04 December 2014

Dean Gunnarson: coffin escape

Does anyone have any updates to share about this event?

From Dean Gunnarson's Facebook page:




[via Clive Court]

Boomer beats cancer

Niagara’s newest cancer survivor is hoping to get back to his regular weight soon. About 500 pounds or so.

Six and a half months ago, Niagara Falls magician Greg Frewin noticed his nine-year-old Siberian tiger Boomer acting a bit strange. Something on his right side was bugging him.
Closer inspection revealed a lesion which seemed to grow over the next week. Boomer, one of four tigers performing in his nightly magic show, was clearly agitated.

“We could tell he was licking it,” says Frewin. “He was trying to keep it clean. Something was not right.”

After a check with the vet, Boomer was sedated and the lesion cut open, which revealed “signs of a tumour.” A sample was analyzed and the bad news arrived shortly after – Boomer had cancer.

Read more.

From CHCH:
We all know that wild tigers face extinction every single day from poaching and habitat loss. But what you may not realize is they can also get cancer. And there’s one cancer-stricken tiger in Niagara Falls that’s living a much healthier life than he would have in the wild thanks to his handlers.

In the wild, tigers live for about fourteen years. That number is doubled in captivity. Despite not being in a zoo, Boomer the tiger is one of those big cats who’s life was preserved thanks to the help of the people around him.

Read more.


From 610 CKTB:
A tiger in Niagara Falls has survived cancer, and now we are hearing his story.

A few months ago Greg Frewin's nine year old tiger started acting strange.
The International Grand Champion of Magic, and Niagara Falls Magician took Boomer to the vet.

Read more

From the Greg Frewin Theatre YouTube channel:




From the Greg Frewin Theatre Facebook page:





03 December 2014

Randi in Australia

From Think Inc:
THE AMAZING JAMES RANDI is a magician and scientific skeptic best known for his challenges to paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the co-founder of Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), and the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). He began his career as a magician named The Amazing Randi, but after retiring at age 60, he chose to devote most of his time to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively calls “woo-woo.” 
Held in five cities, An evening with James Randi will feature a discussion with Richard Saunders (Australian skeptic, podcaster, and professional origamist) or Lawrence Leung (comedian, writer and director), a Q&A session with the audience and a meet and greet with selected guests. 
Adelaide: Monday 1 December 2014, 6pm  The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide 
Perth: Wednesday 3 December 2014, 6pm  Octagon Theatre, UWA, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 
Brisbane: Thursday 4 December 2014, 6pm  Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Southbank, Brisbane.
Melbourne: Friday 5 December 2014, 6pmMelbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Southwharf, Melbourne 
Sydney: Sunday 7 December 2014, 6pmThe Metro Theatre, Sydney.
Read more and buy tickets.


For more Randi goodness, watch this YouTube video of his post-show Q&A and performance after the screening of his film "An Honest Liar" at the  Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival:



[video via iTricks]


Vancouver: IBM presents Just About Magic

Get ready to JAM IBM style.

From the IBM Facebook page: