Inside Magic

Do you remember when you first realized there was something funny going on with magic?

Magicians still seemed amazing and magical but seemed strangely constrained in their use of powers.

Magicians, you discovered, were apparently somehow limited by physical restraints — perhaps not as completely as you — but restrained nonetheless.

The Connecticut Post reports today on a physics teacher showing the science of magic to his students.

Some would quibble with the teacher's choice of tricks — no one appreciates the unnecessary exposure of commercial magic — but the aim is admirable and the exposure is limited.

The Post reports:

Marlee Figueroa, 9, pierced a balloon with a thin, foot-long needle. As Marlee pulled the needle and its tail of string through both sides of the latex orb, she and her Long Hill School classmates were stupefied when it did not pop.

Then Mr. Fish – part mad scientist, part circus clown, whose real name is John Lepiarz – let kids in on the secret.

During a program to demystify physics last week, he revealed that a barely visible piece of tape that the needle was inserted through circumvented the balloon's air pressure.

Mr. Lepiarz toured with the Big Apple Circus for seven years as a performer before touring the world with his two-person show, The Funny Stuff Circus. He has appeared on ABC and HBO but appears to really love the life of "mad scientist."

He also lubricated the needle with butter to reduce friction, another scientific concept he demonstrated and defeated during the 45-minute show.

"Mr. Fish" explained the interaction of momentum, inertia, and friction with a non-commercial effect.

Slowly moving a tablecloth caused the plates and water pitchers atop it to move with the cloth. Then, he yanked the cloth out from under the items, which remained stationary on the table.

He successfully did the same with student Matthew Stoll, 10, sitting in a chair on top of the table, telling students that they could remove a table cloth from underneath an elephant if they pulled the cloth just the right way.

"If I can pull the cloth fast enough, I can defeat friction," Lepiarz said, warning children that the trick is dangerous and should not be tried at home. "It was scary because it was high up, but it was fun," Matthew said.

The reporter overheard young Tyler Tice expressing surprise to learn "magic is science." Mr. Fish's desire is to teach students on a different level. "Our whole idea is to provide students with a visual image of a scientific concept," Mr. Lepiarz said.

"The whole idea is to break down the barrier that 'science is hard and I can't understand it.' The fundamentals of science are all around us in our daily life. "We can't, in 45 minutes, teach in depth scientific principles to a group of pre-K through sixth-grade students, but we can create an excitement for science."

Do not miss the very impressive web site featuring Mr. Fish and his partner Lisa Lou(a/k/a Lisa B. Lewis).

The two veteran but high-energy performers offer several programs suitable for schools or community gatherings.

Ms. Lou trained in clowning at the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College, toured as an advance clown for the circus.

Her clowning and talent has taken her from Nagasaki, Japan to Atlantic City, NJ. She also worked to entertain hospitalized children as a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit.

Their work is impressive but not only because of their talent but also the effect had on their audiences. Congratulations to these remarkable performers and educators.

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Continue reading Mr. Fish: Magic is Science (and Vice-a-Versa)

DC Military news service had a great story about a great use
for our skills.

Master Sgt. Bryan McDaniel (Retired) served in the Marine
Corps for 23 years before retiring in 2003. 

He told reporters he attended many Safety Standdown
presentations in his time but recalled very few of them. 

<b>"I understand the intent of them, but most of
them appeared to be a 'check-in-the-box'' said the Akron, Ohio
native. "I developed this presentation so the Marines can enjoy themselves
but also get a powerful message."</b>

Mr. McDaniel's skills as a magician and hypnotist combined
with experience as a Marine leave his audience with a message they will not
likely forget.

The statistics are daunting:

According to the Washington Regional Alcohol
Program's review How Safe Are Our Roads, after a half-decade of steadily
increasing alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States, the number
of drunk driving deaths in the region decreased by nearly ten percent in 2004,
yet the percentage of alcohol-related fatalities is still at 45.5%.

Two out of 10 of those fatalities were people under the age
of 21.

These statistics are staggering by any standard, yet many
people still choose to ignore them and the laws which were meant to protect
citizens or, at the very least, minimize fatalities, accidents and injuries.

The magician helped 17 volunteers get ready and in the
suggestive mood. He asked the Marines to "imagine they were in a very cold
environment with only shorts and a t-shirt.

Within seconds, they were shivering, and rubbing their arms
to keep warm. Afterward, while still in a trance, they were told they were in Death Valley, Calif.,
and the temperature outside was 120 F. Some wiped their brow, while others gasped
for air."

Mr. McDaniels took the subjects to the horse races (they
lost money), to trick-n-treat (they got yummy candy), and to dance like the
Village People (yikes).

These amusements were prologue to the true message of the
evening. 

The Marines were directed to imagine they were at a party
getting drunk.

Four of the Marines shot down about three drinks each and
agreed they were "intoxicated."  The
volunteers had to decide who was going to drive them home.

"I'll drive!!" said Sgt. Orville Williams,
in slurred speech. "I'm the designated driver!!"

He proceeded to
stumble to his makeshift car, and sat behind the wheel. The other volunteers
followed suit. The driver, nor the passengers, wore their seatbelts.

After driving a short period, Williams slammed his brakes to
avoid an obstruction on the road. He lost control of his vehicle, crashing it,
and ultimately killing his 4 comrades. He sobbed, stating his sadness.

"I never meant to take the wheel," said Williams.
"I didn't mean to kill my fellow Marines!"

The volunteers on stage were moved by their involvement, and
their emotion drove the point home for the vast audience.

"You need to make the right decisions before you go
drinking," the magician said.

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Continue reading Hypnotist Teaches Marines