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Post by everso on Jan 14, 2009 0:44:39 GMT
Did anyone see the Derren Brown show on Channel 4 this evening? That man is unbelievable. This particular show was recorded a few months ago. I know because my daughter and son-in-law went to see it (I even saw my daughter in the audience - cue loud cheers from me). They came home and said it was fantastic. It seems like he's psychic but he claims he's not and that he just "reads" people. Whatever, it's certainly a show I'd like to see. Some of the things he did was so clever, and some members of the audience were blown away by what he did.
Great stuff.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jan 14, 2009 7:26:04 GMT
Did anyone see the Derren Brown show on Channel 4 this evening? That man is unbelievable. This particular show was recorded a few months ago. I know because my daughter and son-in-law went to see it (I even saw my daughter in the audience - cue loud cheers from me). They came home and said it was fantastic. It seems like he's psychic but he claims he's not and that he just "reads" people. Whatever, it's certainly a show I'd like to see. Some of the things he did was so clever, and some members of the audience were blown away by what he did. Great stuff. I watched most of it. Astonishing. Some of it you can just about loosely work out how he does it, but other stuff . . . ? He was blindfolded, shouting out "Woman aged 33, in the stalls, called Sheila" (or whatever) And there WAS a woman of that name, she'd stand up say 'YES' and he'd immediately tell her what her Star Sign is - correctly in al cases. Then, still without looking at the woman or asking questions he'd come out with stuff like: "You lost your father recently. You've got a cat at home called Blakie. You're going on holiday soon" . . Stuff like that. HOW on earth can you do that?
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Post by trubble on Jan 14, 2009 10:57:34 GMT
Because of these great reviews I will watch the repeat. Although I expect it will be easier for him the second time.
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Post by rjpageuk on Jan 14, 2009 13:12:05 GMT
Of the things I found out about in typical magician style (which is what he is) it ruins it, so dont try too hard to find out.
I really like him too although I am a bit fed up of him these days as I used to really like his series on TV but I think it is a bit over the top now.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jan 14, 2009 13:48:08 GMT
Of the things I found out about in typical magician style (which is what he is) it ruins it, so dont try too hard to find out. . I'm not sure this makes sense Rob. Are you saying that you KNOW magic?
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Post by Patrick on Jan 14, 2009 13:49:28 GMT
Sorry, I'm in "The Now Show" camp when it comes to this fellow.
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Post by rjpageuk on Jan 14, 2009 15:56:31 GMT
I'm not sure this makes sense Rob. Are you saying that you KNOW magic? No, in my typical broken English I was saying that Derren Brown is effectively a magician and once you know how he does his tricks it ruins them.
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Post by everso on Jan 14, 2009 21:36:37 GMT
Well, whatever. He was BRILLIANT. And when I saw my daughter today and told her I'd watched it, she said they'd cut loads out and she reckons he probably "Oracled" (if that's the word) about 10% of the audience.
Trubs, when you watch the repeat, look out for my daughter. She's the blond one who caught one of the frisbees (yes, I know that sounds strange, but it will become clear when you watch it) but didn't get to go on stage as she was pipped at the post by the young lad who phoned his dad on stage. She said they cut out the bit where she effed and blinded and stamped her foot because she wasn't picked.
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Post by riotgrrl on Jan 14, 2009 21:59:30 GMT
But Rob's right in that there is a rational way that he has learned to do this. There is no such thing as magic.
It doesn't make it any less astonishing to watch. I lay in my bed last night trying to work out how he might have been able to do some of the tricks, and I couldn't even imagine what skills one develops.
I can just about understand how the charlatan generalist 'psychic' does it . . . "ooh, ooh, does anyone know a dead man with an e in his name" .. . but Brown is far too specific for that approach.
I wish I had those kinds of skills, whatever the hell they are!
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Post by riotgrrl on Jan 14, 2009 22:00:24 GMT
I'm not sure this makes sense Rob. Are you saying that you KNOW magic? No, in my typical broken English I was saying that Derren Brown is effectively a magician and once you know how he does his tricks it ruins them. No, it wouldn't 'ruin' them. It would EXPLAIN them, and that would make me go 'aaaah' and I would feel better and not be left wondering. I'd rather know than be left wondering.
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Post by everso on Jan 14, 2009 22:28:45 GMT
No, in my typical broken English I was saying that Derren Brown is effectively a magician and once you know how he does his tricks it ruins them. No, it wouldn't 'ruin' them. It would EXPLAIN them, and that would make me go 'aaaah' and I would feel better and not be left wondering. I'd rather know than be left wondering. Usually, when we're watching a conjurer or magician on t.v. Mr. E. will give me a running commentary of just how it's all done. Tellingly, last night he fell fast asleep after giving Derren Brown one or two snarls.
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Post by Patrick on Jan 14, 2009 22:58:27 GMT
Usually, when we're watching a conjurer or magician on t.v. Mr. E. will give me a running commentary of just how it's all done. Tellingly, last night he fell fast asleep after giving Derren Brown one or two snarls. Has he read any Stephen Leacock? "The Conjurer's Revenge
"Now, ladies and gentlemen," said the conjurer, "having shown you that the cloth is absolutely empty, I will proceed to take from it a bowl of goldfish. Presto!"
All around the hall people were saying, "Oh, how wonderful! How does he do it?"
But the Quick Man on the front seat said in a big whisper to the people near him, "He-had-it-up-his-sleeve."
Then the people nodded brightly at the Quick Man and said, "Oh, of course"; and everybody whispered round the hall, "He-had-it-up-his-sleeve."
"My next trick," said the conjurer, "is the famous Hindostanee rings. You will notice that the rings are apparently separate; at a blow they all join (clang, clang, clang)--Presto!"
There was a general buzz of stupefaction till the Quick Man was heard to whisper, "He-must-have-had-another-lot- up-his-sleeve."
Again everybody nodded and whispered, "The-rings-were- up-his-sleeve."
The brow of the conjurer was clouded with a gathering frown.
"I will now," he continued, "show you a most amusing trick by which I am enabled to take any number of eggs from a hat. Will some gentleman kindly lend me his hat? Ah, thank you--Presto!"
He extracted seventeen eggs, and for thirty-five seconds the audience began to think that he was wonderful. Then the Quick Man whispered along the front bench, "He-has-a- hen-up-his-sleeve," and all the people whispered it on. "He-has-a-lot-of-hens-up-his-sleeve."
The egg trick was ruined.
It went on like that all through. It transpired from the whispers of the Quick Man that the conjurer must have concealed up his sleeve, in addition to the rings, hens, and fish, several packs of cards, a loaf of bread, a doll's cradle, a live guinea-pig, a fifty-cent piece, and a rocking-chair.
The reputation of the conjurer was rapidly sinking below zero. At the close of the evening he rallied for a final effort.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I will present to you, in conclusion, the famous Japanese trick recently invented by the natives of Tipperary. Will you, sir," he continued turning toward the Quick Man, "will you kindly hand me your gold watch?"
It was passed to him.
"Have I your permission to put it into this mortar and pound it to pieces?" he asked savagely.
The Quick Man nodded and smiled.
The conjurer threw the watch into the mortar and grasped a sledge hammer from the table. There was a sound of violent smashing, "He's-slipped-it-up-his-sleeve," whispered the Quick Man.
"Now, sir," continued the conjurer, "will you allow me to take your handkerchief and punch holes in it? Thank you. You see, ladies and gentlemen, there is no deception; the holes are visible to the eye."
The face of the Quick Man beamed. This time the real mystery of the thing fascinated him.
"And now, sir, will you kindly pass me your silk hat and allow me to dance on it? Thank you."
The conjurer made a few rapid passes with his feet and exhibited the hat crushed beyond recognition.
"And will you now, sir, take off your celluloid collar and permit me to burn it in the candle? Thank you, sir. And will you allow me to smash your spectacles for you with my hammer? Thank you."
By this time the features of the Quick Man were assuming a puzzled expression. "This thing beats me," he whispered, "I don't see through it a bit."
There was a great hush upon the audience. Then the conjurer drew himself up to his full height and, with a withering look at the Quick Man, he concluded:
"Ladies and gentlemen, you will observe that I have, with this gentleman's permission, broken his watch, burnt his collar, smashed his spectacles, and danced on his hat. If he will give me the further permission to paint green stripes on his overcoat, or to tie his suspenders in a knot, I shall be delighted to entertain you. If not, the performance is at an end."
And amid a glorious burst of music from the orchestra the curtain fell, and the audience dispersed, convinced that there are some tricks, at any rate, that are not done up the conjurer's sleeve.
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Post by everso on Jan 14, 2009 23:09:55 GMT
Now THAT was FUNNY!!! That's just the style of humorous writing I enjoy.
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Post by Patrick on Jan 14, 2009 23:44:23 GMT
I don't know if there's been a recent publication of it - my hardback dates to the 1930's. The book is called "Literary Lapses" - it also includes the Hoodoo McFiggin tale that I put up (here) at Christmas. Wonderfully, the whole book's available here
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Post by Patrick on Jan 14, 2009 23:47:24 GMT
Another Favourite:
Borrowing a Match
You might think that borrowing a match upon the street is a simple thing. But any man who has ever tried it will assure you that it is not, and will be prepared to swear to the truth of my experience of the other evening.
I was standing on the corner of the street with a cigar that I wanted to light. I had no match. I waited till a decent, ordinary-looking man came along. Then I said:
"Excuse me, sir, but could you oblige me with the loan of a match?"
"A match?" he said, "why certainly." Then he unbuttoned his overcoat and put his hand in the pocket of his waistcoat. "I know I have one," he went on, "and I'd almost swear it's in the bottom pocket--or, hold on, though, I guess it may be in the top--just wait till I put these parcels down on the sidewalk."
"Oh, don't trouble," I said, "it's really of no consequence."
"Oh, it's no trouble, I'll have it in a minute; I know there must be one in here somewhere"--he was digging his fingers into his pockets as he spoke--"but you see this isn't the waistcoat I generally..."
I saw that the man was getting excited about it. "Well, never mind," I protested; "if that isn't the waistcoat that you generally--why, it doesn't matter."
"Hold on, now, hold on!" the man said, "I've got one of the cursed things in here somewhere. I guess it must be in with my watch. No, it's not there either. Wait till I try my coat. If that confounded tailor only knew enough to make a pocket so that a man could get at it!"
He was getting pretty well worked up now. He had thrown down his walking-stick and was plunging at his pockets with his teeth set. "It's that cursed young boy of mine," he hissed; "this comes of his fooling in my pockets. By Gad! perhaps I won't warm him up when I get home. Say, I'll bet that it's in my hip-pocket. You just hold up the tail of my overcoat a second till I..."
"No, no," I protested again, "please don't take all this trouble, it really doesn't matter. I'm sure you needn't take off your overcoat, and oh, pray don't throw away your letters and things in the snow like that, and tear out your pockets by the roots! Please, please don't trample over your overcoat and put your feet through the parcels. I do hate to hear you swearing at your little boy, with that peculiar whine in your voice. Don't--please don't tear your clothes so savagely."
Suddenly the man gave a grunt of exultation, and drew his hand up from inside the lining of his coat.
"I've got it," he cried. "Here you are!" Then he brought it out under the light.
It was a toothpick.
Yielding to the impulse of the moment I pushed him under the wheels of a trolley-car, and ran.
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Post by trubble on Jan 15, 2009 1:39:41 GMT
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Post by Patrick on Jan 15, 2009 2:00:53 GMT
I like old Hector Hugh Munro for his similar dry style of writing. (Saki) Lovely stuff.
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Post by trubble on Jan 15, 2009 2:14:07 GMT
If your Leacock book is from the 30's, did you inherit it? Mine's an old edition too and I inherited it, and a Saki, and all the Wodehouse - at least I think all - from my grampa.
They are fabulous, very witty and light, and did you know that AA Milne wrote a book along the same lines? Same sort of humour and not as sharp as the above but funny just the same. (Inherited from my great-uncle).
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Post by Patrick on Jan 15, 2009 2:46:36 GMT
If your Leacock book is from the 30's, did you inherit it? Mine's an old edition too and I inherited it, and a Saki, and all the Wodehouse - at least I think all - from my grampa. They are fabulous, very witty and light, and did you know that AA Milne wrote a book along the same lines? Same sort of humour and not as sharp as the above but funny just the same. (Inherited from my great-uncle). "Reprinted - 1930" It says. Three years after the "Cheap Edition" of "1927" and about the 16th reprint. My Dad first showed the book to me when I was young (threatening me with a Hoodoo Christmas I think) thought it has someone elses name inside the front cover - so he may have picked it up/bought it somewhere himself. I had a teacher once who saw this spark in me, and lent me the equally nutty "A,P. Herbert"'s "Misleading Cases" which is another obscure one. I'm not a fan of law books, but that is different. I had a fit of guilt after I'd hung on to it for a little too long and took it back to school (I'd left not long after he lent it to me). I have no idea whether reception passed it back to him as he'd semi retired by then. I hope it did, or perhaps he meant for me to have it, for he was a nice chap. I read P.G.W from the library when I was about 10 or 11. It went well with the likes of Jennings and Darbishire. I have one. A first edition of "If I Were You" which is full of the usual running in and out of French Windows in big houses and mistaken identities. It's in pretty good condition - but not quite in the £1500 catrgory that the likes of abebooks.co.uk would have it at. You've got me intrigued at A.A.Milne now..........
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Post by trubble on Jan 15, 2009 3:06:04 GMT
I don't know some of those names. I'll have to look them up. Curse you and your dedicated teachers! As for Milne, did you like the Winnie-the-Pooh books? I mean, find them funny rather than just cute children's tales? If so, I am sure you would like the Milne book, it was really my sister who inherited it even if I do keep trying to kidnap it, I will ask the name of it next time I see her... but it wasn't a patch on his talent in the Pooh stories, and allegedly that was a thorn in his side, he wanted to be a Leacock and he wanted to write for adults. (Although he wasn't as good as Leacock or Saki). I suppose it's similar to Rowling. She could write a very good adult's book but it is unlikely she will write anything to compare with the appeal of Harry P and so it won't take off. She may be doomed. Unlike Milne, she has made a fortune beyond any writer's dream while keeping her integrity and full control - unheard of. I doubt whether she'll cry too much about 'what might have been' had she been an adult's author. I read the Jeeves series at about the same age but they were all borrowed from my grampa - my own personal library - and that's why I inherited the whole bookshelf when he died. It was really nice to share the enjoyment of them with him because he was thrilled that his collection was being used by a grandchild. Of course, when Fry and Laurie made their TV version (or ''bastardised Wodehouse'' as my gramps was fond of saying) we had another read of them together. I doubt my grandkids will be bothered to borrow my tatty old book collection. It's an embarrassment.
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