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At the start of every Pixar film they have a little short comic movie before the “featured presentation”. For the next movie coming out tomorrow (June 27th) titled Wall-e, There’s going to be a pre-short filmed called ‘Presto’.

“Presto DiGiotagione, a turn-of-the-century magician, is famous for an astounding hat trick. Presto’s apprentice rabbit, Alec, however, is dissatisfied as he shares none of Presto’s wild success. While Presto is out eating lavish dinner, Alec is left behind, locked in a birdcage with a carrot torturously out of reach. Directed by Doug Sweetland. Sweetland also voices Presto and Alec. 5 min”

Last night The Pendragons performed on America’s Got Talent. Thanks to Doc for tip.

I doubt anybody, ever, will do that trick better than that.

Lance Burton will be on ABC’s The View either tomorrow (June 26th) or the next day (June 27th). After its over I’ll see if I can find a video of the segment for anybody who missed it.

Well, fret not my Canadian friends who can’t watch Celebracadabra on VH1, or even on the VH1 website. It turns out that Celebracadabra will be airing on Much More Music. You need to check your local listings, but it looks like tomorrow (June 22nd) that show will air at 10:30am, at 6:00pm, 9:00pm, and Midnight. Each time slot is airing the premiere episode of “street magic”.

Jump on board the 1st annual Light Up The Lake!

The Kelowna Community Food Bank presents the 1st Annual Light Up the lake event on July 1st to kick off our 17th Annual Christmas in July campaign. Jump on board as we cruise around Kelowna bay while lighting up the city with inspiration.
Light Up the Lake takes place on Tuesday July 1, 2008 from 8:00pm to 10:00pm promising a memorable evening of lights, laughter, music, and giving- a complete evening of entertainment. This exciting event benefits the nearly 30,000 persons (40% of whom are children) who use the Food Bank annually, in addition to the 6,000 clients of other local agencies we help such as the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and Kelowna Women’s Shelter.

For more information or to purchase tickets please go to the website at www.lightupthelakekelowna.com

Over the years I’ve received gifts from my audience. Sometimes though its a drawing of me (as seen here).

Recently though, Ceara did this charcoal drawing of me based on the photo that I have on my business card.

Not bad at all

For my newsletter I decided it would be neat to teach a magic trick. Now, I know the old saying that a “magician never reveals his secrets”. Well, that’s only half true. There are lots of tricks in magic that have been around for a long time that just keep getting passed on. The linking paper clips effect can be found in many beginner magic books, and has already been exposed online. For those reasons I don’t feel bad about putting together my own instructional video. I’ve also included it in my beginner magic trick section in the menu on the side.

I hope you liked the video. What do you think?

Thanks to everybody who made the Vernon Sunshine Festival possible. Also a big thank you to the Marble Slab Creamery who sponsored my shows for the event.

In the morning I performed on the main stage:

Then in the afternoon I did 3 street shows:

The weather was PERFECT for an outdoor festival that day. I hope I get the chance to return again next year, I had a great time.

I hope everyone had a great day

“Young entrepreneur and magician Leif Thordarson of Westbank, aka Ali K. Zam, recently spoke- and did magic- at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Whistler.

Thordarson won the young entrepreneur of the year at the Westbank chamber’s most recently Key Business Awards.

He was invited to the B.C. chamber event to give his entrepreneurial success story.

[ Click for large version ]

Thordarson, now in his 20s, relayed how he started when he was height doing magic at birthday parties and corporate events.

His goal is to make magic his full-time job.

The illusion that impressed the B.C. chamber crowd the most was his bending and twisting of forks using only the power of his mind.”

*Article from the Saturday, June 14, 2008 The Daily Courier

You’re invited to the Annual Sunshine Festival in Vernon BC on June 14th (This Saturday)

Don’t miss the largest street fair/sidewalk sale in the North Okanagan with an upwards of 10,000 people in attendance. Downtown truly comes alive with block after block of outstanding bargains, entertainment, children’s activities, outside street cafes, art and cultural performances and much more!

This festival includes and is not limited to a rock climbing wall, 2 entertainment stages, 2-3 bounce and plays and face painting.

On the Main Stage (2900 Block) I will be performing a 30 minute family show at 11:30 AM.

On 3400 block at 1:10 PM I will be performing a 20 minute street show, along with another street show at 2:10 on 3100 block. Don’t miss it!

I’ll be performing at a number of other public festivals and events over the summer and I’ll update you as the dates get closer.

Shop & Experience the Westside, 50% off Goodie Bags

From June 23rd to July 1st, the entire city of Westbank will be on sale! For more information on the event goto www.comeonover.info

Ali K. Zam Productions will be offering 50% off goodie bags for your birthday party show if you book the show between June 23rd and July 1st. For more information on Ali K. Zam’s birthday party show, goto www.HassleFreeBirthday.com.

Do you have children? New booster seat law in BC

New laws in effect July 1, 2008
All children must use booster seats until their 9th birthday unless they have reached the height of 145 cm (4′9″) tall. For more information goto BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation.
http://www.tsfbcaa.com/boost_bc

The FUN corner

Optical Illusion (Image)

1. First open up: First click here doesn’t look like to much does it?
2. Stand up and goto the back of the room. Look closely and you should see a famous painting!

“Magic is about transformation. It reminds us that everything changes – including ourselves.” - Jeff McBride

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Derren Brown Trick or Treat S02E06 SEASON FINALE Part 1 / 4

Derren Brown Trick or Treat S02E06 SEASON FINALE Part 2 / 4

Derren Brown Trick or Treat S02E06 SEASON FINALE Part 3 / 4

Derren Brown Trick or Treat S02E06 SEASON FINALE Part 4 / 4

This is actually one of my favorite episodes in the series. The magic effects in the middle of the episode is great, and the psychological premises for the main effect is something everybody can relate to. I loved it.

You can read what Skepchick had to say about the episode over at her blog.