ICYMI: Savio Joseph on Canada's Got Talent [March 29, 2022]

From CityTV:

Savio Joseph is a 24-year-old, first-generation Indian-Canadian that grew up in Brampton, Ontario. Originally from Kerala, India, Savio took a strong interest in magic from a young age, and slowly developed his skills of mentalism, pickpocketing, sleight of hand and hypnosis. After high school Savio pursued a degree in Computer Science, but throughout university he would spend all his free time practicing magic in his dorm room which landed him his biggest show performing for 8,000 students at frosh week. Since graduating, his love and passion for magic has only grown stronger. As a performer, Savio has waited his whole life for this moment to take the CGT Stage and wants to be known as the greatest magician of his generation. He wants to be someone that others can relate to, continue to push himself to think bigger in the realm of magic and show Canada something mind-blowing. 

From the March 29th upload at the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

 

 

 

Lark Harbour: Fangzhou He's Love Laughter in aid of the family of Richard Stewart [April 9]

From the March 28th article "'I always wanted to pay it forward': Comedy magician believes in giving back while making people laugh - Fangzhou He to perform in Lark Harbour in aid of family of man killed in avalanche" by Diane Crocker in the Saltwire Network: 

So, he turned his show at Myrtle’s into a fundraiser for Stewart’s family to help them and to help promote their GoFundMe on his social media.

Turning his shows into fundraisers, when he hears a story like Stewart’s or of some other way he can help out a community, is something that grew out of his own experience on the road as the Hitchhiking Comedian.

Read more.

From the March 15th Facebook post by Myrtles on the Bay:

Hey everyone this show has now turned into a fundraiser in aid of Richard Stewart family who we all know are grieving at this time and sure would use the extra help . Richard left behind his Fiancé and three beautiful children. Half of the proceeds raised on the door will be donated to the family so please get out show your support at the same time have some laughter . Thanks in advance god bless you all 😊

Magic & Comedy tour (Live Taping with Wes Barker and Chris Ramsay) [May - June]

Catch Chris Ramsay and Wes Barker on their upcoming Magic & Comedy tour! 

 

From WesBarker.ca:

• CALGARY - MAY 1 - Tickets
• VANCOUVER - MAY 2 (on sale soon)
• VICTORIA - MAY 3 - (on sale soon)
• WINNIPEG - JUNE 15 - Tickets
• TORONTO - JUNE 17 - (on sale soon)
• MONTREAL - TDB
  

Check back for updates!

 

 

The Big Trick Energy Live show has been cancelled because we are not popular enough to fill arenas. (Makes sense)

Instead, Wes and I are booking smaller venues across Canada! Click the linktree in my bio for info!! pic.twitter.com/JYKiHx3d5Q

— Chris Ramsay (@chrisramsay52) March 30, 2022

 

PSA: Why you shouldn't use pixelation for redacting text

A public service announcement for those of you who sometimes post images of potentially sensitive documents online.

 

We came across this February 15th article "Never, Ever, Ever Use Pixelation for Redacting Text" by Dan Petro at Bishop Fox:

Today, we’re focusing on one such technique – pixelation – and will show you why it’s a no-good, bad, insecure, surefire way to get your sensitive data leaked.

Read more.

 

Always curious about evolving technology, we searched about the interwebs for a suitable photo on which to experiment.

 

Exhibit A: Photo of adorable kitten on laptop

By enlarging the image with Adobe Photoshop Elements, we see a dialogue box with a familiar header. (We think it reads "Find & Replace.")

Exhibit B: This dialogue box is likely labelled "Find & Replace"

Using Photoshop Element's "Correct Camera Distortion" function to square it up, modifying brightness/contrast, and then inputting a De Bruijn sequence of the correct font (based on our guess as to the dialogue box label), we get the partial image cleaned up not too badly!

Exhibit C: It is a "Find & Replace" header!

Building on that success, let's now look at a snippet of the document.  What could the text be?

Exhibit D: Blurry document

Applying the same techniques (bicubic resizing, modifying brightness/contrast, applying Correct Camera Distortion) we get a nice flat perspective of the document.

 

Exhibit E: Flat perspective of document

 

 

 

Inputting the previously used De Bruijn sequence, we get our final product!

 

 

Exhibit F: Happy April Fools' Day!

 

 

Have a great day!!!

Top 5 posts in March 2022

There were 32 posts at Canada's Magic this month.  Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days: 

5. Opening soon: Dave Curran's Jokers - Looking forward to learning more about this project!

4. FISM Quebec 2022: Talent - Soooo much talent at FISM this summer!

3. Toronto: WonderPhil live at Bridlewood Mall [Mar 18] - Live shows are back!

2. Masters of Illusion Live [April & September] - Great news that Chris Funk is joining the Western Canada part of the tour!

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. Sleightly Sketchy: It's the sourdough starter of Omicron - It's everywhere.

 

Toronto: Used book collection sale [April 23]

Quick note:

• for the first time in two years, the Browser's Magic Club will be hosted this Saturday April 2nd!
  [Full details in the latest newsletter.]
  

 

 

From the March 22nd Facebook post by The Browser's Den of Magic:

We are very pleased to inform you that on the date and time above, there will be a collection of over 150 used books out for sale at our shop.

The books range in price from $5.00 to over $200.00.   Sorry, there is no list or previewing of the collection in advance.

Kindly note this is not an auction.  The used books will be throughout our shop for you to consider at 10:00am.

We would appreciate that this being our first larger event in over two years coupled with the fact that our shop is not a large space, that everyone wears a mask to enter.

 

 

Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for Best Documentary Short

ICYMI, Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp alumnus Ben Proudfoot, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short on Sunday night!

Congratulations Ben!

 

From the March 27th article "Nova Scotia’s Ben Proudfoot Wins Oscar At Tonight’s 94th Academy Awards" at Nova Scotia Buzz:

Ben Proudfoot of Halifax, NS walked the 94th Academy Awards red carpet tonight and is walking out with an Oscar. Proudfoot was one of the favourites in his category for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for his latest work The Queen of Basketball.

Lusia (Lucy) Harris, although many have not heard of her, was one of the greatest woman basketball players. She won three national trophies and scored the first basket in women’s Olympic basketball at the 1976 Olympics. One of the most interesting facts about Lucy is she was drafted to the NBA and still not many people know of her.

Read more.

 

 

From the March 27th article "Oscar Win For ‘The Queen Of Basketball’ Cements Legacy Of Lucy Harris, Validating Support From EP’s Shaq, Steph Curry, Director Ben Proudfoot" by Matthew Carey at Deadline:

The Queen of Basketball, which documents Harris’s unsung accomplishment as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Director Ben Proudfoot accepted the award, which was presented – along with seven other categories – during the Oscar pre-show. His edited acceptance remarks were inserted into the live telecast. 

Read more.

 

 

Listen to Ben's Oscar acceptance speech in the March 28th upload on the WBB Clips YouTube Channel:

From the March 27th upload on the Etalk YouTube channel: