Lack of motivation/inspiration.

Well i have only just noticed that last post i had done had completely messed up somehow, now i can’t seem to find anything else to post about.

Only thing i can think of is to post a picture of my new tattoo once it is coloured. I have recently had done a tattoo of ‘Occams Razor’, in the style of an old cutthroat razor with simple spirally decorations and Occams name upon it. It is also on the side of my elbow so it bends with it.

Right so i guess its time for me to get sorted for work.

Not so sure why i don’t feel motivated to do much, i keep feeling abit down at the minute but it will pass of course.

 

Oooh but i keep getting together ideas i can use for a local show…

Cheers.

Atheism, Penn Jillette, Gerry and Me?

So today i had a rather enlightening facebook debate with Mr Gerry Mcambridge. You know the one, The Mentalist. The Vegas mentalist and the very same dude who created the Tv show.

So the topic of Atheism we chatted about stemmed from a video he uploaded about the bullet catch and how it is done, of course i am not going to post said video because i don’t think its right. I’ll leave the mystery with you folks.

Basically i thought i’d butt in and add my 2 pence worth if ya get what i’m saying.

Here is the conversation:                Key: GM- Gerry Mcambridge      LH- Me
Hopefully this looks alright enough to read…

‘Penn and Teller are quite vocal when it comes
to their hatred towards mentalists. They verbally bash and expose
mentalists every chance they get. So reposting this video, exposing the
grand finale effect in their Las Vegas show is a cyber way of saying F-U
to the atheist loud mouths of magic. Please LIKE if you think Penn is a
loud mouth, arrogant jerk.’ – GM

‘Firstly i don’t want to be
the guy who says no take this down as you have every right to express
your opinion but… I am sure they haven’t said they hate mentalists.
Only the ones whose act makes them out to be something more than the
average guy or “psychic”. Yes Penn is a loud mouth but also actually a
lovely guy. Also i don’t understand why
you have put ” Atheist loud mouths of magic”, i don’t see why their
belief system is so important when saying that, it seems you are using
it as a bad thing to me there. When it is totally out of context.Just my thoughts on this.

‘ – LH

‘Luke,
Penn NEVER saw me perform, yet felt the need to go on his radio show,
and publicly talk about me directly and make claims about my show and
expose some of my secrets. My show is as honest as the day is long, yet
since I am a mentalist, I fall under his umbrella of hate.

 

 

I personally don’t give a rats ass what religion a person is, who a
person voted for, what a persons sexual orientation is, or what is the
color of a persons skin. But Penn loves to shove his religious beliefs
down people’s throats, not only in every day life, but during his
performance as well. Can you believe the vanity license plate on his car
reads “NOGOD.” Now there is a man who proudly boasts about being an
Atheist!

 

 

When I attended their show many years ago, I paid to
go see a magic show, not to see Penn get on his soap box and preach
about there being no God.

 

What Penn does in private is his own
business, but if Penn wore ladies cloths on stage while performing, he
would be the “cross dresser of magic.” So since he discusses religion
openly during his act, he is the “loud mouth atheist of magic.” The funniest part about the
“Magic Bullet” trick is Penn and Teller weren’t creative enough to think
of it. The trick was the creation of a magician who sold them the
rights to use the trick.

Since the magician makes his living as
a professional mentalist, it means Penn and Teller hate all mentalists,
UNLESS they sell them an effect to use in their Las Vegas show. Then
they get a “Get Out of Jail” free card.’ – GM

‘I
understand what you mean there calling him the Atheist of magic and he
does seem to like to prostheletize and i don’t see anything wrong with
that to be honest. When i saw his show it wasn’t a show about religion,
it was a great show based on beautiful
magical as well as moral ideals intertwined with what makes America
great the foremost in my mind being ‘Freedom Of Speech’.

I mean
no disrespect to you of course but i just wanted to see another
viewpoint and i thought, why don’t that viewpoint be mine. 😀

I
don’t want to say what you saw when you did go to the show as the
different ideas could be interpreted in different ways. When i went my
friends saw the tricks and it stopped there for them whereas for me the
ideas and thought process comes more into play. Still don’t think he said anything about hating Mentalists 😛

 

 

I haven’t listened to the show you mentioned in a while either. I might dig that one out.’ – LH

 

 

 

 

‘Penn has his opinions, and is
quite vocal about sharing them with his internet fans, radio audience
and his live audience. He has no problem bashing and exposing mentalists
when ever he finds the opportunity.

 

I found the explanation video while
surfing YouTube. It contains someones personal explanation of the
bullet catch trick. I enjoy sharing my internet discoveries with my
Facebook fans and friends. I do not refrain from expressing my opinion
when I have one, nor do I refrain from posting them on MY Facebook page.

 

If you did not notice ..BLANK NAME…,
we are not friends on Facebook. You subscribed to my Facebook page. I
did not subscribe to yours. I do not care to earn your respect, nor do I
care to keep it.

 

If you read my profile before you unsubscribe
Eric, it says: I would rather be hated for the person I truly am, than
to be liked and respected for the person I am not.’ – GM

So that bit was mainly about the Bullet Catch and Mentalists.

Now this bit stemmed from the Interview of Penn Jillette on his new book by Piers Morgan.

 

 

‘If you do not know anything about Penn
Jillette’s opinions on being an atheist, here are a few. In this video I
think he calls religious nuns… monkeys!! (or did I take it out of
context).

And since he says he is a huge fan of people speaking
their minds, I guess he no problem with my posts showing how someone
“thinks” he does his “magic bullet” trick.

Penn also says
people should talk strongly about what they believe, so I am sure he has
no problem with me calling him a jerk, because I strongly believe it.

I will defend to the death,
anyones right to believe in what ever they want to believe in. But I do
not support someones need to preach to others or call their beliefs
wrong.‘ – GM

 

‘Its
a very good read, plenty of entertaining ideas and stories, i think you
should give it a try. Saying you do not support someones need to preach
to others seems a bit redundant Gerry, i have read the book and he
doesn’t seem to say that other peoples
beliefs are wrong, he just doesn’t believe in that himself. In the book
he just gives alternatives to things represented within the bible in
his own way.

Its just putting a spin on ideas there. It is highly entertaining and well worth the read.’ – LH

 

‘But should a book about God
be entertaining Luke? Religion and God are very personal issues. They
touch people at the core of their religious beliefs. Writing a book
about it to be entertaining, or to get yourself on TV to promote your
Las Vegas show just doesn’t sit well with me.

Why doesn’t he write a book about having sex with his wife, or his
bathroom habits, or his massive hemorrhoids, or how much money he made
last year, or Teller’s sexual preference? Because they are very personal
issues to him.

 

But since God is not a personal issue to Penn,
he finds it OK to entertain people with. He annoys and agitates (Piers
Morgan’s words) people to be controversial and gain attention, instead
of being a little more discrete and select another topic to pontificate
about.’ – GM

‘If you look at the book you
would find that the stories and entertainment value within is based upon
stories relating to his aforementioned bible alternatives. I don’t
think this can hurt or annoy anyone, besides if they don’t like it if it
did offend then just stop reading and ignore it. I don’t see why he
talking about his beliefs is a bad thing, if people of a religious
nature can do the same.

Atheism is as much of a belief as any
other philosophy or thought process in the same way as many other
religions in the way that ( now this is kind of hard for me to put into
words but) religious thoughts and the outcome at the end of it is a
gamble as surely no one can prove for sure there is a heaven and/or
hell, therefore doesn’t too deserve the same. For some the option is
harder to be Atheist because we don’t have that backing of sorts and the
same organizational structure for lack of a better term. Plus Atheists
always seem to get tarred with the brush that deems them immoral just
because they don’t follow a religion when this is not the case or fair
to people to be so generalized and put into a category.

(I don’t know if that makes the greatest sense, i have been awake quite some time today :P)’ – LH

 

‘I
respect your opinions Luke. And I respect your decision to be an
atheist. I was born into a catholic family. I went to catholic school
for 8 years. I was an alter boy and attended many church services as a
kid…. and yet i am still torn when it comes to my religion.

I have diffuculty believing in organized religion. I have difficulty
going to church weekly and being told to tithe 10% of my money to the
church. I have diffuculty believing….

But I don’t write
books about it, and go on TV and preach about it, and use it to create
controversy and attention. It’s a personal issue that should remain
personal.

 

 

Let’s agree to disagree Luke. 🙂

If we take the word atheist out of the topic… Penn is still an loud mouth, bully ass hole.’ – GM

 

 

 ‘Thank you sir, it was a
delight to have this debate, i quite enjoyed it to be honest. There
isn’t much better than exchanging and discussing ideas.

And of course i will respect your right to say whatever you like. I agree to disagree of course 😀 .

This was indeed enlightening.
I may chat again next time. Have a good day matey.’ – LH

So this was my attempt at ending all nice like and ending the small debate.

 

 

 

‘And I bet if one of Penn’s
kiss ass magic buddies send him a link to this post, he will love it,
because that is what Penn is all about. Getting attention and creating
controversy by being loud and annoying. So this is exactly what Penn
wants, people talking about Penn.‘ –GM

I actually really enjoyed this debate, just hopefully i made sense and made it clear that Atheists are good too. Like me.

Well i tried to get my point out and do what i could .

Cheers.

Of course i don’t think any less or more of Gerry, he is still an ok guy.

The Human Stun Gun

Loving this little article i found on New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21783-sauropod-farts-warmed-the-planet.html.

What is says is essentially was our planet getting warmed up through the methane in Sauropods and other dinosaurs. What they reckon is that the global population of these dinosaurs released about 520 million tonnes of methane a year which contributed to warming the Earth and this is apparently estimated to be the same as the total current emissions of greenhouse gas.

Wowza. Also during this time there were no polar ice caps, could this be because of some massive farting dinosaurs…

Go check the full article.

Cheers.

Did Sauropod farts warm our planet.

Loving this little article i found on New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21783-sauropod-farts-warmed-the-planet.html.

What is says is essentially was our planet getting warmed up through the methane in Sauropods and other dinosaurs. What they reckon is that the global population of these dinosaurs released about 520 million tonnes of methane a year which contributed to warming the Earth and this is apparently estimated to be the same as the total current emissions of greenhouse gas.

Wowza. Also during this time there were no polar ice caps, could this be because of some massive farting dinosaurs…

Go check the full article.

Cheers.

Recommendation 2 Fringe

One of the greatest series ever… Yeah i think so.

Basically the show is about investigating the weird. The show is a little strange and that is my sort of thing. The main characters we have are Olivia Dunham (FBI Detective), Peter Bishop (Jack of all trades smart guy), Walter Bishop (The man! Practically the archetypal mad scientist) and i have to include Astrid Farnsworth (Assistant to Olivia).

The acting in the show is amazing, i especially love how John Noble portrays Walter, a few of my friends call me Walter now and then and that is fine even if Walter is kind of crazy to most folks and displays many autistic traits but then again i can relate.

Its hard to describe the show up to where is have seen it because i don’t want to give anything away.
Basically any sort of Fringe science in the series is possible unlike in real life, the series has a lot of twists and turns and things to remember from past episodes.

Hmm i’ll find a more professional synopsis to help me describe.

Gathered from wikipedia…

‘Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation “Fringe Division” team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security. The team uses unorthodox “fringe” science
and FBI investigative techniques to investigate a series of
unexplained, often ghastly occurrences, which are related to mysteries
surrounding a parallel universe. The show has been described as a hybrid of The X-Files, Altered States and The Twilight Zone.’

Alot more professional than me.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fringe_%28TV_series%29

I think anyone who enjoys a bit of science and who can appreciate the imagination and thought put into things that could not be possible would enjoy this. To Walter nothing is impossible.

Oh and if you like quotes from tv shows this one is packed full such as on the first episode you get this delightful number.

You just can’t not love Walter.

Go and watch now.

Space Elevator

Can i have floor 32,000 please?…

It seems Japan have got the ball rolling to create a space elevator. For those who don’t know what this is, it is an elevator… INTO SPACE. Great news for affordable star-seeing and even could be good news for space travel as we know it.

The project will be undertaken by the Obayashi Corp from Tokyo and will be built using Carbon Nanotubes which are twenty times stronger than steel. The elevator will be going up a quarter of the way to the moon which is approximately 96,000 kilometers up. Awesome.

I wonder how much it would be to take a ride. Anyway they want to finish the project by 2050 so there is still time to dream yet.

The full article is from http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120221004421.htm.

The article is also here:

The Yomiuri Shimbun

It may be possible to travel to space in an elevator as early as 2050, a major construction company has announced.
Obayashi Corp., headquartered in Tokyo, on Monday unveiled a project
to build a gigantic elevator that would transport passengers to a
station 36,000 kilometers above the Earth.
For the envisaged project, the company would utilize carbon
nanotubes, which are 20 times stronger than steel, to produce cables for
the space elevator.
The idea of space elevators has been described in several
science-fiction novels. Obayashi, however, believes it is possible to
construct one in the real world thanks to carbon nanotubes, which were
invented in the 1990s, the company said.
Some other organizations have also been studying the development of
space elevators, such as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
In Obayashi’s project, a cable would be stretched up to 96,000
kilometers, or about one-fourth of the distance between the Earth and
the moon. One end of the cable would be anchored at a spaceport on the
ground, while the other would be fitted with a counterweight.
The terminal station would house laboratories and living space. The
car could carry up to 30 people to the station at 200 kilometers per
hour, which would mean a 7-1/2 day trip to reach the station. Magnetic
linear motors are one possible means of propulsion for the car,
according to Obayashi.
Solar power generation facilities would also be set up around the
terminal station to transmit power to the ground, the company added.
Whether carbon nanotubes can be mass-produced economically enough
and whether various organizations from around the world can work
together are two key issues facing the development of the space
elevator, according to the company.
“At this moment, we cannot estimate the cost for the project,” an
Obayashi official said. “However, we’ll try to make steady progress so
that it won’t end just up as simply a dream.”

(Feb. 22, 2012)

Thanks Obayashi Corp.

Also Weird Things article here http://weirdthings.com/2012/02/japan-seeks-to-build-space-elevator-by-2050/

Cheers.

Airports and security

Random little postage today, the other day on google plus i commented on a post by Brian Brushwood in which he said this.

‘Just minutes ago at the airport, I opted out of the full body scan, as I
always do. During the full-body pat down, I remained cheerful and
friendly (again, as I always do). But something happened today that
I’ve never before experienced:

TSA agent Charles (I won’t give
his last name, as I don’t want to cause any kind of punishment or
retribution), asked me why I chose to opt out. I gave him my usual
answer, that I’m one of those misty-eyed constitutionalists… One of
those crazy folk who believe that if we’re going to have a
highly-intrusive search, it should be awkward for both of us.

“Oh,
but you’re thinking of those older scanners, that showed the whole
naked body. These are totally different; they just show a yellow
square.”

This gave me pause, because my position is more nuanced:
understand, I’ll dance completely naked through the TSA checkpoint on a
dare. I could care less about people seeing my naughty bits. It’s the fact that the fourth amendment states, unequivocally:

“The
right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

It means that unless you’re under suspicion for a specific crime,
the government has no business checking through your stuff. None at
all. Your business is your own. It doesn’t matter if you’re in line at
the bank, at Taco Bell, or at the airport, the government only has the right to search you if they specifically suspect you of being involved in a crime.
This was so important to the founders, they wrote it into the
constitution… right alongside the right to speak your mind freely and
protect your family with a weapon.

I hate the normalization of
these intrusive searches. And I hate the scanners even more: They’re a
magic trick. A way to make something highly intrusive and
unconstitutional feel completely civilized and normal. And me, refusing
to play their silly game is my little quiet protest against it.

I
did my best to explain my position, and was shocked by his response:
with the friendliest of tones, he patiently explained to me:

“Well, if you ask me, it’s about time the constitution was re-written. That was hundreds of years ago.”

…There
was not a hint of hostility in his voice, and not a sliver of malice.
It was as obvious as pointing out that they sky is up and the ground is
down. And if he is this comfortable sharing this opinion with his hand down my pants, I have no doubt it’s a popular sentiment among his co-workers.’

The post got plenty of comments and i decided to comment about my recent flight, which was my first ever time on a plane.
  This was my essay/comment.

‘Very good post, wish us english folks had a
constitution like you guys, it seems the majority of our laws are made
up as they go along.

Recently on my first trip abroad (Las
Vegas(For the magics)), i had my first full body scan and had a nice
surprise when i got out the little scanning booth(?) the guard asked me
to remain still and to raise my arms and then proceeded to call for
assistance as the scanner had found metal of some kind unbeknownst to me
within my right bicep. I was pretty freaked out i didn’t move,
obviously. I kept my cool as much as i could followed orders, bare in
mind i was a airport virgin at 23 and got rescanned with everyone
staring and i could hear the guards ask each other if they had stab
vests on. I picked up on alot at that moment from the folks making
comments to twitchy looking guards who were seemingly growing in
numbers. NOT FUN.

At that moment when i go rescanned they in
fact detected nothing and was thrown through like the obvious piece of
shit i was to them.

Nothing seemed to say welcome any better i’m
sure. So yeah maybe i may want them to feel some of that indignity and
awkwardness next time.

Sorry about the rant, i just had to share and that is the short version.

Thank you kindly.’

Thinking about it now my comment on his post is more of a blog post than a random comment. Hopefully this makes sense to you all.


Cheers.

Recommendation 1 – Andrew Mayne

Just a short post, Andrew Mayne has recently started uploading a new podcast audiobook on Itunes.
And this is my recommendation… GET IT and get it now. I haven’t had time to listen yet as it will be some good bedtime listening for me.

But everything Andrew Mayne does is golden, his magic is amzing, his podcasts are exciting and books are riveting. This post might as wel just say ANDREW MAYNE. He has the brains of a science wizard and the skills of a master magician.

Here is a link straight to the podcast.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/chronological-man-monster/id500639018

When the citizens of Boston begin to go missing in the fog in 1890,
it’s up to the mysterious Smith, inventor and adventurer, to figure out
what’s going on with the help of his assistant, April Malone. They’ll
have to face off against a secret society, corrupt policemen and a mad
psychologist hell-bent on dissecting Smith, in order to find out what’s
going on and to save the city from a graver threat.

This 4.5 hour science adventure novella is the first story about Smith, a mixture of Tony Stark, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who.

I might as well just plug the rest of his stuff here too while i’m here.

His own site for his magics – http://www.andrewmayne.com/

Weird things website and podcast for weird stories and strange news from around the world or mainly eastern europe in many cases – http://weirdthings.com/

He is also one of the mayne (see what i did there) guys behind a very good magic news and review site – http://itricks.com/news/

He seems to also be a regular guest on anther podcast too – http://nsfwshow.com/

Also he works with the JREF now and then to help promote skepticism and to help administer tests – http://www.randi.org/site/

I will start doing alot of recommendations on here, due to me reading, listening, watching and playing alot.

Cheers.

Quirkology

So i got a new book for Christmas and it is awesome. Written by Richard Wiseman who is the Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology and a Magician. He is on wordpress too. Link! The book is an assorted collection of social and psychological experiments and may be one of the most interesting books i’ve read in quite a while.

The book covers jokes, luck, fake smiles, personal ads, charisma and how our personalities are shaped when we are born among loads of other interesting bits and bobs.
Go and buy the book now its cheap on Amazon Amazon linkage!

 

 

QUIRKOLOGY
The definitive quirky psychology, including the science of charisma, how to detect lies and how our personalities are shaped by when we are born.

If you are interested in psychology or social experiments, just get this book. From reading this book i now realise why people act in certain ways. Its interesting to put into use the things found in this book at work, it helps you realise how others think in different situations too.

Maybe i’ll get time to blog more soon seeing as though i have just over a weeks holiday.

Sorry about the way this is written, this isn’t the greatest post i’ve done. It seems my brain is fried.
Cheers.

Hitchens

So it seems Christopher Hitchens has died. Not good… The guy did some amazing work and wrote some very interesting books such as one called ‘God is not great’. The guy has inspired many people i’m sure.

I’m quite unsure what to write my mind has gone blank and i just feel awkwardly sad. So here is the article from Vanity Fair for which he worked for for quite a while.

By Gasper Tringale.

Christopher Hitchens—the incomparable critic, masterful rhetorician, fiery wit, and fearless bon vivant—died today at the age of 62. Hitchens was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the spring of 2010, just after the publication of his memoir, Hitch-22, and began chemotherapy soon after. His matchless prose has appeared in Vanity Fair since 1992, when he was named contributing editor.

“Cancer victimhood contains a permanent temptation to be self-centered and even solipsistic,” Hitchens wrote nearly a year ago in Vanity Fair, but his own final labors were anything but: in the last 12 months, he produced for this magazine a piece on U.S.-Pakistani relations in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, a portrait of Joan Didion, an essay on the Private Eye retrospective at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a prediction about the future of democracy in Egypt, a meditation on the legacy of progressivism in Wisconsin, and a series of frank, graceful, and exquisitely written essays in which he chronicled the physical and spiritual effects of his disease. At the end, Hitchens was more engaged, relentless, hilarious, observant, and intelligent than just about everyone else—just as he had been for the last four decades.

“My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends,” he wrote in the June 2011 issue. He died in their presence, too, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. May his 62 years of living, well, so livingly console the many of us who will miss him dearly.

This article is from http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/12/In-Memoriam-Christopher-Hitchens-19492011