Winners and awards of FISM 2012

The results of the FISM 2012 competitions are posted at the Magic Convention Guide.  Please note the following addendum by Shawn Farquhar:

Canada's entrant at FISM is awarded third in manipulation but announced as Korea ... 3rd place – Manipulation – Kim hyun joon
— Shawn Farquhar (@magiChampion) July 15, 2012

Children's show at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's Pediatrics Ward

From America's Navy:

"Every year, we try to go to a children's hospital or a hospital with a children's ward and do a quick show for the kids, to take away some of the normal hospital routine," said Scott Hood, one of the Canadian magicians and the I.B.M. director of hospital shows.

"It takes their mind off what they're going through. It's something different; they get a bit of a laugh, a bit of a giggle. They get to see something they may have not seen before or may have only seen on television. And we have fun doing it."

"I love doing magic," said Joan Caesar, the other magician from Canada. "I especially love doing magic for children, and this was perfect - to perform for kids who are in the hospital and maybe need a little smile on their face."

Read more.

Amber Waves interviews James Alan

From Open 'Til Midnight's post The Truth Behind The (Damn) Lies And Magic Of James Alan:

It is upon this foundation that James Alan has constructed his new one-man show, Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks.  As Alan explains, “There’s something very satisfying about knowing you’re being deceived and believing it anyway.  Over and over again, the audience gets to feel these astonishing moments as they realize what’s really going on is completely different from what they thought. And that’s really what magic is about; realizing that the world around us is more than what it seems.”

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Jay Sankey: Penguin Magic lecture

Did you miss Jay Sankey's live online lecture at Penguin Magic last Saturday? Have no fear, you can download it (for a fee) from Penguin Magic.

Shin Lim reviewed in FISM day three report

Shin Lim's performance is reviewed in  mentioned in Craig Mitchell's day three report on Blackpool FISM 2012, posted at The Magic Newswire.

An interview with Mike D'Urzo

From Corriere Tandem:

For the past three years, he has been in the running to become Entertainer of the Year at the Canadian Event Industry Awards. Mike D’Urzo, the founder and creative director of Mega Magic (www.megamagic.ca), is a successful magician. The 28-year-old Italian-Canadian performs hundreds of shows each year across Canada and abroad. His tour in China was memorable, where he performed to an audience of half a million. Recently he did a show at Isabel Bader Theatre, with Z103.5 FM. His father Dominic hails from Sant’Onofrio in Vibo Valentia province, while his mother Millie is Canadian. He has one brother, Jerry.

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Joan and Obie at FISM day two

Joan Caesar and Obie O’Brien are mentioned in Craig Mitchell's report on Blackpool FISM 2012, posted at The Magic Newswire.