Magician's help needed.

The Atheist · 6th February 2007, 01:09 PM

We've been discussing a "miracle" which occurred during a Eucharist service in France - at Lourdes, of course.

Here's the video - the plate holding the sacred host lifts about 1 cm into the air then stays there:

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I AGREE

To me, it seems to have been done like this:

Air cushioning is another explanation offerred.

I'd like to get some professional opinion on how you'd go about this. I don't think it would contravene the giving away of secrets rule as it's a church and a genuine miracle, so we're only supposing how we mere mortals could attempt to duplicate such a divine miracle.

Cheers

firecoins · 6th February 2007, 01:18 PM

I don't know what the exact secret is but it isn't floating. Certainly clear lifts could be used.

Garrette · 6th February 2007, 01:21 PM

I don't know how it was done, but if I were trying to duplicate it I would rig a simple spring-loaded stand. The stand can be thin and clear so it is unnoticeable, but it need not be in this case. Watch the video and notice that you cannot see completely under the levitated plate. There is nothing prevented the back edge from being the support edge.

When I read the title of the other thread this was in, I assumed thread as the answer. That's conceivable, too, but would require some thought on where and how to rig it since the celebrants move around.

Which leads to the last bit: There are a lot of camera cuts, so this need not all be one take.

Rasmus · 6th February 2007, 01:32 PM

I am no expert, but read some of the comments on the site suggesting that this is not a genuine catholic mass we see here.

Magnets might work, you could probably bake them into the host, even. That way, you could actually perform the miracle without the involvement of anyone on stage.

Aircussions would be possible, too, but I guess it would be risky since the host might fall off of the cushion.

Lifting it with 3 small, opaque stilts would probably do the trick. It's only an inch or so in the air, so it would be hard to spot anything underneath the host. Actually, one moving stilt towards the priest would do if it was attached to the host.

Finally, the silver dish on the right is blocking the view to part of the host through the entire video. Lots of space to attach any mechanisms could chose to use.

Finally, am I asked to believe that a real miracle could be observed without anyone so much as gasping? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!

Orangutan · 6th February 2007, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Atheist

To me, it seems to have been done like this:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting...8d3132d66d.jpg

No Not magnets like that. It would break Earnshaw's theorem, which would be a real miracle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnshaw%27s_theorem

However using superconductors it could be done something like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconductor. However thats a lot of trouble to go to when as it has been pointed out there are easier ways to produce that effect in the video. Fishing line anyone?

Azrael 5 · 6th February 2007, 03:21 PM

The video was annoyingly slow but from what I saw the upwards motion of the Priest's hands at the beginning he was setting something in operation.
I was thinking something like this:
http://www.levitron.com/

The Atheist · 6th February 2007, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Orangutan

No Not magnets like that. It would break Earnshaw's theorem, which would be a real miracle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnshaw%27s_theorem

Uhh, no it wouldn't. If you read far enough on that Wiki page, you would have got to:

Quote:

This theorem also states that there is no possible static configuration of ferromagnets which can stably levitate an object against gravity, even when the magnetic forces are stronger than the gravitational forces. There are, however, several exceptions to the rule's assumptions which allow magnetic levitation.

With magnetic levitation as described here (as well as Azrael's post below yours), it can certainly be done.

In fact, now that I see the photo on that page, I am convinced that this exactly what they're up to. Go check it out.

jsfisher · 6th February 2007, 03:42 PM

In the closer views of the host, it appears to be slightly curved. If so, then I'd think an air cushion would be the easiest way to levitate it.

Peter S. · 6th February 2007, 05:43 PM

It looks like air to me as well, especially the way it pops up and wiggles. If it were a real levitation it would rise more smoothly.

The Atheist · 6th February 2007, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Peter S.

If it were a real levitation it would rise more smoothly.

That bit I agree with entirely.

Your professional opinion is good as well. You don't think compressed air would be a bit unweildy to work in that situation?

I think I'll add a poll!

jsfisher · 6th February 2007, 05:55 PM

By the way, does this discussion fly in the face of the rule against revealing magicians' secrets? I'd think no, since it is about debunking a fraud, but I'd rather not unintentionally disflavor with urine the oaten breakfast cereal of any of the moderators.

Peter S. · 6th February 2007, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by The Atheist

That bit I agree with entirely.

Your professional opinion is good as well. You don't think compressed air would be a bit unweildy to work in that situation?...

I don't think so. Look at the convex shape of the host.

The Atheist · 6th February 2007, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by jsfisher

By the way, does this discussion fly in the face of the rule against revealing magicians' secrets? I'd think no, since it is about debunking a fraud, but I'd rather not unintentionally disflavor with urine the oaten breakfast cereal of any of the moderators.

I can't imagine a professional magician would ever use such a lame trick.

Brown · 6th February 2007, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by The Atheist

I can't imagine a professional magician would ever use such a lame trick.

Really? I can. In fact, I've seen professional performers use any several methods to perform similar feats. The professionals, of course, use more showmanship, and make it seem like a bigger deal than it really is. But the secrets are rather mundane.

The Atheist · 6th February 2007, 11:30 PM

Hope none of them charge to get in.

Orangutan · 7th February 2007, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by The Atheist

Uhh, no it wouldn't. If you read far enough on that Wiki page, you would have got to:
Snip.

Yes, I know, that but thats not what you asked. You gave a diagram that was a static arrangement of magnets that had non of the exceptions that allow stable levitation. If you can get stable levitation with that arrangement I would be very surprised.
So you would either have to be spinning the wafer like the levitron toy, this system would collapse once it had slowed down, or you either need an arrangement of large magnets and a diamagnetic wafer or you need a magnetic wafer and a superconducting material underneath it.
I think that all the above solutions would be far more complex than some other lifting device like a black block, even pins that could come up through the bottom wafer but lift the top would not be seen on that video.
o.

Edit to add, In addition my incredulity comes from owning some of the levitating carbon and toys. The Diamagnetic effect is very small, I do not think you could raise a wafer with it.

Garrette · 7th February 2007, 08:08 AM

I agree that magnets are among the least likely solution. It is physically supported.

Brown · 7th February 2007, 08:15 AM

Folks, if this is indeed a cheap trick, you may wish to consider one of James Randi's favorite stories (and I'm paraphrasing):

Randi was attending a magic act with a prominent scientist. The act featured a levitation by the performer. The scientist was duly impressed, but he remarked to Randi that the performance was risky. Why risky? Because the levitation was obviously accomplished with the aid of magnets, the scientist explained, and such an intense magnetic field could adversely affect those in the audience with pacemakers.

Randi had to patiently explain that the effect was achieved by less--uh--risky means. Rather bland means.

Garrette · 7th February 2007, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Brown

Folks, if this is indeed a cheap trick,

If?

Ocelot · 7th February 2007, 08:56 AM

My vote is for Air Cussion.

I'd also ensure that a camera was pre positioned at a height so that it was already in the narrow angle that allows clear unobscured vision between to two wafers through to the priest robes behind when the host levitated.

After all if the camera was first placed at head height as one would assume is more usual and was then repositioned to have a look between the wafers then that would invite discussion as to what could have happened during the time that the host was first levitated - insertion of props that sort of thing.

That's if I was doing an illusion for an expecting audience.

If I was faking it then prepossitioning the camera at that almost exact angle, focussed on the host rather then the bishops would appear as if this divine miricle was somehow expected. Ahem.

Garrette · 7th February 2007, 09:05 AM

John, I want you to set up a trick we're going to pass off as a miracle. It doesn't have to look particularly convincing or even as good as a cheap, store-bought magic trick. (By the way, you can get 'em for $10 to $100).

Any conditions or restrictions?

No, no. Just bear in mind that ease-of-use and reliability matter. Do it any way you like, though. Any way at all. By the way, did I mention you can get the means to do this for $10 to $100 at nearly any magic shop?

Yeah, I caught that. I think I'll set up an elaborate magnetic levitation thing. It will be hard to set up, especially since you want to levitate bread, and there's a probability of the thing falling off, and it might run you some bucks...

Ummm... Okay. If that's how you want to go. As an aside, I found some reading material you might find interesting. It's a stack of magic shop catalogs. Several of them show levitating tricks for anywhere from $10 to $100.

Cool. I'll look at them later. On further reflection, though, I'm thinking magnets might not get the effect we want. How do you feel about an elaborate "air-cushion" effect?

Whatever. We're filming in an hour.

Bob Klase · 7th February 2007, 10:04 AM

Garrette's right. Like most magic tricks, the proposed explanations by people who don't know are much more entertaining than the actual method (and often more entertaining than the trick itself). The actual methods are much simpler than anything proposed.

Just by watching that video it's impossible to say exactly how it's done. A full, unedited, video might show enough to know- but would at least show enough to narrow down the possibilities. Giving several possible methods would be exposing them for no reason. But I'd bet my next house payment that the method could be found in a magic shop or one of several books. And would cost less than $1 (not counting the cost of buying the book/secret).

Brown · 7th February 2007, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Garrette

If?

Yes, if.

It might not be a cheap trick at all. It might be a comparatively expensive trick.

Garrette · 7th February 2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Brown

Yes, if.

It might not be a cheap trick at all. It might be a comparatively expensive trick.

Ah.

They need to fire their consulting magician, if that's the case.

Garrette · 7th February 2007, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Bob Klase

But I'd bet my next house payment that the method could be found in a magic shop or one of several books. And would cost less than $1 (not counting the cost of buying the book/secret).

Alida. I once met a girl named Alida.

Bob Klase · 7th February 2007, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Garrette

Alida. I once met a girl named Alida.

Alida was my first thought immediately after reading the first few posts. But after watching the video I don't think so.

Garrette · 7th February 2007, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Bob Klase

Alida was my first thought immediately after reading the first few posts. But after watching the video I don't think so.

As levitations are not my forte, I'll defer. But I will also eat an Alida if it turns out to be magnets or air cushions.

mollyblack · 8th February 2007, 10:05 AM

That was the most boring "miracle" I've ever seen. I mean, seriously, I read the thread first and then watched the video and it's not even a GOOD one.

Give me a good Virgin Mary crying blood statue any day of the week over that lame video. Unless I missed something, it wobbled for a few moments and that was it.

And what's an Alida? Now I'm off to find out...

6th February 2007, 01:18 PM	#2
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	I don't know what the exact secret is but it isn't floating. Certainly clear lifts could be used.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

6th February 2007, 01:21 PM	#3
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	I don't know how it was done, but if I were trying to duplicate it I would rig a simple spring-loaded stand. The stand can be thin and clear so it is unnoticeable, but it need not be in this case. Watch the video and notice that you cannot see completely under the levitated plate. There is nothing prevented the back edge from being the support edge. When I read the title of the other thread this was in, I assumed thread as the answer. That's conceivable, too, but would require some thought on where and how to rig it since the celebrants move around. Which leads to the last bit: There are a lot of camera cuts, so this need not all be one take.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

6th February 2007, 01:32 PM	#4
Rasmus Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,627	I am no expert, but read some of the comments on the site suggesting that this is not a genuine catholic mass we see here. Magnets might work, you could probably bake them into the host, even. That way, you could actually perform the miracle without the involvement of anyone on stage. Aircussions would be possible, too, but I guess it would be risky since the host might fall off of the cushion. Lifting it with 3 small, opaque stilts would probably do the trick. It's only an inch or so in the air, so it would be hard to spot anything underneath the host. Actually, one moving stilt towards the priest would do if it was attached to the host. Finally, the silver dish on the right is blocking the view to part of the host through the entire video. Lots of space to attach any mechanisms could chose to use. Finally, am I asked to believe that a real miracle could be observed without anyone so much as gasping? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!
Rasmus Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,627

6th February 2007, 03:21 PM	#6
Azrael 5 Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Yorkshire,Uk Posts: 4,220	The video was annoyingly slow but from what I saw the upwards motion of the Priest's hands at the beginning he was setting something in operation. I was thinking something like this: http://www.levitron.com/
	__________________ "I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here

6th February 2007, 03:39 PM	#7
The Atheist The Grammar Tyrant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Within smelling distance of the Grammar Death Camps Posts: 13,727	Originally Posted by Orangutan No Not magnets like that. It would break Earnshaw's theorem, which would be a real miracle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnshaw%27s_theorem Uhh, no it wouldn't. If you read far enough on that Wiki page, you would have got to: Quote: This theorem also states that there is no possible static configuration of ferromagnets which can stably levitate an object against gravity, even when the magnetic forces are stronger than the gravitational forces. There are, however, several exceptions to the rule's assumptions which allow magnetic levitation. With magnetic levitation as described here (as well as Azrael's post below yours), it can certainly be done. In fact, now that I see the photo on that page, I am convinced that this exactly what they're up to. Go check it out.
	__________________ Jeff Wagg, Communication and Outreach Manager for the James Randi Educational Foundation posted: It is my job to inform other JREF employees about people who wish to do the JREF harm, and you [The Atheist] are one of those.

6th February 2007, 02:07 PM	#5
Orangutan Graduate Poster Tagger Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida. Posts: 1,163	Originally Posted by The Atheist To me, it seems to have been done like this: http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting...8d3132d66d.jpg No Not magnets like that. It would break Earnshaw's theorem, which would be a real miracle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnshaw%27s_theorem However using superconductors it could be done something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconductor. However thats a lot of trouble to go to when as it has been pointed out there are easier ways to produce that effect in the video. Fishing line anyone?

6th February 2007, 03:42 PM	#8
jsfisher ETcorngods survivor Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 6,998	In the closer views of the host, it appears to be slightly curved. If so, then I'd think an air cushion would be the easiest way to levitate it.
	__________________ As long as Comparison is sunk in the urine of one's mind, new glasses will not help. --Doronshadmi. *A proud member of the Simpson 15+7, named in the suit, Simpson v. Zwinge, et al., and founder of the ET Corn Gods Survivors Group.* By the way, the Nominate button is to your ~~right~~ left, sort of..

6th February 2007, 05:43 PM	#9
Peter S. Magician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arlington, MA Posts: 847	It looks like air to me as well, especially the way it pops up and wiggles. If it were a real levitation it would rise more smoothly.
	__________________ Wil In Space Wil in the Haunted forest Please vote for Wil In Space HERE

6th February 2007, 05:54 PM	#10
The Atheist The Grammar Tyrant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Within smelling distance of the Grammar Death Camps Posts: 13,727	Originally Posted by Peter S. If it were a real levitation it would rise more smoothly. That bit I agree with entirely. Your professional opinion is good as well. You don't think compressed air would be a bit unweildy to work in that situation? I think I'll add a poll!
	__________________ Jeff Wagg, Communication and Outreach Manager for the James Randi Educational Foundation posted: It is my job to inform other JREF employees about people who wish to do the JREF harm, and you [The Atheist] are one of those.

6th February 2007, 05:55 PM	#11
jsfisher ETcorngods survivor Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 6,998	By the way, does this discussion fly in the face of the rule against revealing magicians' secrets? I'd think no, since it is about debunking a fraud, but I'd rather not unintentionally disflavor with urine the oaten breakfast cereal of any of the moderators.
	__________________ As long as Comparison is sunk in the urine of one's mind, new glasses will not help. --Doronshadmi. *A proud member of the Simpson 15+7, named in the suit, Simpson v. Zwinge, et al., and founder of the ET Corn Gods Survivors Group.* By the way, the Nominate button is to your ~~right~~ left, sort of..

6th February 2007, 06:16 PM	#12
Peter S. Magician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arlington, MA Posts: 847	Originally Posted by The Atheist That bit I agree with entirely. Your professional opinion is good as well. You don't think compressed air would be a bit unweildy to work in that situation?... I don't think so. Look at the convex shape of the host.
	__________________ Wil In Space Wil in the Haunted forest Please vote for Wil In Space HERE

6th February 2007, 08:37 PM	#13
The Atheist The Grammar Tyrant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Within smelling distance of the Grammar Death Camps Posts: 13,727	Originally Posted by jsfisher By the way, does this discussion fly in the face of the rule against revealing magicians' secrets? I'd think no, since it is about debunking a fraud, but I'd rather not unintentionally disflavor with urine the oaten breakfast cereal of any of the moderators. I can't imagine a professional magician would ever use such a lame trick.
	__________________ Jeff Wagg, Communication and Outreach Manager for the James Randi Educational Foundation posted: It is my job to inform other JREF employees about people who wish to do the JREF harm, and you [The Atheist] are one of those.

6th February 2007, 09:01 PM	#14
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,117	Originally Posted by The Atheist I can't imagine a professional magician would ever use such a lame trick. Really? I can. In fact, I've seen professional performers use any several methods to perform similar feats. The professionals, of course, use more showmanship, and make it seem like a bigger deal than it really is. But the secrets are rather mundane.
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

6th February 2007, 11:30 PM	#15
The Atheist The Grammar Tyrant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Within smelling distance of the Grammar Death Camps Posts: 13,727	Hope none of them charge to get in.
	__________________ Jeff Wagg, Communication and Outreach Manager for the James Randi Educational Foundation posted: It is my job to inform other JREF employees about people who wish to do the JREF harm, and you [The Atheist] are one of those.

7th February 2007, 07:38 AM	#16
Orangutan Graduate Poster Tagger Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida. Posts: 1,163	Originally Posted by The Atheist Uhh, no it wouldn't. If you read far enough on that Wiki page, you would have got to: Snip. Yes, I know, that but thats not what you asked. You gave a diagram that was a static arrangement of magnets that had non of the exceptions that allow stable levitation. If you can get stable levitation with that arrangement I would be very surprised. So you would either have to be spinning the wafer like the levitron toy, this system would collapse once it had slowed down, or you either need an arrangement of large magnets and a diamagnetic wafer or you need a magnetic wafer and a superconducting material underneath it. I think that all the above solutions would be far more complex than some other lifting device like a black block, even pins that could come up through the bottom wafer but lift the top would not be seen on that video. o. Edit to add, In addition my incredulity comes from owning some of the levitating carbon and toys. The Diamagnetic effect is very small, I do not think you could raise a wafer with it.
	Last edited by Orangutan; 7th February 2007 at 07:41 AM.

7th February 2007, 08:08 AM	#17
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	I agree that magnets are among the least likely solution. It is physically supported.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

7th February 2007, 08:15 AM	#18
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,117	Folks, if this is indeed a cheap trick, you may wish to consider one of James Randi's favorite stories (and I'm paraphrasing): Randi was attending a magic act with a prominent scientist. The act featured a levitation by the performer. The scientist was duly impressed, but he remarked to Randi that the performance was risky. Why risky? Because the levitation was obviously accomplished with the aid of magnets, the scientist explained, and such an intense magnetic field could adversely affect those in the audience with pacemakers. Randi had to patiently explain that the effect was achieved by less--uh--risky means. Rather bland means.
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

7th February 2007, 08:37 AM	#19
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by Brown Folks, if this is indeed a cheap trick, If?
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

7th February 2007, 08:56 AM	#20
Ocelot Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,795	My vote is for Air Cussion. I'd also ensure that a camera was pre positioned at a height so that it was already in the narrow angle that allows clear unobscured vision between to two wafers through to the priest robes behind when the host levitated. After all if the camera was first placed at head height as one would assume is more usual and was then repositioned to have a look between the wafers then that would invite discussion as to what could have happened during the time that the host was first levitated - insertion of props that sort of thing. That's if I was doing an illusion for an expecting audience. If I was faking it then prepossitioning the camera at that almost exact angle, focussed on the host rather then the bishops would appear as if this divine miricle was somehow expected. Ahem.
Ocelot Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,795

7th February 2007, 09:05 AM	#21
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	John, I want you to set up a trick we're going to pass off as a miracle. It doesn't have to look particularly convincing or even as good as a cheap, store-bought magic trick. (By the way, you can get 'em for $10 to $100). Any conditions or restrictions? No, no. Just bear in mind that ease-of-use and reliability matter. Do it any way you like, though. Any way at all. By the way, did I mention you can get the means to do this for $10 to $100 at nearly any magic shop? Yeah, I caught that. I think I'll set up an elaborate magnetic levitation thing. It will be hard to set up, especially since you want to levitate bread, and there's a probability of the thing falling off, and it might run you some bucks... Ummm... Okay. If that's how you want to go. As an aside, I found some reading material you might find interesting. It's a stack of magic shop catalogs. Several of them show levitating tricks for anywhere from $10 to $100. Cool. I'll look at them later. On further reflection, though, I'm thinking magnets might not get the effect we want. How do you feel about an elaborate "air-cushion" effect? Whatever. We're filming in an hour.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

7th February 2007, 10:04 AM	#22
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Garrette's right. Like most magic tricks, the proposed explanations by people who don't know are much more entertaining than the actual method (and often more entertaining than the trick itself). The actual methods are much simpler than anything proposed. Just by watching that video it's impossible to say exactly how it's done. A full, unedited, video might show enough to know- but would at least show enough to narrow down the possibilities. Giving several possible methods would be exposing them for no reason. But I'd bet my next house payment that the method could be found in a magic shop or one of several books. And would cost less than $1 (not counting the cost of buying the book/secret).

7th February 2007, 10:28 AM	#23
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,117	Originally Posted by Garrette If? Yes, if. It might not be a cheap trick at all. It might be a comparatively expensive trick.
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

7th February 2007, 10:30 AM	#24
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by Brown Yes, if. It might not be a cheap trick at all. It might be a comparatively expensive trick. Ah. They need to fire their consulting magician, if that's the case.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

7th February 2007, 10:31 AM	#25
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by Bob Klase But I'd bet my next house payment that the method could be found in a magic shop or one of several books. And would cost less than $1 (not counting the cost of buying the book/secret). Alida. I once met a girl named Alida.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

7th February 2007, 10:52 AM	#26
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Originally Posted by Garrette Alida. I once met a girl named Alida. Alida was my first thought immediately after reading the first few posts. But after watching the video I don't think so.

7th February 2007, 10:53 AM	#27
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by Bob Klase Alida was my first thought immediately after reading the first few posts. But after watching the video I don't think so. As levitations are not my forte, I'll defer. But I will also eat an Alida if it turns out to be magnets or air cushions.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

8th February 2007, 10:05 AM	#28
mollyblack Scholar Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oakland/Emeryville Posts: 113	That was the most boring "miracle" I've ever seen. I mean, seriously, I read the thread first and then watched the video and it's not even a GOOD one. Give me a good Virgin Mary crying blood statue any day of the week over that lame video. Unless I missed something, it wobbled for a few moments and that was it. And what's an Alida? Now I'm off to find out...