Merlin the Magician profile picture

Merlin the Magician

Nobody's perfect, but my friends are outstanding.

About Me

Adjectives: Ambitious, sardonic, adventurous, astonishing.
History: I've been to 37 countries, have been a radical, and have gained a lot of faith in humanity recently. I'm laughing a lot more than ever. I can't stand politics, or anything that thwarts human connections.
Obscure thoughts: Most people communicate in ways they don't even know. We should all learn that language.
What does he do: I am a Merlin (wizard magician), hypnotist, and writer.

My Interests

Multifarious and multifaceted. One day it might be meditating in a snowdrift on the pass. Another it might be haranguing a talk show host with a series of exposures of his inaccuracies and illogic. Another, it might be helping someone start up a small business.
Banjos, Banjo setup, cups and balls

I'd like to meet:

Anyone with a fun personality, non-judgmental, spiritual, and friendly. Must like to laugh.
Oh... and easily hypnotized. (Why should I always pay for my own drinks?) ;)

Deep thought: "If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier in cutting them down? Maybe, if they screamed all the time for no good reason."

Music:

Glen Miller, Dave Matthews Band, U2, Tears for Fears, the Cure, Coldplay, Moody Blues, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Vertical Horizon, Seal, Wierd Al Yankovic, R. Wakeman, Sarah Mclachlan, Rich Mullins, Keith Green, Smashmouth, Ray Charles, Newsboys.

Movies:

Faves: Curse of the Were-Rabbit; Planes, Trains and Autombiles; It's a Wonderful Life, Groundhog Day; Merlin; The Prestige; Zeitgeist; Memento; the Matrix; the Sixth Sense; Desert Hearts; The Fugitive; UHF; The Passion.

Television:

The Magician

Books:

The Skeptical Environmentalist by Bjorn Lomborg, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Act 2 by Barrie Richardson, Mind Myth and Magick by TA Waters, Psychological Subtleties by Banachek, Absolute Magic by Derren Brown, The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky... and childhood favorites the LOTR, L'Engle, Narnia series. Merlin the Magician

Heroes:

James Herriot (veterinarian), Rich Mullins (true mensch), Dr Bill Lane, Michael Yon

My Blog

Palming - learn a Merlin trick- not just for magicians.

Here's how to perform this sleight of hand: Holding the pack or bills in your left hand, bring the right-hand over as if you're about to square up the cards or the bills. As your right hand is coveri...
Posted by Merlin the Magician on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:52:00 PST

The real Merlin the Magician

I have been contemplating trademarking or registering the name Merlin the Magician, but since it exists in the public domain (there's even a book by the name "Merlin the Magician" on Amazon) ther...
Posted by Merlin the Magician on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:46:00 PST

Cups and Balls and other stuff

There are few people who haven't seen a version of cups and balls, although they may not know it was called that. But it is not the same as "the shell game."
Posted by Merlin the Magician on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:48:00 PST

The Place where morning gathers

Calling Out your name by Rich Mullins: Well the moon moved past NebraskaAnd spilled laughter on them cold Dakota HillsAnd angels danced on Jacob's stairsYeah, they danced on Jacob's stairsThere ...
Posted by Merlin the Magician on Tue, 28 Mar 2006 09:41:00 PST

Lustful thoughts.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.-- Albert Einstein If one day an astronaut walks on Mars, and she stu...
Posted by Merlin the Magician on Fri, 24 Feb 2006 10:27:00 PST

The world's shortest complete story.

All good stories contain these 5 elements: Sex, religion, family, money, and mystery.And thus this is the shortest story to contain all five... "God," said the banker's daughter. "I'm pregnant. I ...
Posted by Merlin the Magician on Sun, 04 Dec 2005 05:41:00 PST