Archive for August 5th, 2009

Good Magic Evolves

Mike Caveney – magician, author, collector, and all around nifty guy, has said more than once, “Consistancy is the key to good magic.”  I agree with that, but I also believe that good magic evolves with the number of times you perform it.

Case in point – One of the centerpieces …



Audacious Gambits – Don’t Buy Props

Here’s a scary thought – don’t buy a single prop for a month.

Don’t purchase any prop which is not a replacement for something you already have or a “consumable” (paper goods, rope, cards) which gets used up in your act.

This will prompt you to look at what you have and …



Getting There Early II – It’s OK. I work here.

Whenever possible, get on site early.  I’ve said this before, but this time for a diffferent reason – in this case, it will give you a chance to get at least a passing acquaintance with the vendors.Why do that?For one thing, it helps to establish you as a participant rather …



Cheap Magic Sources – Scam School!

I have to give a shout out to the esteemed Mister Brian Brushwood for providing not only a good source for cheap magic wisdom (ie: free), but also a darn entertaining podcast in Scam School – put forth weekly but not weakly, Mr. B shows you a new way each …



Shameless Pluggery – Things You Rarely Hear…

http://thingsyourarelyhearthequeensay.tumblr.com – Being a compilation of dyverse and various statements, epithets, aphorisms and ejeculations one would rarely hear issue from the mouth of Her Most Royal Majestie, Elizabeth Regina Gloriana, Queene of All Englande, Scotland and Ireland. God Save the Queene!

Safe for work as the language is suggestive but …



The English War Bow – Armor Piercing?

Much debate has been made in the past about the penetrative abilities of the war bow when shot at armor our worn by the unfortunate men-at-arms of France. Recent tests have shown that the English War bow is indeed capable of penetrating amour of the type commonly worn by soldiers on the battlefields of the [...]



Unused Byzantine coins found in Bulgaria

Near the village of Yabalkovo, in the Southern Dimitrovgrad municipality of Bulgaria, a team of archaeologists headed by Dr. Krasimir Leshtakov have uncovered two Byzantine coins in perfect condition. Each depicts an image of Byzantine emperor Basil II (later called the Bulgar-slayer) with his son on one side and Jesus Christ on the other. The coins were apparently never used and date to the 11th century.

Find out more in the item at Press TV or the piece at the Sofia News Agency.

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Some "Irish history", by Daniel Hendrix

I am working on several short essays on the composition of Irish forces and soldiery for Saint Patrick’s since we are beginning to include the more militaristic aspects of the late sixteenth century Irish. Here is a piece I put together on the use of the Musket in Ireland: The Musket in Ireland "Two new [...]



"Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand"

By Richard F. Townsend, Robert V. Sharp, Garrick Alan Bailey, Art Institute of Chicago Overview: Along the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi Rivers, the archaeological remains of earthen pyramids, plazas, large communities, and works of art and artifacts testify to Native American civilizations that thrived there between 3000 B.C. and A.D. 1500. This fascinating book presents [...]



Knight Of The Living Dead..Episode 25-26

Episode 25

As the train smoothly moved down the rail, we all took this short time to rest and try to gather our thoughts.

Everyone checked their weapons and magazines to make sure that they were fully loaded and ready to go.

The Deltas stood in a line and checked each others …