Magic

Edward Tufte redesigns the plaque on the Pioneer spacecraft:

Since the principles of physics hold everywhere, magic is conceivably a cosmological entertainment, with the wonder induced by theatrical illusions appreciated by all, regardless of planetary system. Accordingly the plaque aboard the Pioneer spacecraft for extraterrestrial scrutiny billions of years from now might have escaped from its conspicuously anthropocentric gestures by showing instead the universally familiar Amazing Levitation Trick.

Speaking of magic, I think I'll probably go to San Francisco in January to see the City Arts and Lectures interview with Ricky Jay. And that's just a couple days before his show at the Yerba Buena Center for Art opens. “Included are broadsides advertising: an armless dulcimer player, a ghost showman, a singing mouse, a chess playing automaton, a cannon ball juggler, an African hermaphrodite, a chicken incubating machine, a rabbi with prodigious memory, a ventriloquist, a spirit medium, a glass blower, a woman magician, a speaking machine, a mermaid, a bullet catcher, a flea circus, & an equestrian bee keeper.”

Posted by jjwiseman at October 21, 2004 03:00 PM