Filesharing, P2P, Limewire, eDonkey, Kazaa. In the minds of some, these are all the same thing: a convenient method by which files may be located and downloaded. In the minds of others, it’s something different: a convenient method by which unauthorized copies of files may be located and downloaded. As with most things, which definition […]

On March 3, 2005 I wrote about a note I received from Thomas Weynants regarding a new section of his web site. This section was dedicated to “Prestidigitation, Conjuring & Magic in relation to photography and pre-cinema” and I thought it was great. Since then, Thomas has added so much I thought it was worth […]

As I’ve mentioned before, I decided early on that, among the things Escamoteurettes would be, one of the things largely it would not be is topical. When the volcano of the week erupts, there are a half-dozen or so blogs out there to cover the event from many angles. It’s not that I’m dispassionate about […]

As much as my constitution allows, I stay away from train wreck television. Which means when the glass boob is glowing, it’s showing me a good movie or news or history or the goofy graphics associated with the music channels I listen to. And that means I don’t watch network “news” or what passes for […]

First, some immortal words: I’ve got something to say, boys, I’ve got something to say. Just as soon as I can find a way, boys, I’ve got something to say. Okay, maybe not exactly immortal words, but they’re pretty good ones from David Allen Coe from his 1980 album “I’ve Got Something to Say” — […]

As you have probably surmised, I have a soft spot for mentalism-oriented blogs. So when a new one appears, I’m happy. Tonight, I’m happy. I received an email from the author of Newman’s Blog pointing me towards it. After reading the first two posts I can’t wait for the next. From the blog description: This […]

I’ve been terribly derilect in my duties in keeping my blogroll up to date. Links make the blog — both incoming and outgoing. I do my best to pepper my posts with interesting links that are, on the surface, only tangentially related to the words from which they are linked. I hope some of you […]

How do you find a web site? As a general rule, most people find a web site through another web site. It could be a site you already have visited. It could be a search engine’s results. One site links to another, you click the link, and like magic here you are. That’s how the […]

Steve Pellegrino, on his blog Magic Rants, posted a note about Richard Stokes’s website about Jasper Maskelyne. As you probably already know from reading this blog, I am a fan of the history of magic. And Steve’s post called to mind a note I sent back in November of last year in to a Yahoo! […]

Those intimately familiar with Phil Goldstein’s Color Series know a couple of things. They know these booklets originally sold for a very small amount of money. They know the material, while not overflowing the covers, was thought provoking and practical for a working mentalist. They also know the prices these booklets fetched on the eBay […]