Archive for the ‘Awesome’ Category

As I sit across from the table I can tell Rudy Coby is using one of his superhero powers to try and figure out what’s up. He’s cordial, but I can sense he knows something is afoot. Like Lex Luther meeting Superman or Ra’s al Ghul and Batman, or maybe even a Batman versus Superman meet up, there’s a mental chess match going on.

The conversation is polite. We share some stories and viewpoints. I keep waiting for him to relent and give me what I want. Something I’ve been after for 10 years. If I can obtain it, I know world domination will be MINE.

As I look down at the suitcase by his feet I can tell it’s in there. I sense its presence calling to me. I think of a distraction. Maybe I could claim flesh eating beetles are attacking his face and throw my drink in his eyes and grab it and run. I wrap my fingers around my glass preparing to do just that when he slides the suitcase back a few inches wedging it between himself and the wall. Damn your cunningness Rudy Coby.

I keep ordering more soft drinks hoping he’ll have to take a bathroom break sooner or later. Its a desperate ploy, I know. Yet, after an eternity it works. Rudy politely excuses himself to use the restroom. It’s mine!

I lean over the suitcase ready to take what I’ve been after. Something a long time ago he agreed to provide me with it but then it never arrived. I knew then he was on to me.

As my hand reaches towards the suitcase it freezes. It’s too easy. It’s a trick. He’s booby trapped the suitcase. I look at the other diners in the restaurant and have a vision of one of his horrific Labman science experiments ripping a hole in the building and the ensuing carnage. No. Not his style. I’m the only who would get hurt.

Whatever trap is in there it’d have to be poetic. A squirt gun loaded with acid? A giant Yeti fist ready to deliver an uppercut? 1,000 cubic feet of compressed silly string? Maybe even a booby trap filled with actual blue footed booby birds?

My mind is reeling with the possibilities when I sense his wraithlike presence near the table. Damn you Rudy Coby. Invisibility ray? I feign picking up my napkin and placing it in my lap.

The conversation continues. He tells me of his plans for his new secret lair. I’m impressed. I listen and keep eyeing the suitcase. In my head I’m thinking of starting fires. Kicking tables and faking earthquakes. Anything to create a distraction.

Finally it’s time for him to depart. I get the vague impression the waitress passed him a note. Probably from the president about a science emergency only he can stop. Perhaps one of my experiments gone awry. Again.

As we’re leaving it he hands it to me. As simply as that. The fool just gives it to me. I laugh out loud. A little too maniacal for the other diners. I don’t care. I flip through the pages to make sure it’s legit and not just blank pages or worse some old Archie comic.

It’s the real thing! And I didn’t even have to fake a nosebleed or a seizure to get it.

Rudy says goodbye. I grunt and wave him off.

I start walking down the street the other way. I’m transfixed by what I’m reading. Suddenly I hear furious footsteps. I turn around and Rudy Coby has turned into full-on Labman mode! He lunges at me as if in a warning. And my god, he’s got bionic crystal arms! WTF?

I cower in fear and timidly hold the document out in front of me. He grimaces then fades into the night. Which was kind of odd, because it was broad daylight.

As I look at my prize still in my hands I realize it was part of his plan. I was just one tiny insignificant fly in his web. I was being tested like Hal Jordan for the Green Lantern Corps or maybe like James Rhodes with Tony Stark.

—

The first chance I get I pour through his lecture notes that have been denied to me for so long. It was everything I was seeking and more. It’s all there! It was like Batman handing you his utility belt and the keys to the Batmobile. Or Lex Luther giving you use of his brain or me lending you my Yeti Armor. I re-read them again and laughed my maniacal laugh again. This time I was on an airplane. The other passengers eyed me nervously. I pretend it was a weird yawn and look out the window. For a fleeting second I could have sworn I saw Rudy Coby sitting on the wing nodding knowingly and then leaping off into oblivion. It was a trick of the light I assure myself. Pretty sure.

What could be so important? So earth-shattering? I’d tell you but you must earn it for yourself or at least just buy it.

The most important part of the 25-page lecture notes to me comes down to his section called “3 minutes”. What does it mean? I won’t tell you. In fact to most people it’s totally wasted. However, if you’re an original thinker looking to step light years ahead of everyone else, you must get his lecture notes and read this section. It can change your life. It’s that big of a deal.

Being crazy and original isn’t enough. You have to figure out how to bring that to your audience. Rudy explains precisely that. Like I said, for most people it’ll sail right over their heads. But for a self-selected few…

You can buy Rudy Coby’s lecture notes: How To Become A World Famous Magician (Or At Least Look Like One) at his website RudyCoby.net

Check out this Decembers issue of MAGIC Magazine.

Actor Michael Rooker on why you should follow Weird Things on Twitter @weirdthingscom.

IMDB: Michael Rooker

Did we make contact with Houdini? Well, with over 700 people watching live and the fun time we had, something supernatural had to have occurred.

Thanks to James Randi for making a special appearance and to David Copperfield, Teller, Penn Jillette, David Nott, Michael Shermer, Phil Plait and Barry and Stuart for contributing words to our seance. Thanks to the Ustream folks for hooking it all up.

Thanks to Joke & Biagio for taking the screen cap below!

Here’s the embed of the show:

Batman pajamas, Animal Muppet, life was good back then.

Since I travel a lot, I listen to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts on my Mac and iPhone. I thought I might recommend a few of my favorite podcasts (I’ll recommend some audiobooks in another post).

Smodcast
This is Kevin Smith’s podcast. It is hands down the best podcast ever. It’s foul, explicit and usually produced by Kevin when he is high as a kite, but the man knows how to tell a story and describe the most fascinating scenarios that you just can’t explain to non-listeners without looking insane.
Link


TED
If you’re not already familiar with the podcasts the TED conference releases on its talks, you’re denying yourself some pure thought provoking gold. My favorite talks include Craig Venter on Syntehtic Genomics and JJ Abrams on the Mystery Box.
Link


Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders
If technology and business are interests of yours, you should check this podcast out. IT features some of tech’s leading visionairies.
Link


The Official Lost Podcast
This is by Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. They give some fascinating insight into the behind the scenes of the show and answer fan questions. It’s really well done and shows the right level of fan engagement.
Link


Scam School
Brian Brushwood is a great guy and a hilarious entertainer. Scam School is Brian’s hands on podcast showing you how to score free drinks at the bar and other fun stuff.
Link


Magic Week in Review
All bias aside, this is a fantastic podcast. Each week Justin Robert Young goes over the biggest stories in magic along with some amazing guests. Justin is a great broadcaster and has excellent report with the guests.
Link


Magic Stars Podcast
This is another iTricks podcast, and it is of course awesome. It’s also a great way to find out what your favorite magicians are up to.
Link

I took this photo outside Disneyland. It’s of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. No retouching took place. This is exactly how the photo appeared!

Here’s the video for those of you who missed it. 6 hours of Andrew Maynia…


See me talk about Illusion EFX!!!
Watch as I do Pressure with my head!!!
Listen as I try to explain how to use the plot of Wings of Desire as a magic trick!!!

All this and more!

Illusion EFX is now available!



Buy now for only $24.95! (free US and Canada shipping)

International orders $24.95 (plus $3.50 shipping and handling

Here’s the video segment where they plug WeirdThings.com. This totally caught me my surprise.

To celebrate launch day of G4 Underground I went with my partner, Mary Jaras, to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. The best part about the whole park? They have an actual balloon you can take 400 feet in the air to see the entire park and taunt the animals. It’s a helium balloon with a circular platform. The whole contraption is connected to the ground by a cable that reels the balloon in and out.

Here’s the view from up there:

This is the actual gondola you stand in: