Copperfield finds fountain of youth

[Skiltch]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060815/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_copperfield

Two things about this interest me:

1. David Copperfield is a professional and world famous magician, so it seems that he'd be less likely to be hoaxed, and
2. He's bringing in actual scientists to check his claims, instead of just selling the stuff, which is also nice.

Seems that it would count for the million bucks too.

[tkingdoll]

Yes, and it just happens to be on a private island...that he owns!

Who'da thunk it?

[fishbait]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/fishbait/11111.jpg

[Skiltch]

Heh. Yeah, imagine that. Think we should write him a letter and tell him how to recoup a million bucks of his investment? It'd be pretty easy to design a protocal, I think.

(Note: I can't seem to edit my first post. I realized that I forgot to say that my interest doesn't mean I believe in it, only that I'm curious to see how this turns out because of the people involved. and hopeful that Copperfield won't be too proud to admit his mistake [since he seems sincere about bringing in actual experts in an attempt to actually discover what effects the water has, it looks like he's actually looking for the truth and not just believing what people tell him]). Anyone know why this might be)?

[tkingdoll]

Heh. Yeah, imagine that. Think we should write him a letter and tell him how to recoup a million bucks of his investment? It'd be pretty easy to design a protocal, I think.

(Note: I can't seem to edit my first post. I realized that I forgot to say that my interest doesn't mean I believe in it, only that I'm curious to see how this turns out because of the people involved. and hopeful that Copperfield won't be too proud to admit his mistake [since he seems sincere about bringing in actual experts in an attempt to actually discover what effects the water has, it looks like he's actually looking for the truth and not just believing what people tell him]). Anyone know why this might be)?

Erm...is it not more likely that he's just trying to drum up trade for his newly-acquired island (which can be rented for a small fee, ho hum)? Bringing in scientists etc would just be part of the covert marketing strategy.

[Dazed]

How would you design a protocol? It would take observation on the scale of decades to confirm or deny a formula that makes you stop aging.

[Senor_Pointy]

How would you design a protocol? It would take observation on the scale of decades to confirm or deny a formula that makes you stop aging.

Not if they claim it works on animals as well as humans.

Do they claim that?

[tkingdoll]

Not if they claim it works on animals as well as humans.

Do they claim that?

He claims it works instantly on leaves. Pretty easy to test.

[kittynh]

Leaves?

Oh dear....

It's just so silly.

I'm at the point where if it sounds silly, it is.

Maybe he read "TUck Everlasting" as a child.

[soulhill]

How would you design a protocol? It would take observation on the scale of decades to confirm or deny a formula that makes you stop aging.

Fortunately, he is claiming it brings leaves back to life. This would be a pretty easy thing to confirm or refute.

[pounce]

my first suspicion is that it's a set up for a future trick of his. this is just a matter of spin or publicity. no reason to take it as anything more than than that.

[EGarrett]

Use it on an infant, will only take a year or two to tell.

[SirPhilip]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060815/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_copperfield

Two things about this interest me:

1. David Copperfield is a professional and world famous magician, so it seems that he'd be less likely to be hoaxed, and
2. He's bringing in actual scientists to check his claims, instead of just selling the stuff, which is also nice.

Seems that it would count for the million bucks too. Please tell me this a joke, and if it is, try to convince me it is funny. In any case, I can't wait to hear what Randi will think of this. David is one of, if not the best, magicians in the world. :boggled:

[lolurigeller]

two words: publicity stunt.

[Loss Leader]

Two things about this interest me:

[snip]
2. He's bringing in actual scientists to check his claims, instead of just selling the stuff, which is also nice.




And I remember at least one escape artist who used to bring respected community leaders onstage to tie him up. And there was at least one horror movie that offered to buy a casket for anyone who was frightened to death at a showing.

Saying he's bringing in scientists is a whole lot different than actually bringing in scientists.

[soulhill]

Please tell me this a joke, and if it is, try to convince me it is funny. In any case, I can't wait to hear what Randi will think of this. David is one of, if not the best, magicians in the world. :boggled:

I've been pretty unimpressed with him since he made an oversized cardboard cut out of the statue of liberty fall over while a group of paid extras pretended it disappeared.

It is disingenuous to claim no camera tricks when any 5 year old on location would blow the trick.

My point is that Copperfield can't be trusted, whether this is a set up for an illusion or some scam he is ramping up.

[SirPhilip]

I've been pretty unimpressed with him since he made an oversized cardboard cut out of the statue of liberty fall over while a group of paid extras pretended it disappeared. My point is that Copperfield can't be trusted, whether this is a set up for an illusion or some scam he is ramping up. Announcing to the world you've found the Cup of Christ in the form of some small body of water on a $50 million island estate in the Bahamas you own isn't funny. On one hand, obviously it sounds like the setup for a spectacular, miracle-themed grand illusion. On the other, there are countless desperate people out there this will motivate into a false hope. I just hope he plans on revealing the gist of the whole thing soon, lest it publically backfire on him. Speaking of the public, Randi has (wrongly) chastised him before, which David immediately straightened out with him for the record. This will no less be a very interesting exchange, if it does happen again. Especially considering the circumstances: two magicians, one who goes after people claiming to perform real magic, and another, someone who claims to perform illusions which are, for the most part, actually impossible to seperate from real magic.

[Beady]

Fortunately, he is claiming it brings leaves back to life. This would be a pretty easy thing to confirm or refute.

Yeah. With a master illusionist. Easy. Right.

[Foolmewunz]

A geologist and a biologist?

Is the geologist going to whack the biologist in the head with a rock?

Wouldn't you lean towards a Gerontologist and/or a Botanist. If you claim you've found the fountain of youth, someone who does research into the process and effects of aging would be ideal. And if he claims he can rejuvenate leaves, then bring a botanist.

I agree that it's a setup for some sort of trick. If not, he's going to have the Texas Pissing Tree crowd out in force and I think that'd be so wrong as to inspire the word "sickening".

[Correa Neto]

A geologist and a biologist?

Is the geologist going to whack the biologist in the head with a rock?

...snip...

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Any geo would use his/hers geological hammer to whack anyone's head.
Check this link (http://www.estwing.com/) and you'll see why.

[soulhill]

Yeah. With a master illusionist. Easy. Right.

Yes. Easy. With a strict protocal of non-interference, the claim that dead leaves return to life is simple to test. Several independent persons could bring their own dead leaves (or raisins or whatever) place them in the water and if they return to life, then we have something worthy of study.

My vote would be for James Randi to be one of those performing the test. I would also be happy to volounteer my wife and I, if Mr. Copperfield will pick up the tap and if there is enough time to do some scuba before we return home. :)

If, on the other slight of hand, the leaves will only return to life when handled by Mr. Copperfield or his associates, then we have a useless test.

I would also like to know if Mr. Copperfield has spent enough time in the water to return his hairstyle to it's 80's stage mullet glory.

[Meffy]

Wonder if Copperfield might've imported some "Resurrection Plant" (http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/resurrection_plant.htm).

As for his other claim, I've seen insects -- houseflies, mosquitoes -- that were close to death take off flying. Then I swatted them dead. That's how close to death they were, mere seconds away. Didn't take any magic at all to achieve this effect.

[chillzero]

My bet?
I think he wants a quiet retirement.

He buys a nice island or two, and creates a story about the fountain of youth.
Peope doubt him.
He 'gets upset' and locks himself off on the island with no contact for a month or two.
He 're-appears' - 20 years younger and completely rejuvenated and picks up his career at a new high.
The world is stunned.

(The real David Copperfield is sunning himself happily in retirement)

(David C. 'jr' does not have to spend years building up a reputation for himself as a magician - potentially disabled as much as helped by the fact he resembles David so much).

[Cuddles]

My bet?
I think he wants a quiet retirement.

He buys a nice island or two, and creates a story about the fountain of youth.
Peope doubt him.
He 'gets upset' and locks himself off on the island with no contact for a month or two.
He 're-appears' - 20 years younger and completely rejuvenated and picks up his career at a new high.
The world is stunned.

(The real David Copperfield is sunning himself happily in retirement)

(David C. 'jr' does not have to spend years building up a reputation for himself as a magician - potentially disabled as much as helped by the fact he resembles David so much).

That sounds pretty much like the episode of CSI I saw last night.

[socialsniper]

my first suspicion is that it's a set up for a future trick of his. this is just a matter of spin or publicity. no reason to take it as anything more than than that.

That's my assumption too, unless he's gone a bit weird like David Blane.