Not many soldiers who fought throughout World War II are still alive. But one group in particular have almost gone now – the men who fought in the Pacific and were captured by the Japanese.

So to have a brand-new memoir from a man who endured the atrocities of the infamous Burma ‘Death Railway’ feels almost like an illusion – rather like the conjuring tricks which, as this astonishing book shows, diverted the Japanese and helped keep Fergus Anckorn alive.

Left for dead in a storm drain in Singapore, one of few survivors of a hospital massacre in which hundreds died, his sheer existence is a miracle. Yet here he is – still sturdy, bright-eyed and cracking jokes at 93, his story made public only because he happened to sit at dinner next to a writer, Peter Fyans, who realised what a tale Anckorn had to tell.

Yes, Fergus was lucky – but he also made his luck. He was shrewd, wiry, determined and quick-witted, all qualities which he would have to call upon.

Yet what saved him was his sleight of hand…  Read more..

(Be sure to watch the BBC2 

22 May 2015 ) 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2085849/CONJUROR-ON-THE-RIVER-KWAI-How-Britains-oldest-magician-performed-greatest-trick–surviving-Japanese-PoW-CAPTIVITY-SLAVERY-AND-SURVIVAL-AS-A-FAR-EAST-POW-BY-PETER-FYANS-Pen–Sword-19-99.html