text:
Severus Alexander
" ..the brightest boy at our school. Severus always washed behind his ears and in between his toes and had a mosaic of his mother embedded on his desk top. Never forgot Mother's Day..."
Severus Alexander 'Mummy's Boy' Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire from the murder of his cousin Elagabalus until he was squashed to death by the Greco-Roman-Thracian wrestler Maximinus Thrax i.e. 'Max the Thrax - Heavy Metal Axeman' in 235 AD . Severus Alexander's reign was later know as 'Imperial Rome's Last Happy Hour before the German and Persian bullies came into the bar and smashed the place up .
- 1 A Swot is Born
- 2 Please Sir ! Can I Do Double Homework Tonight !!?
- 3 Swat the Swot To Death !
- 4 Name of the Game - You're On Next
- 5 Triumph of the Dominatrixies
- 6 Give Me a Mannequin After Midnight
- 7 Your Father-in-Law Wants You Very Dead
- 8 Goodbye Parthia - Hello Persia !
- 9 The Germans Stirring It Again
- 10 Death By Squashing
- 11 End of Era and the James Last of All Cliches
- 12 Notes
- 13 See Also
A Swot is Born[edit]
According to Severus Alexander's mother Julia Mammamia - her boy was conceived whilst she was on a Club Mediterranean Holiday in Phoenicia . There she apparently fell for the smarmy charms of the local holiday rep Geezer Marcianus. However other writers are now sure that Severus's real father was Mammamia's cousin - the curly haired imperial Chav heir Caracalla who had already disgraced her old sister Julia Samosa a few years before and had fathered Elagabalus . This meant that in all probability Elagabalus and Severus Alexander were at least half blood princes but that was about the only thing they did share. If Elagabalus represented Roman Vice (lots of things to write about) then Severus Alexander was dutiful Roman Virtue (booooooring !).
Following the birth of Severus Alexander, Julia Mammamia moved to Greece to sell time share apartments on Aegina Island near Athens. There she later gave birth to a daughter called Dum Dum Diddle , the sticky fruit of a relationship with an Irish grey haired old thespian called Brosnan she once knew . As for Severus Alexander , Julia Mammamia pulled a few strings, tugged a few loose male appendages and got her son enrolled in the prestigious Academy School for Philosophers and Future Emperors in Athens. There she hoped her son would at least get a good education whilst she sang songs , baked bread and made love in the sea to passing (rich) Senators , eager to get up close and intimate with a member of the imperial family .
Please Sir ! Can I Do Double Homework Tonight !!?[edit]
Once at school , Severus Alexander took to studying like a crocodile at Christian martyr feeding time. He devoured all the works of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Plato (again -he liked the jokes) and Diogenes (he learned to bark from reading those scrolls) . Epicurus (son of the drippy Epidural) also gave Severus his first lesson in cooking: How to Make Baked Beans on Toast Properly.
It was by Roman standards , a well rounded and curvaceous education and Severus Alexander easily came top in all his classes . His fellow students hated and resented him - calling him 'Swotty Severus' . They took their childish revenge by flicking wet towels at the Boy Brainer in the changing rooms after a game of nude running in the Zeus Sports Complex . The name 'Swotty Severus' stuck to the future emperor's reputation like cheap bubble gum on a tatty toga throughout his subsequent imperial career.
Swat the Swot To Death ![edit]
Severus Alexander's school days were going along fine until he received a note to go the headmaster's office to have his head cut off. According to the historian Harridan the headmaster said this :
I am sorry Alexander. The school governors have asked if you don't mind being killed . We have had a message from Rome asking that we do this. Now run along and see the School Executioner..
This is how Severus Alexander learnt that his supposed father Caracalla was now 'Chavving It Up in Olympus' and that the new man in charge Macrinus wanted to kill off the Severan dynasty. For the first time in his life Severus Alexander refused to follow school rules and became a truant. However his fellow students now saw their chance to get back at 'Swotty' and put his name on a death list and hunted for him all over Athens .
Just as it was looking bad for Severus - news came through that Macrinus was dead and that Severus Alexander's cousin/brother Elagabalus was now emperor. Suddenly , all those who had been involved in trying to kill Severus Alexander asked to be forgiven their 'youthful murderous high jinx ' .Eager to get back to school with the minimum of fuss , Severus simply asked all his former tormentors be entered into the 220 AD Olympic Games in the Slave Galley Rowing Event. This was considered to be a very mild punishment and a sign that Severus Alexander was a 'really really nice boy'.
Name of the Game - You're On Next[edit]
While he was making a rare visit to see his mother (his sister Dum Dum Diddle had died of embarrassment when she had learnt how to spell her name), Severus Alexander and Julia Mammamia were surprised to receive an express request from her mother Julia Miasma to come back to Rome and visit the rest of the family . The letter came stamped addressed with a cohort of Roman soldiers so there was no point arguing.
On their arrival in Rome, it was obvious that Elagabalus and his mother Julia Samosa were not too pleased to see their relatives. However as it was Grandmother Julia Miasma who was really running the Roman Empire - the disgruntled and disfunctional family had to accept the new arrangement. It also meant Severus got his first job after leaving school - that of Deputy Emperor or Caesar.
Severus Alexander was given an office and a lot of accounting scrolls to work through. He soon managed to sort out Elagabalus's growing pile of vice and utility bills (they usually started like this one : Dear Mr...Emperor, If you do not pay your Burning Torch Light (BTL) bill we will come to your palace , remove your supplied BTL slaves and cut off your balls. Castratus & Crucify. Solicitors).
Thanks to Severus Alexander, Elagabalus's supply of orgy playmates and perverts was kept up but finally even the 'swotty' realised his cousin was rapidly losing the empire. So when he heard a rumour that the Praetorian guard were going to come over to watch Elagabalus's performance on stage that night , Severus Alexander decided not to send a warning to the emperor and retired to the toilets to hide in a spare cubicle.
Triumph of the Dominatrixies[edit]
As he was writing his memoirs on the toilet seat, Severus Alexander saw his mother Julia Mammamia and grandmother Julia Miasma poke their heads over the top of the door to see what he was doing. They were surprised he wasn't bashing the priest and then informed him that he was now emperor. So Severus pulled the chain and went outside to be proclaimed the new Augustus.
The new ruling Imperial trio - Severus Alexander , Julia Mammamia and Julia Miasma - ordered a clean up (physically and morally) of the palace. The bloody bodies of Elagabalus and Julia Samosa were recovered and buried (Severus Alexander didn't want to have their unhappy souls wandering around the palace). The ruling triumvirate also dispatched many of the former Emperor's chums to various forms of execution - at least the ones they could find. The Rock had already disappeared so his temple of Sol Invictus was closed down and returned to the 're-re' branded Vestal Virgins. At least on the surface - everything seemed to have gone back to normal. This only left the new regime to decide on the fate of Ben Nevis , the transgender charioteer who had 'married' Elagabalus . Nevis was offered a testimonial final race in which he had to die. He agreed and smashed his Renault powered chariot into a wall on the final straight in the Circus Maximus.
Give Me a Mannequin After Midnight[edit]
Now the undisputed emperor of the Roman Empire, Severus Alexander made speeches in the Senate how much he liked his new job . He then went on to thank his family for giving him this opportunity, his mother, grandmother, his agent, his cook and a former school mistress Prima Johanna Brodi . She had kept his old tutor M.R.Chips ( a former highway patrol policeman) very happy in the final term . This arrangement had also helped Severus secure top marks at school.
The Romans seemed happy enough with their new emperor , he seemed as worthy and dull like old Antoninus Pius 60 years earlier. So though Severus Alexander hardly appeared in the heroic mold of previous rulers , he wasn't likely to invite you round to dinner and have your throat cut. That was at least thought as an advancement for civilization. However the emperor did have one peculiar passion which would eventually lead to an ill judged marriage.
In one wing of the Palatine Palace, Severus Alexander placed his collection of mannequins , a hobby he had picked up in Athens. There he collected a range of these lifesize dolls and liked to dress them up as famous people. Inside the room Severus arranged various odd 'scenes' . There was Julius Caesar kicking a prostate Brutus in the head or you could look at Alexander the Great arm wrestling with Moses. He also had Socrates, Plato and Aristotle sitting on a couch together trying to solve a Sudoku puzzle with a naked mannequin of Cleopatra standing behind wearing just a feather boa. There was even a mannequin of Jesus and the disciples playing cards and drinking plenty of Holy Spirits.
Often Severus would disappear into the room alone, lock the door from the inside and stay there all night 'talking' to the mannequins. His servants thought it was witchcraft and heard many strange sounds of whipping and moaning but the emperor would always appear next morning happy and relaxed.
This 'peculiar behavior' greatly annoyed Severus's grandmother Julia Miasma. She decided her grandson was obviously in need of company and certainly didn't mean sex change charioteers. The emperor should be married and so being the 'Boss Nan' , it was done. Miasma told Severus to stop 'playing with fake dollies' and get his hands on a real woman and her choice was Sallustia Barbia Dollia - a.k.a known as 'Orbs' for her brains and stupendous , gravity resistant breasts. Happy with providing Severus with a willing spouse , Julia Miasma decided to die and was cremated in the Roman Forum on a funeral pyre made of her old shopping bags.
Your Father-in-Law Wants You Very Dead[edit]
Though still reluctant to marry , Severus Alexander agreed to his grandmother's last wishes and went ahead with the marriage to Sallustia. His wife's father Lacetatus 'Seedy' Sallustius - an abusive Roman banker and grain ship speculator - also managed to persuade the emperor to give him a job as well. The gullible Severus agreed to all Sallustius's demands and even made his father-in-law Deputy Emperor , anything it seems so that he could avoid his new wife who found herself alone in the imperial bedchamber. Sallustia at first objected but then found her physical pleasures with a succession of sex slaves who were told to keep her happy - or die unhappy - if they told anyone outside the palace about this arrangement.
Severus Alexander's mother Julia Mammamia was suspicious of her son's wife and his father-in-law. So whilst the emperor continued to 'talk' to his stiff featured friends , Julia Mammamia tried to make sure her son wasn't going to end up like dog meat like her nephew and sister.
Sallustius was meanwhile plotting to upgrade his job and changed Sallustia's night time friends for a succession of influential (and randy) senators who would be persuaded to knife the emperor on the floor of the Senate. Sallustria reluctantly agreed and soon it seemed Rome was about to have a change of dynasty.
However the greedy banker had forgotten about the old loyalty of Severan IV Legion . They happened to be on a visit to Rome for some old fashioned fun in the bath houses after spending the last couple of years smashing up the Parthians and helping themselves to loot and slaves. When Julia Mammamia told them that Sallustius was attemping a 'takeover' , they happily went round to his villa and slew the would be emperor and his immediate supporters. As for Sallustria , she escaped death but was exiled to Libya - in fact to the old Severan family town of Leprosy Magnum to learn the true art of Provincial Boredom.
Goodbye Parthia - Hello Persia ![edit]
Now free of a wife again , Severus Alexander told everyone that the only woman he loved was his mum . So anyone who brought up marraige proposals again could forget it . The emperor was going to concentrate and take his exams to become Severus Alexander the Great. In fact , he knew just where to go to finish his Homer Work and ordered his legions to invade Parthia.
However when the Roman army finally reached the border - they were greeted with a new sign .
Dear City Sackers. As of 226 AD - the Parthia Empire is No More. It suffered a complete collapse on the Civilization Stock exchange and has now been taken over by new management . Please send all your letters/scrolls/gold to Persia C/O Sassanids and Sons and Sons and Sons etc.
Perplexed by this news , Severus called off the invasion and returned to Rome. This wasn't a very bright move as the legions were looking forward to plundering and destroying in the name of Awesome Rome the Mighty. In their eyes , Severus Alexander had ran away flying the Yellow Standard.
The Germans Stirring It Again[edit]
The perceived 'humiliation' in the East made Severus Alexander look elsewhere for imperial glory. He decided that the German tribes who had been quiet of late on the Rhine-Danube borders needed a bit of waking up and judged that they could be an easier foe to defeat .
So he once again ordered his legions to the borders and met the German tribal leaders. These particular ones were not spoiling for a fight with Rome that much but said that they much more worried about another bunch of Germans known as 'The Goths' for their gloomy music and musty smelling clothes. So if Severus could leave them alone for now they would go off and deal with the Goths themselves . The emperor thought that was a reasonable proposal and returned to base camp and decide where to go next on invasion holidays.
Meanwhile his mother Julia Mammamia turned up as her son had forgotten to take his 'lucky loincloth' on campaign - a piece of underwear Alexander liked to put on when doing his homework. Now the soldiers were really showing their contempt , grinding their teeth on parade and farting every time someone said 'Hail Severus'.
Death By Squashing[edit]
Despite all their grumbles - the potential rebel soldiers had no leader until the mighty 'Max the Thrash' Thrax stepped forward and said he was 'mean, tough, cruel and crude' , a complete contrast to what they saw was the effete and 'pansy pants' Severus. Thrax said he would 'not shed blood' but would challenge the emperor and his mother to a wrestling bout.
With that declaration, the soldiers openly rebelled and dragged Severus and his mother out of their tent and threw them into a ring where Maximinus was waiting. The odds for this wrestling match didn't seem very fair but then you have to remember that Romans were used to watching and betting on unfair fights. For them this was no different than seeing a condemned criminal attempt to punch hungry lions in the Colosseum to survive.
Bravely Severus slipped on his lucky loincloth and stepped into the rough patch of muddy ground that was the 'ring' for this fight. Maximinus Thrax teased the emperor - pretending to fall over when Severus put a finger on him and then crying in pain as the emperor tried to get him in an arm lock. Eventually after about a minute , Thrax ended the fight with a body slam and suffocated Severus to death . Seeing her son dead , Julia Mammamia briefly sang 'Knowing Me, Knowing You..Knowing I'm Finished ' and then drowned herself by sticking her head in the gooey mud. So ended the House of Severus and no one so much cried or let out a howl.
End of Era and the James Last of All Cliches[edit]
Yes it was really 'End of An Era'. From now on , it was nearly soldier boys all the way - though getting your grubby hands on the job of Casear became the most dangerous profession in the Known World. Nearly every emperor until Diocletian was to get sacked from his job with a well aimed knife in the guts. After all , who wanted to pay a pension to an ex-ruler. Certainly not the Romans !
- For further allegations about Severus Alexander's real father - read Fibius.
- Ha.ha.ha...really ? Who told you that ??
- Or perhaps an aggressive hippopotamus.
- Story appears word for word in the now lost life of 'Angelina Dominatrix: My Struggle With Adoption and Domination.'
- Yes.
- By this time Dio Cassio had acquired new batteries to continue on his stories about the Severan dynasty.
- Not from California orginally.
- In Rome that is called 'Prune Dead Reckoning'.
- This and other versions of that story were suppressed at the Council of Constantinople 381 AD.
- Give Me a break there !
- Severus Alexander's sex life seems to have been set in neutral. He appears to have not liked anyone except his mum.
- She was also known as 'Vesuvia' on account of her explosive nature.
- The Extra hard IV legion shortly afterwards disappears from the records of the Roman army. Seems they were disbanded or retired with big pensions.
- Another wife for Severus Alexander has been suggested but unless it was his mother under another name - assume it isn't true.
- Harridan and in earlier quotes. A rare woman historian of the time - known for opinion that the Roman Empire was 'screwed up ' by the Roman army.
See Also[edit]
|Preceded by:
|Roman Emperor
|Succeeded by:
Maximinus Thrax


text:
We welcome photographer Adam Woodworth to the Weston Gallery as our July artist. He has mastered the amazing art of blending beautiful night skies with striking landscape compositions to produce etheral and almost surreal images. Adam will also present an illustrated lecture on how he makes the magic, free and open to the public on Wednesday, July 9th at 6:30 PM.
Introduction to Landscape Astrophotography will take you on a night time journey across locations in Northern New England with a couple stops in New Brunswick and Quebec. Adam will look at landscape photos that feature the galactic center of the Milky Way and discuss the stories and techniques behind the photos.
Woodworth is a landscape photographer, fine art printer, award winning filmmaker, and software engineer. He is originally from Kittery, Maine, and now resides in Rye, New Hampshire. He has had a love of photography for over 15 years, and since 2008 he has focused on landscape photography.
His goal as a photographer is to create compelling images using high quality tools and techniques. His attention to detail as a long time computer programmer is not lost in his photography and fine art printing.
He often strives to produce images that capture the beauty of nature, but he also uses special techniques to create images that often times look otherworldly.
Adam can frequently be found wandering around the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the seacoasts of Maine and New Hampshire, or other beautiful areas of New England.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Whether you're planning a traditional or contemporary Jewish wedding, rabbis are a must. Find an ordained wedding rabbi available in your area who can perform just the type of ceremony you want. From elaborate traditional to modest reform, your union will be blessed with the presence of an officiant who will work with you. Search today.


text:
Summary Report for:
49-3023.02 - Automotive Specialty Technicians
Repair only one system or component on a vehicle, such as brakes, suspension, or radiator.
Sample of reported job titles: A/C Technician (Air Conditioning Technician), Automobile Mechanic (Auto Mechanic), Automobile Technician (Auto Technician), Automotive Technician (Auto Technician), Drivability Technician, Heavy Line Technician, Lube Technician, Oil Bay Technician, Quick Service Technician, Service Technician
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Estimate costs of vehicle repair.
- Troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control systems, using electronic testing equipment.
- Repair, overhaul, or adjust automobile brake systems.
- Test electronic computer components in automobiles to ensure proper operation.
- Repair or replace defective ball joint suspensions, brake shoes, or wheel bearings.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
- Tune automobile engines to ensure proper and efficient functioning.
- Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
- Rebuild, repair, or test automotive fuel injection units.
- Change spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters, and batteries in hybrid electric vehicles.
- Install or repair air conditioners and service components, such as compressors, condensers, and controls.
- Install, adjust, or repair hydraulic or electromagnetic automatic lift mechanisms used to raise and lower automobile windows, seats, and tops.
- Repair or rebuild clutch systems.
- Repair or replace automobile leaf springs.
- Replace defective mufflers and tailpipes.
- Conduct visual inspections of compressed natural gas fuel systems to identify cracks, gouges, abrasions, discoloration, broken fibers, loose brackets, damaged gaskets, or other problems.
- Diagnose and replace or repair engine management systems or related sensors for flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) with ignition timing, fuel rate, alcohol concentration, or air-to-fuel ratio malfunctions.
- Replace hydraulically assisted systems with electric-powered systems, such as power steering pumps or air conditioning compressors, to improve fuel economy.
- Service or repair butane gas, ethanol, methane, or other alternative or biofuel systems.
- Service internal combustion engine systems for hybrid electric vehicles.
- Diagnose and repair regenerative braking systems or hydraulic systems in hybrid vehicles.
- Service biodiesel fuel tanks for algae or sludge accumulation by cleaning, changing filters, or adding algaecides.
- Convert vehicle fuel systems from gasoline to butane gas, ethanol, methane, or other alternative or biofuel systems.
- Inspect propane or natural gas high-pressure tanks, piping, or pressure regulators.
- Retrofit vehicle fuel systems with aftermarket products, such as vapor transfer devices, evaporation control devices, swirlers, lean burn devices, or friction reduction devices, to enhance combustion and fuel efficiency.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software — Hunter WinAlign; Nexiq Tech HDS Suite for Palm
- Calendar and scheduling software — Scheduling software
- Data base reporting software — Genisys Fast Fixes
- Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software ; Database software; Work order management software
- Electronic mail software — IBM Notes ; Microsoft Outlook
- Facilities management software — Alliance Automotive Shop Controller; Mitchell OnDemand5 Manager; Scott Systems MaxxTraxx Pro; Snap-On ShopKey (see all 5 examples)
- Information retrieval or search software — Online service manual database software; Technical manual database software
- Internet browser software
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Operating system software — Microsoft Windows
- Project management software — Estimating software
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Video creation and editing software — YouTube
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used
- Acoustic sensors — Mechanics' stethoscopes
- Adjustable widemouth pliers — Radiator hose pinchoff pliers
- Air compressors
- Ammeters
- Anvils
- Automotive cleaners — Fuel injection cleaners
- Automotive exhaust emission analyzers — Exhaust analyzers
- Automotive honing machine — Brake cylinder hones
- Awls
- Bar code reader equipment — Code readers
- Battery acid hydrometers — Battery hydrometers
- Battery chargers — Battery jump starters
- Bench vises — Vises
- Bolt cutters
- Borescope inspection equipment — Borescopes
- Box end wrenches — Ratcheting box wrenches
- Brake drum lathe — Brake drum lathes; Rotor/drum brake lathes
- Brake repair kits — Brake shoe tools; Disc brake pad spreaders; Shoe retaining spring tools
- Calipers — Dial calipers
- Catalytic combustion analyzers
- Circuit tester — Circuit testers; Continuity testers; Test lights
- Combination wrenches
- Compressed air gun — Pneumatic chassis lubriguns
- Compression testers — Compression analyzers
- Cutting die — Metal cutting dies
- Deburring tool — Deburring tools
- Desktop computers
- Diagonal cut pliers — Diagonal cutting pliers
- Dial indicator or dial gauge — Dial indicators
- Dollies — Auto body dollies
- Drill press or radial drill — Drill presses; Workshop presses
- Dynamometers
- Engine ignition systems — Dwell meters
- Engine or vehicle stands — Engine stands; Frame racks; Jack stands
- Feeler gauges — Spark plug gapping tools
- Grease guns
- Hacksaw — Hacksaws
- Hammers — Wheel weight hammers
- Hand clamps — Clutch holding tools
- Hand reamer — Reamers
- Heat guns
- Heat tracing equipment — Infrared digital thermometers
- Hex keys — Allen wrenches
- Hoists — Chain hoists
- Hole gauge — Bore gauges
- Hose cutter — Hose cutters
- Hydraulic press brake — Hydraulic shop presses
- Impact wrenches
- Inspection mirror — Inspection mirrors
- Jacks — Transmission jacks
- Laser printers
- Leak testing equipment — Combustion leak detectors; Leak detection smoke machines; Light emitting diode LED leak detector lights
- Levels — Laser levels
- Liquid leak detectors — Leak detectors; Refrigerant leak detectors
- Locking pliers — Channel lock pliers
- Magnetic tools — Magnetic pickup tools
- Metal inert gas welding machine — Metal inert gas MIG welders
- Mill saw file — Single-cut mill saw files
- Multi gas monitors — Refrigerant identifiers
- Multimeters — Clamp-on multimeters
- Needlenose pliers
- Nibblers
- Nut drivers
- Ohmmeters
- Oil gun — Oil injectors
- Open end wrenches — Crescent wrenches
- Organic light emitting displays — Scan tools
- Oscilloscopes
- Oxygen sensors
- Paint sprayers
- Personal computers
- Pipe or tube cutter — Exhaust/tail pipe cutters; Tube cutters
- Pipe wrenches
- Plasma arc welding machine — Plasma cutters
- Pneumatic drill — Pneumatic drills
- Pneumatic hammer — Air chisels; Air hammers
- Pneumatic impact wrenches — Air wrenches; Butterfly air wrenches; Pneumatic wrenches
- Pneumatic sanding machines — Pneumatic orbital sanders; Sandblasters
- Pneumatic vacuum equipment — Brake bleeders; Hydraulic bleed tools; Pneumatic fluid evacuators; Pressure brake bleeders
- Power buffers — Buffers; Polishers
- Power drills — Angle drills
- Power flaring tool — Flaring tools
- Power grinders
- Power riveter — Rivet guns
- Power sanders
- Power saws — Reciprocating saws
- Pressure indicators — Diesel modulator shift testers; Engine oil pressure testers; Manifold gauge sets
- Pressure or steam cleaners — Steam cleaning equipment
- Pry bars
- Pullers — Gear pullers; Hand pullers; Power pullers; Slide hammers (see all 6 examples)
- Punches or nail sets or drifts — Punches
- Rasps — Stickleback rasps
- Ratchets
- Refrigerant compressors — Air conditioner chargers
- Remote reading thermometers — Non-contact thermometers
- Retaining ring pliers — External snap ring pliers; Internal retaining ring pliers
- Safety glasses
- Screw extractors — Screw extractor sets
- Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight blade screwdrivers
- Scribers
- Shears
- Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine — Shielded arc welding tools
- Socket sets — Antenna socket sets; Socket wrench sets
- Soldering iron — Soldering irons
- Spark plug tester — Ignition testers
- Spark plug wrench — Spark plug sockets
- Specialty wrenches — Breaker bars; Clutch wrenches; Oil filter wrenches; Ratcheting gear wrenches (see all 6 examples)
- Speed sensors — Revolutions per minute RPM gauges
- Steering wheel puller — Steering wheel column pivot pin pullers
- Strap wrenches
- Stripping tools — Wire strippers
- Tachometers — Laser photo tachometers
- Tape measures
- Taps — Metal cutting taps
- Tire changing machines
- Tire pressure gauge — Tire pressure gauges
- Torque wrenches
- Torx keys
- Trim or molding tools — Scrapers
- Tube bending machine — Tubing benders
- Utility knives
- Vacuum gauges
- Vacuum pumps
- Valve seat cutter — Valve seating equipment
- Voltage or current meters — Alternator testers; In-line ignition spark testers; Spark plug testers; Voltmeters
- Welding masks
- Welding or soldering kit — Spot welding kits
- Wheel alignment equipment — Computerized suspension analyzers; Wheel alignment machines
- Wheel balancing equipment — Strobe wheel balancing systems for heavy vehicles; Wheel balancers
- Wheel nut or lug wrench — Lug wrenches
- Winches
- Wire brushes
- Wire cutters
- Workshop cranes
- Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Repairing — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Equipment Maintenance — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Equipment Selection — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Extent Flexibility — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Hearing Sensitivity — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
- Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Auditory Attention — The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
- Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Speed of Closure — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
- Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Detailed Work Activities
- Inspect vehicles to determine overall condition.
- Record information about parts, materials or repair procedures.
- Estimate costs for labor or materials.
- Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
- Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.
- Adjust vehicle components according to specifications.
- Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.
- Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Align equipment or machinery.
- Repair defective engines or engine components.
- Service green vehicles to make repairs or maintain good working order.
- Rebuild parts or components.
- Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Inspect gas systems or components to identify leaks or other potential hazards.
- Install heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.
- Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Install vehicle parts or accessories.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 99% responded "Every day."
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 82% responded "Every day."
- Exposed to Contaminants — 80% responded "Every day."
- Time Pressure — 80% responded "Every day."
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 79% responded "Every day."
- Spend Time Standing — 70% responded "Continually or almost continually."
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 79% responded "Continually or almost continually."
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 81% responded "Every day."
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 73% responded "More than 40 hours."
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 66% responded "Every day."
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 44% responded "Extremely important."
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 56% responded "Every day."
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings — 57% responded "Every day."
- Frequency of Decision Making — 64% responded "Every day."
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions — 51% responded "Every day."
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 50% responded "Some freedom."
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — 75% responded "Every day."
- Contact With Others — 53% responded "Constant contact with others."
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 37% responded "Very important results."
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 41% responded "Some freedom."
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting — 52% responded "Every day."
- Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions — 38% responded "Every day."
- Telephone — 48% responded "Every day."
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 35% responded "High responsibility."
- Level of Competition — 45% responded "Highly competitive."
- Work With Work Group or Team — 37% responded "Very important."
- Consequence of Error — 38% responded "Very serious."
- Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 38% responded "About half the time."
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 32% responded "Less than half the time."
- Frequency of Conflict Situations — 44% responded "Once a month or more but not every week."
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 40% responded "Important."
- Physical Proximity — 39% responded "Slightly close (e.g., shared office)."
- Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 35% responded "Every day."
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 35% responded "Important."
- Spend Time Walking and Running — 41% responded "Less than half the time."
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 32% responded "Once a month or more but not every week."
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 28% responded "Moderate responsibility."
Job Zone
|Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
|Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
|Related Experience
|Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
|Job Training
|Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
|Job Zone Examples
|These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
|SVP Range
|(6.0 to < 7.0)
Interest code: RIC Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Work Values
- Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Related Occupations
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wage data for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.
Employment data for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.
Industry data for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.
|Median wages (2019)
|$20.24 hourly, $42,090 annual
|State wages
|Local wages
|Employment (2018)
|770,100 employees
|Projected growth (2018-2028)
|Little or no change (-1% to 1%)
|Projected job openings (2018-2028)
|State trends
|Top industries (2018)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018-2028). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Job Openings on the Web
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
- Automotive Youth Educational Systems
- International Automotive Technicians Network
- National Automobile Dealers Association
- National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation
- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- SkillsUSA


text:
Jesse James set a record speed of 199.712 in the hydrogen-powered Streamliner at the El Mirage Dry Lake Bed last week, besting the hydrogen record previously held by the BMW H2R, thus proving Americans lead in increasingly obsolete technology.
Full press release:
Quantum-Jesse James Team Shatters the Land Speed World Record for a Hydrogen Powered Vehicle
IRVINE, California, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:QTWW) today announced that its advanced gaseous fuel injectors, fuel metering components, lightweight fuel storage system and powertrain engineering expertise successfully supported Jesse James in shattering the land speed record for a hydrogen powered vehicle. On June 16, 2009, Jesse James clocked 199.712 mph in the hydrogen 'Streamliner' at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed in the Mojave Desert, to beat the world record holder, the BMW H2R, which had attained 186 mph in Germany. This historic event will be shown as the season one finale of "Jesse James Is A Dead Man" premiering on Sunday, August 9 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on Spike TV.
"Jessie James approached Quantum for our world-class expertise in hydrogen and advanced powertrain engineering," explained Alan P. Niedzwiecki, the President and CEO of Quantum. "This, I honestly believe, is world-changing," Jesse James said of the emissions-free race car. "We can't rely on gasoline forever. I'm paying it forward."
Jesse James' record setting run was supported by 24 Quantum hydrogen injectors that fuelled an 8-cylinder engine that was optimized to yield 704 HP. Quantum's patented fuel injector has been designed, tested and validated specifically for precision fuel metering and durable service with cleaner burning, dry gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas. With several years of R&D, Quantum's gaseous fuel injectors are featured in Ford's hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles and Prius and Escape hydrogen hybrid electric vehicles developed by Quantum.
The record-breaking Streamliner was fitted with 3 ultra-light weight, advanced carbon-fiber composite, polymer-lined 5000 psi Quantum hydrogen storage cylinders to help with vehicle performance and drivability. Quantum has supplied some of the lightest hydrogen cylinders in the world for weight-critical automotive and aerospace applications. Quantum has developed industry-leading 3600 psi natural gas on-board storage cylinders, and 5,000 and 10,000 psi hydrogen storage cylinders and related valves and pressure management systems.
The initial development of Jesse James' Streamliner was performed at Quantum's Advanced Vehicle Concepts Center in Lake Forest California. This facility is equipped with all disciplines and capabilities to take advanced powertrains and vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, and natural gas vehicles, from concept to production. Over the past decade, Quantum's expert team has developed and built 20,000 natural gas vehicles, 2,000 hydrogen and hybrid systems and vehicles, as an OEM, and also in partnerships with world's leading auto makers. Quantum has designed advanced hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and powertrains for the US Army, and for Fisker Automotive, for the award winning Fisker KARMA, a luxury plug-in-hybrid car that was introduced at the Detroit International Auto Show in January, 2008.


text:
Pill power: Keflex not quick cold fix
I grew up with two physicians as parents. In our cupboards, instead of Toll House cookie mix, we had medications: antihistamines, blood pressure pills, cholesterol busters, and antibiotics– lots of antibiotics.
Face it, parents. If you put pills in the kitchen cupboard, your child is going to take them. Because my parents gave me a particular antibiotic whenever I was sick, I just decided to start taking them on my own whenever I wasn't feeling well.
This led me to become a Keflex junkie. Needless to say, I learned in medical school microbiology that I'm now fully resistant to Keflex. In fact, my Petri dish grew so much bacteria on top of the Keflex disc that the lid rose up. It looked like a scene from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
I also learned in med school that Keflex is a great antibiotic for most skin infections, and sometimes it can be effective for a sinus infection or sore throat. I also learned (to my surprise) that the common cold is caused by a virus, and antibiotics cannot cure the common cold.
One day when my mother caught me taking Keflex, she said, "Hey, what are you doing? You shouldn't do that!" I said, "But I'm sick." She said, "I'm the doctor; you're not. That antibiotic is not going to cure you."
I was puzzled because it had seemed to help before. Little did I know that my own immune system, not the antibiotic, was curing the cold.
So when I came to UVA as a fellow in general medicine, I decided to conduct a study on patients who visited the ER with the common cold. It was no surprise to find that the #1 reason people requested antibiotics was that they had been prescribed previously for the same symptoms.
What fond memories it brought back of my own misguided antibiotic experience. In fact, many patients wanted exactly the same antibiotic as before.
"Only Ceftin works for me. Everything else fails," they'd say. "Penicillin cures everything. Give me a week's worth, please," others politely demanded. Keflex anyone?
On the other hand, every study– including my own– demonstrates that many patients don't want an antibiotic for their cold. They want a diagnosis and a way to feel better. In fact, most people with colds don't seek medical attention. The over-the-counter business in cold relief products is a multi-million dollar drug company windfall.
However, many doctors think their patients want antibiotics, and therefore they prescribe them. Then, many patients don't even fill the prescription for the antibiotic because they know they don't need it.
What I say to patients is, "We can't cure the common cold. If you discover a cure, adopt me as your son, because you'll be the richest person in the world. Here are some medicines you can take to make you feel better. If you aren't better in one to two weeks, call me. You might have a bacterial infection that crept in." Voila!
I hate being sick, so I can understand why people want some medicine to cure the common cold. To me, having the common cold is more than an inconvenience. I sometimes make it into a Greek tragedy.
In reality, I know that I'm being silly because there are far worse things than having a cold. Nevertheless, to this day– with all the knowledge I have– I still want to run to my parents' miracle cupboard and take an antibiotic for my cold.
Instead, I eat chicken soap, take over-the-counter medicines, and drink plenty of fluids. It's almost foolproof.


text:
All News Releases By Date
EPA announces more than $20 million in Recovery Act funds for Water Infrastructure projects in Utah to boost economy, create jobs and protect public health
Release Date: 07/14/2009
Contact Information: Richard Mylott, 303-312-6654
(Denver, Colo. – July 14, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the people in Utah, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $20,649,900 to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to wastewater projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.
"EPA is pleased to provide more than $20 million in Recovery Act funds for much needed improvements to Utah's water infrastructure that will benefit the state for decades to come," said Carol Rushin, EPA's Acting Regional Administrator in Denver. "This funding will protect public health and improve water quality while creating hundreds of jobs in Utah."
The Recovery Act funds will go to the State's Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program provides low interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. An unprecedented $4 billion dollars will be awarded to fund wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.
Since the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program began in 1987, EPA has awarded more than $26 billion in grants, which states have turned into $69 billion of financial assistance for water quality projects. The revolving nature of the program ensures water quality projects will be funded for generations to come.
EPA is also awarding $208,700 in Recovery Act funds for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) in Utah. Planning is an important step in EPA's goal to improve water quality in America's lakes, rivers and streams. WQMP grants support a broad range of activities, such as setting standards, monitoring the quality of the water, developing plans to restore polluted waters, and identifying ways to protect healthy waters from becoming polluted. States are also encouraged to use these funds for more innovative planning activities, such as developing plans to adapt to climate change, analyzing trends in water availability and use, and creating low-impact development programs. Grants are awarded to state agencies and some of the funds can be awarded to regional and interstate planning organizations.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.
Information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit https://www.epa.gov/recovery
Information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program visit https://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


text:
Register or transfer your domain name from an ICANN accredited Registrar.
Discover all of our hosting packages that meet all of your needs.
The ultimate solution to respond to all you needs in terms of mailing. Enjoy the stability and the security of your mailing server with Genious Communications !
If you desire to start a web hosting business, our reseller pack is the right fit for you !
A range of additional services for more insurance on the web.
Genious Communications is first and foremost a team! Do you want to learn more ? Check this out !
Customer Support
Hesk is Free PHP Help Desk Software that runs with a MySQL database. It allows you to setup a web based ticket support system (helpdesk) for your website. Once the Help Desk Software is installed your customers will be able to submit support tickets and staff will have an easy-to-use web interface to manage customer support requests.Official Website Order
Install HESK on your hosting for free in a few clicks from your control panel
Genious Communications © 2003 - 2020 - All rights reserved.


text:
Frequent Links
Magic (illusion)
The Conjurer, 1475-1480, by Hieronymus Bosch or his workshop. Notice how the man in the back row steals another man's purse while applying misdirection by looking at the sky. The artist even misdirects us from the thief by drawing us to the magician.
|Performing arts
Magic (sometimes referred to as stage magic to distinguish it from paranormal or ritual magic) is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible[1] or supernatural[2] feats using natural means. These feats are called magic tricks, effects or illusions. A professional who performs such illusions is called a stage magician or an illusionist. Some performers may also be referred to by names reflecting the type of magical effects they present, such as prestidigitators, conjurors, hypnotists, mentalists, or escapologists.
The first book containing explanations of magic tricks appeared in 1584. During the 1600s many similar books were published that described magic tricks. Until the 18th century magic shows were a common source of entertainment at fairs. A founding figure of modern entertainment magic was Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, who had a magic theatre in Paris in 1845. John Henry Anderson was pioneering the same transition in London in the 1840s. Towards the end of the 1800s, large magic shows permanently staged at big theatre venues became the norm.[3] As a form of entertainment, magic easily moved from theatrical venues to television magic specials.
Opinions vary among magicians as to how categorize a given effect, but a number of categories have been developed. Magicians may pull a rabbit from an empty hat, make something seem to disappear, or transform a red silk handkerchief into a white handkerchief. Magicians may also destroy something, like cutting a rope, and then "restore" it, make something appear to move from one place to another, or they may escape from a restraining device. Other illusions include making something appear to defy gravity, making a solid object appear to pass through another object, or appearing to predict the choice of a spectator. Many magical routines use combinations of effects.
Traditionally, magicians refuse to reveal the methods behind their tricks to the audience. Membership in professional magicians' organizations often requires a commitment never to reveal the secrets of magic to non-magicians. The teaching of performance magic was once a secretive practice.[citation needed] Magic performances tend to fall into a few specialties or genres. Stage illusions use large-scale props and even large animals. Platform magic is performed for a medium to large audience. Close-up magic is performed with the audience close to the magician. Escapology involves escapes from confinement or restraints. Pickpocket magicians take audience members' wallets, belts, and ties. Mentalism creates the illusion that the magician can read minds. Comedy magic is the use of magic combined with stand-up comedy, an example being Penn & Teller. Some modern illusionists believe that it is unethical to give a performance that claims to be anything other than a clever and skillful deception. Others argue that they can claim that the effects are due to magic. These apparently irreconcilable differences of opinion have led to some conflicts among performers. Another issue is the use of deceptive practices for personal gain outside the venue of a magical performance. Examples include fraudulent mediums, con men and grifters who use deception for cheating at card games.
The term "magic" etymologically derives from the Greek word mageia (μαγεία). In ancient times, Greeks and Persians had been at war for centuries, and the Persian priests, called magosh in Persian, came to be known as magoi in Greek. Ritual acts of Persian priests came to be known as mageia, and then magika—which eventually came to mean any foreign, unorthodox, or illegitimate ritual practice.
Performances that modern observers would recognize as conjuring have been practiced throughout history.[citation needed] For many recorded centuries, magicians were associated with the devil and the occult. During the 19th and 20th centuries, many stage magicians even capitalized on this notion in their advertisements.[4] The same level of ingenuity that was used to produce famous ancient deceptions such as the Trojan Horse would also have been used for entertainment, or at least for cheating in money games. They were also used by the practitioners of various religions and cults from ancient times onwards to frighten uneducated people into obedience or turn them into adherents. However, the profession of the illusionist gained strength only in the 18th century, and has enjoyed several popular vogues since.
Magic tricks
The first book containing explanations of magic tricks appeared in 1584. Englishman Reginald Scot, published The Discoverie of Witchcraft, part of which was devoted to debunking the claims that magicians used supernatural methods, and showing how their 'magic tricks' were in reality accomplished. Among the tricks discussed were 'sleight-of-hand' manipulations with rope, paper and coins. At the time, fear and belief in witchcraft was widespread and the book tried to demonstrate that these fears were misplaced.[5] All obtainable copies were burned on the accession of James I in 1603 and those remaining are now rare. It began to reappear in print in 1651.
During the 17th century, many similar books were published that described in detail the methods of a number of magic tricks, including The Art of Conjuring (1614) and The Anatomy of Legerdemain: The Art of Juggling (c.1675).
Until the 18th century magic shows were a common source of entertainment at fairs, where itinerant performers would entertain the public with magic tricks, as well as the more traditional spectacles of sword swallowing, juggling and fire breathing. In the early 18th century, as belief in witchcraft was waning, the art became increasingly respectable and shows would be put on for rich private patrons. A notable figure in this transition was the English showman, Isaac Fawkes, who began to promote his act in advertisements from the 1720s - he even claimed to have performed for King George II. One of Fawkes' advertisements described his routine in some detail:
He takes an empty bag, lays it on the Table and turns it several times inside out, then commands 100 Eggs out of it and several showers of real Gold and silver, then the Bag beginning to swell several sorts of wild fowl run out of it upon the Table. He throws up a Pack of Cards, and causes them to be living birds flying about the room. He causes living Beasts, Birds, and other Creatures to appear upon the Table. He blows the spots of the Cards off and on, and changes them to any pictures.[6]
From 1756 to 1781, Jacob Philadelphia performed feats of magic, sometimes under the guise of scientific exhibitions, throughout Europe and in Russia.
Modern stage magic
A founding figure of modern entertainment magic was Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, originally a clockmaker, who opened a magic theatre in Paris in 1845. He transformed his art from one performed at fairs to a performance that the public paid to see at the theatre. His speciality was constructing mechanical automata that appeared to move and act as if alive. Many of Robert-Houdin's mechanisms for illusion were pirated by his assistant and ended up in the performances of his rivals, John Henry Anderson and Alexander Herrmann.
John Henry Anderson was pioneering the same transition in London. In 1840 he opened the New Strand Theatre, where he performed as The Great Wizard of the North. His success came from advertising his shows and captivating his audience with expert showmanship. He became one of the earliest magicians to attain a high level of world renown. He opened a second theatre in Glasgow in 1845.
Towards the end of the century, large magic shows permanently staged at big theatre venues became the norm.[3] The British performer J N Maskelyne and his partner Cooke established their own theatre, the Egyptian Hall, in London's Piccadilly, in 1873. The show incorporated stage illusions and reinvented traditional tricks with exotic (often Oriental) imagery. The potential of the stage was exploited for hidden mechanisms and assistants, and the control it offers over the audience's point of view. Maskelyne and Cooke invented many of the illusions still performed today - one of his best-known being levitation.[7]
The model for the look of a 'typical' magician—a man with wavy hair, a top hat, a goatee, and a tailcoat—was Alexander Herrmann (February 10, 1844 – December 17, 1896), also known as Herrmann the Great. Herrmann was a French magician and was part of the Herrmann family name that is the "first-family of magic."
The escapologist and magician Harry Houdini took his stage name from Robert-Houdin and developed a range of stage magic tricks, many of them based on what became known after his death as escapology. Houdini was genuinely skilled in techniques such as lockpicking and escaping straitjackets, but also made full use of the range of conjuring techniques, including fake equipment and collusion with individuals in the audience. Houdini's show business savvy was as great as his performance skill. There is a Houdini Museum dedicated to him in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The Magic Circle was formed in London in 1905 to promote and advance the art of stage magic.[8]
As a form of entertainment, magic easily moved from theatrical venues to television specials, which opened up new opportunities for deceptions, and brought stage magic to huge audiences. Famous magicians of the 20th century included Okito, David Devant, Harry Blackstone Sr., Harry Blackstone Jr., Howard Thurston, Theodore Annemann, Cardini, Joseph Dunninger, Dai Vernon, Fred Culpitt, Tommy Wonder, Siegfried & Roy, and Doug Henning. Popular 20th and 21st century magicians include David Copperfield, Lance Burton, James Randi, Penn and Teller, David Blaine, Criss Angel, Hans Klok, Derren Brown and Dynamo. Well known women would include Dell O'Dell and Dorothy Dietrich. Most TV magicians perform before a live audience, who provide the remote viewer with a reassurance that the illusions are not obtained with post-production visual effects.
Many of the principles of stage magic are old. There is an expression, "it's all done with smoke and mirrors", used to explain something baffling, but effects seldom use mirrors today, due to the amount of installation work and transport difficulties. For example, the famous Pepper's Ghost, a stage illusion first used in 19th-century London, required a specially built theatre. Modern performers have vanished objects as large as the Taj Mahal, the Statue of Liberty, and a space shuttle, using other kinds of optical deceptions.
Categories of effects
Opinions vary among magicians as to how to categorize a given effect, and disagreement as to what categories actually exist. For instance, some magicians consider "penetrations" a separate category, while others consider penetrations a form of restoration or teleportation. Some magicians today, such as Guy Hollingworth[9] and Tom Stone[10] have begun to challenge the notion that all magic effects fit into a limited number of categories. Among magicians who believe in a limited number of categories (such as Dariel Fitzkee, Harlan Tarbell, S.H. Sharpe), there has been disagreement as to how many different types of effects there are. Some of these are listed below.
- Production: The magician produces something from nothing—a rabbit from an empty hat, a fan of cards from thin air, a shower of coins from an empty bucket, a dove from a pan, or the magician himself or herself, appearing in a puff of smoke on an empty stage—all of these effects are productions.
- Vanish: The magician makes something disappear—a coin, a cage of doves, milk from a newspaper, an assistant from a cabinet, or even the Statue of Liberty. A vanish, being the reverse of a production, may use a similar technique, in reverse.
- Transformation: The magician transforms something from one state into another—a silk handkerchief changes color, a lady turns into a tiger, an indifferent card changes to the spectator's chosen card.
- Restoration: The magician destroys an object, then restores it to its original state—a rope is cut, a newspaper is torn, a woman is cut in half, a borrowed watch is smashed to pieces—then they are all restored to their original state.
- Transportation: The magician causes something to move from one place to another—a borrowed ring is found inside a ball of wool, a canary inside a light bulb, an assistant from a cabinet to the back of the theater, a coin from one hand to the other. When two objects exchange places, it is called a transposition: a simultaneous, double transportation. A transportation can be seen as a combination of a vanish and a production. When performed by a Mentalist might be called teleportation.
- Escape: The magician (an assistant may participate, but the magician himself is by far the most common) is placed in a restraining device (i.e., handcuffs or a straitjacket) or a death trap, and escapes to safety. Examples include being put in a straitjacket and into an overflowing tank of water, and being tied up and placed in a car being sent through a car crusher.
- Levitation: The magician defies gravity, either by making something float in the air, or with the aid of another object (suspension)—a silver ball floats around a cloth, an assistant floats in mid-air, another is suspended from a broom, a scarf dances in a sealed bottle, the magician hovers a few inches off the floor. There are many popular ways to create this illusion, including Asrah levitation, Balducci levitation, and King levitation. The flying illusion is often performed by David Copperfield and more recently by Peter Marvey. Harry Blackstone floated a light bulb over the heads of the public.
- Penetration: The magician makes a solid object pass through another—a set of steel rings link and unlink, a candle penetrates an arm, swords pass through an assistant in a basket, a saltshaker penetrates the table-top, a man walks through a mirror. Sometimes referred to as "solid-through-solid."
- Prediction: The magician predicts the choice of a spectator, or the outcome of an event under seemingly impossible circumstances—a newspaper headline is predicted, the total amount of loose change in the spectator's pocket, a picture drawn on a slate.
Many magical routines use combinations of effects. For example, in "cups and balls" a magician may use vanishes, productions, penetrations, teleportation and transformations as part of the one presentation.
The methodology behind magic is often referred to as a science (often a branch of physics) whilst the performance aspect is more of an art form.
Traditionally, magicians refuse to reveal the methods behind their tricks to the audience.
- Exposure is claimed to "kill" magic as an art form, but time has proven this to be untrue. There have been many TV shows, and YouTube channels dedicated to 'revealing' magic's secrets. However, there are often many ways to achieve a single illusion, so the 'secret' is merely an example of how it "could" work. Most often, the most efficient and most devious methods are never released publicly. It is argued that once the secret of a trick is revealed to a person, that one can no longer fully enjoy subsequent performances of that magic, as the amazement is missing. Although, in many cases, people have a greater appreciation for the magic art form with some understanding of the methods employed.
- Many believe that keeping the secrets preserves the mystery of professional magicians. In all actuality, magicians are able to employ various methods of entertaining an audience, and the "secrets" are less important than people believe. Without studying the art of magic in depth, it is difficult to really understand how a secret of one trick might apply to others. This has been illustrated by Penn and Teller, as they will supposedly "reveal" a secret of magic, and then later in their show will use that same method without the audience realizing it.
Membership in professional magicians' organizations often requires a solemn commitment to the Magician's Oath never to reveal the secrets of magic to non-magicians. The Magician's Oath may vary, but typically takes the following or similar form:
- "As a magician I promise never to reveal the secret of any illusion to a non-magician, unless that one swears to uphold the Magician's Oath in turn. I promise never to perform any illusion for any non-magician without first practicing the effect until I can perform it well enough to maintain the illusion of magic."
Once sworn to the Oath, one is considered a magician, and is expected to live up to this promise. Magicians who reveal secrets, either purposely or through insufficient practice, may find that other magicians are unwilling to teach them any more secrets. They are then no longer eligible to join IBM (International Brotherhood of Magicians) and are banned from magic society.
However, it is traditionally permissible to reveal secrets to individuals who are determined to learn magic and become magicians. It is typically a sequential process of increasingly valuable and lesser known secrets. The secrets of almost all magical effects are available to the public through numerous books and magazines devoted to magic, available from the specialized magic trade. Web sites offer videos, DVDs and instructional materials. In this sense, there are few classical illusions left unrevealed, but this does not appear to have diminished the appeal of performances. In addition, magic is a living art, and new illusions are devised with surprising regularity. Sometimes a 'new' illusion is built on an illusion that is old enough to have become unfamiliar.
Some magicians have taken the position that revealing the methods used in certain works of magic can enhance the appreciation of the audience for cleverness of magic. Penn and Teller frequently perform tricks using transparent props to reveal how they are done, for example, although they almost always include additional unexplained effects at the end that are made even more astonishing by the revealing props being used.
Often, what seems a revelation of a magical secret is merely another form of misdirection. For instance, a magician may explain to an audience member that the linking rings "have a hole in them" and hand the volunteer two unlinked rings, which the volunteer finds to have become linked as soon as he handles them. At this point the magician may shove his arm through the ring ('the hole in the ring'), proclaiming: "See? Once you know that every ring has a hole, it's easy!"
Learning magic
Dedication to magic can teach confidence and creativity, as well as the work ethic associated with regular practice and the responsibility that comes with devotion to an art.[11] The teaching of performance magic was once a secretive practice.[citation needed] Professional magicians were unwilling to share knowledge with anyone outside the profession[citation needed] to prevent the laity from learning their secrets. This often made it difficult for an interested apprentice to learn anything but the basics of magic. Some had strict rules against members discussing magic secrets with anyone but established magicians.
From the 1584 publication of Reginald Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft until the end of the 19th century, only a few books were available for magicians to learn the craft, whereas today mass-market books offer a myriad titles. Videos and DVDs are a newer medium of tuition, but many of the methods found in this format are readily found in previously published books. However, they can serve as a visual demonstration.
Persons interested in learning to perform magic can join magic clubs. Here magicians, both seasoned and novitiate, can work together and help one another for mutual improvement, to learn new techniques, to discuss all aspects of magic, to perform for each other—sharing advice, encouragement, and criticism. Before a magician can join one of these clubs, they usually have to audition. The purpose is to show to the membership they are a magician and not just someone off the street wanting to discover magical secrets.
The world's largest magic organization is the International Brotherhood of Magicians; it publishes a monthly journal, The Linking Ring. The oldest organization is the Society of American Magicians, of which Houdini was a member and president for several years. In London, England, there is The Magic Circle, which houses the largest magic library in Europe. Also PSYCRETS—The British Society of Mystery Entertainers[12]—caters specifically to mentalists, bizarrists, storytellers, readers, spiritualist performers, and other mystery entertainers. Davenport's Magic [13] in London's The Strand is the world's oldest family-run magic shop.[14] The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, is home to the Academy of Magical Arts.
Types of magic performance
Magic performances tend to fall into a few specialties or genres.
- Stage illusions are performed for large audiences, typically within a theatre or auditorium. This type of magic is distinguished by large-scale props, the use of assistants and often exotic animals such as elephants and tigers. Famous stage illusionists, past and present, include Harry Blackstone, Sr., Howard Thurston, Chung Ling Soo, David Copperfield, Lance Burton, Siegfried & Roy, and Harry Blackstone, Jr.
- Parlor magic is done for larger audiences than close-up magic (which is for a few people or even one person) and for smaller audiences than stage magic. In parlor magic, the performer is usually standing and on the same level as the audience, which may be seated on chairs or even on the floor. According to the Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians by T.A. Waters, "The phrase [parlor magic] is often used as a pejorative to imply that an effect under discussion is not suitable for professional performance." Also, many magicians consider the term "parlor" old fashioned and limiting, since this type of magic is often done in rooms much larger than the traditional parlor, or even outdoors. A better term for this branch of magic may be "platform," "club" or "cabaret."
- Platform magic (also known as cabaret magic or stand-up magic) is performed for a medium to large audience. Nightclub magic and comedy club magic are also examples of this form. The use of illusionettes (small tabletop illusions) is common. This genre includes the skilled manipulation of props such as billiard balls, card fans, doves, rabbits, silks, and rope. Examples of such magicians include Jeff McBride, Penn & Teller, David Abbott, Channing Pollock, Black Herman, and Fred Kaps.
- Micromagic (also known as close-up magic or table magic) is performed with the audience close to the magician, sometimes even one-on-one. It usually makes use of everyday items as props, such as cards (see Card manipulation), coins (see Coin magic), and seemingly 'impromptu' effects. This may be called "table magic", particularly when performed as dinner entertainment. Ricky Jay, Mahdi Moudini and Lee Asher, following in the traditions of Dai Vernon, Slydini and Max Malini, are considered among the foremost practitioners of close-up magic.
- Escapology is the branch of magic that deals with escapes from confinement or restraints. Harry Houdini is a well-known example of an escape artist or escapologist.
- Pickpocket magicians use magic to misdirect the audience while removing wallets, belts, ties and other personal effects. It can be presented on a stage, in a cabaret setting, before small close-up groups, or even for one spectator. Well-known pickpockets of the past and present include James Freedman, David Avadon, Bob Arno and Apollo Robbins.
- Mentalism creates the impression in the minds of the audience that the performer possesses special powers to read thoughts, predict events, control other minds, and similar feats. It can be presented on a stage, in a cabaret setting, before small close-up groups, or even for one spectator. Well-known mentalists of the past and present include Alexander, The Zancigs, Axel Hellstrom, Dunninger, Kreskin, Derren Brown, Rich Ferguson, Guy Bavli and Banachek.
- Theatrical séances simulate spiritualistic or mediumistic phenomena for theatrical effect. This genre of stage magic has been misused at times by charlatans pretending to actually be in contact with spirits.
- Children's magic is performed for an audience primarily composed of children. It is typically performed at birthday parties, preschools, elementary schools, Sunday schools or libraries. This type of magic is usually comedic in nature and involves audience interaction as well as volunteer assistants.
- Online magic tricks were designed to function on a computer screen. The computer essentially replaces the magician. Some online magic tricks recreate traditional card tricks and require user participation, while others, like Plato's Cursed Triangle, are based on mathematical, geometrical and/or optical illusions. One such online magic trick, called Esmeralda's Crystal Ball,[15] became a viral phenomenon that fooled so many computer users into believing that their computer had supernatural powers, that Snopes dedicated a page to debunking the trick.[16]
- Mathemagic is a genre of stage magic that combines magic and mathematics. It is commonly used by children's magicians and mentalists.
- Corporate magic or trade show magic uses magic as a communication and sales tool, as opposed to just straightforward entertainment. Corporate magicians may come from a business background and typically present at meetings, conferences and product launches. They run workshops and can sometimes be found at trade shows, where their patter and illusions enhance an entertaining presentation of the products offered by their corporate sponsors. Pioneer performers in this arena include Eddie Tullock[17] and Guy Bavli.[18][19]
- Gospel magic uses magic to catechize and evangelize. Gospel magic was first used by St. Don Bosco to interest children in 19th-century Turin, Italy to come back to school, to accept assistance and to attend church.
- Street magic is a form of street performing or busking that employs a hybrid of stage magic, platform and close-up magic, usually performed 'in the round' or surrounded by the audience. Notable modern street magic performers include Jeff Sheridan and Gazzo. Since the first David Blaine TV special Street Magic aired in 1997, the term "street magic" has also come to describe a style of 'guerilla' performance in which magicians approach and perform for unsuspecting members of the public on the street. Unlike traditional street magic, this style is almost purely designed for TV and gains its impact from the wild reactions of the public. Magicians of this type include David Blaine and Cyril Takayama.
- Bizarre magic uses mystical, horror, fantasy and other similar themes in performance. Bizarre magic is typically performed in a close-up venue, although some performers have effectively presented it in a stage setting. Charles Cameron has generally been credited as the "godfather of bizarre magic." Others such as Tony Andruzzi have contributed significantly to its development.
- Shock magic is a genre of magic that shocks the audience. Sometimes referred to as "geek magic," it takes its roots from circus sideshows, in which 'freakish' performances were shown to audiences. Common shock magic or geek magic effects include eating razor blades, needle-through-arm, string through neck and pen-through-tongue.
- Comedy Magic is the use of magic in which is combined with stand-up comedy. Famous comedy magicians include Ed Alonzo, Penn & Teller and Levent.
Misuse of magic
Some modern illusionists believe that it is unethical to give a performance that claims to be anything other than a clever and skillful deception. Most of these performers therefore eschew the term "magician" (which they view as making a claim to supernatural power) in favor of "illusionist" and similar descriptions; for example, the performer Jamy Ian Swiss makes these points by billing himself as an "honest liar."[20] Alternatively, many performers say that magical acts, as a form of theater, need no more of a disclaimer than any play or film; this viewpoint is reflected in the words of magician and mentalist Joseph Dunninger, "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not believe, no explanation will suffice."[21]
These apparently irreconcilable differences of opinion have led to some conflicts among performers. For example, more than thirty years after the hugely successful illusionist Uri Geller made his first appearances on television in the 1970s to exhibit his self-proclaimed psychic ability to bend spoons, his actions still provoke controversy among some magical performers, because he claimed he was not using conjuring techniques. On the other hand, because Geller bent—and continues to bend—spoons within a performance context, the Dunninger quote may be said to apply.
Less fraught with controversy, however, may be the use of deceptive practices by those who employ conjuring techniques for personal gain outside the venue of a magical performance.
Fraudulent mediums have long capitalized on the popular belief in paranormal phenomena to prey on the bereaved for financial gain. From the 1840s to the 1920s, during the greatest popularity of the Spiritualism religious movement as well as public interest in séances, a number of fraudulent mediums used conjuring methods to perform illusions such as table-knocking, slate-writing, and telekinetic effects, which they attributed to the actions of ghosts or other spirits. The great escapologist and illusionist Harry Houdini devoted much of his time to exposing such fraudulent operators.[22] Magician James Randi, magic duo Penn & Teller, and the mentalist Derren Brown have also devoted much time to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims.[23][24]
Fraudulent faith healers have also been shown to employ sleight of hand to give the appearance of removing chicken-giblet "tumors" from patients' abdomens.[25]
Con men and grifters too may use techniques of conjuring for fraudulent goals. Cheating at card games is an obvious example, and not a surprising one: one of the most respected textbooks of card techniques for magicians, The Expert at the Card Table by Erdnase, was primarily written as an instruction manual for card sharps. The card trick known as "Find the Lady" or "Three-card Monte" is an old favourite of street hustlers, who lure the victim into betting on what seems like a simple proposition: to identify, after a seemingly easy-to-track mixing sequence, which one of three face-down cards is the Queen. Another example is the shell game, in which a pea is hidden under one of three walnut shells, then shuffled around the table (or sidewalk) so slowly as to make the pea's position seemingly obvious. Although these are well known as frauds, people still lose money on them; a shell-game ring was broken up in Los Angeles as recently as December 2009.[26]
Researching magic
Because of the secretive nature of magic, research can sometimes be a challenge.[27] Many magic resources are privately held and most libraries only have small populist collections of magicana. However, organizations exist to band together independent collectors, writers, and researchers of magic history, including the Magic Collectors' Association,[28] which publishes a quarterly magazine and hosts an annual convention; and The Conjuring Arts Research Center,[29] which publishes a monthly newsletter and biannual magazine, and offers its members use of a searchable database of rare books and periodicals.
Performance magic is particularly notable as a key area of popular culture from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Many performances and performers can be followed through newspapers[30] of the time.
Many books have been written about magic tricks; so many are written every year that at least one magic author[31] has suggested that more books are written about magic than any other performing art. Although the bulk of these books are not seen on the shelves of libraries or public bookstores, the serious student can find many titles through specialized stores catering to the needs of magical performers.
Several notable public research collections on magic are the WG Alma Conjuring Collection[32] at the State Library of Victoria; the R. B. Robbins Collection of Stage Magic and Conjuring[33] at the State Library of NSW; the H. Adrian Smith Collection of Conjuring and Magicana[34] at Brown University; and the Carl W. Jones Magic Collection, 1870s–1948[35] at Princeton University.
See also
- ^ Henning Nelms. Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers, page 1 (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc, 2000).
- ^ Jim Steinmeyer. "A New Kind of Magic," in Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear (New York, NY: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2003).
- ^ a b "History of Magic".
- ^ Romano, Chuck (January 1995). "THE ART OF DECEPTION or The Magical Affinity Between Conjuring and Art". The Linking Ring 75 (1): 67–70.
- ^ "10 Facts About Magicians - Andi Gladwin – Close-Up Magician". Illusionist.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ Christopher, Milbourne (1991) [1962]. Magic: A Picture History. New York: Courier Dover Publications. p. 16. ISBN 0-486-26373-8.
- ^ Dawes, Edwin (1979). "The Great Illusionists". Chartwell Books Inc. p. 161.
- ^ Jack Delvin. "About The Magic Circle".
- ^ Hollingworth, Guy. "Waiting For Inspiration." Genii Magazine. January 2008-December 2008.
- ^ Stone, Tom. "Lodestones." Genii Magazine. February 2009 -
- ^ Hass, Larry and Burger, Eugene (November 2000). "The Theory and Art of Magic". The Linking Ring (The International Brotherhood of Magicians).
- ^ S.J.Drury [web-aviso.com]. "psycrets.org.uk". psycrets.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ [1] Official website
- ^ [2] The Guinness World Records, Official Website
- ^ "online magic tricks magical illusions". Real Magic. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "Online Psychic Trick". snopes.com. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ Bill Herz with Paul Harris. Secrets of the Astonishing Executive(New York, NY: Avon Books, 1991).
- ^ "Guy Bavli - Biography". All About Magicians.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ http://www.masterofthemind.com/press/Guy%20Bavli%20-%20dream-team%20IBC%20Award-PR2000.pdf
- ^ Norman, Tony (October 31, 2008). "Deception's his tool (but he's no politician)". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Memorable-Quotes.com". Memorable-Quotes.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ Harry Houdini. A Magician Among the Spirits (New York: Harper and Bros., 1924)
- ^ Randi, James (February 9, 2007). "More Geller Woo-Woo". SWIFT Newsletter. James Randi Educational Foundation. Retrieved January 29, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ One-Million-Dollar Challenge from MIT Media Lab: Affective Computing Group
- ^ Robert T. Carroll (2009-02-23). "Psychic 'surgery'". The Skeptic's Dictionary. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
- ^ Andrew Blankenstein. "8 Arrested in Downtown Shell-Game Operation," Los Angeles Times, December 10, 2009.
- ^ Magic & magicians http://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/magic
- ^ "Magic Collectors". Magicana. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "conjuringarts.org". conjuringarts.org. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "Magicians - Magic & magicians - Research Guides at State Library of Victoria". Guides.slv.vic.gov.au. 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ Bart King, The Pocket Guide to Magic, Gibbs Smith, 2009
- ^ "Get started - Magic & magicians - Research Guides at State Library of Victoria". Guides.slv.vic.gov.au. 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "Special collections | State Library of New South Wales". Sl.nsw.gov.au. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "John Hay Library: Collections". Brown.edu. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "Carl W. Jones Magic Collection, 1870s-1948: Finding Aid". Arks.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- Hawk, Mike. The Illusionist . 1st Ed. 01. Tiverton, ON: IBM, 1999. 234-238. Print. (Hawk 234-238)
Further reading
- Maurine Christopher and Milbourne Christopher (1996). The Illustrated History of Magic. Heinemann. ISBN 0-435-07016-9.
- Milbourne Christopher (1962). Panorama of Magic.
- Daniel, Noel, (ed); Mike Caveney and Jim Steinmeyer (eds) (2009). Magic. 1400-1950s. Los Angeles: Taschen. ISBN 978-3-8365-0977-0.
- Dunninger, Joseph. The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic.
- Nadis, Fred, ed. Wonder shows: performing science, magic, and religion in America Rutgers University Press, 2006) online edition
- Price, David (1985). Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theatre. Cornwall Books.
- Randi, James (1992). Conjuring: A Definitive History. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-08634-2.
- Stebbins, Robert A. (1993). Career, Culture and Social Psychology in a Variety Art: The Magician. Malabar, FL: Krieger.
- Piddington's Secrets. We know how they did it! by Martin T Hart. Manipulatist Books Global. 2014
External links
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magic (illusion).
- Boston Public Library. Magic posters
- State Library of Victoria. Magic and magicians Research Guide
- Science, Math and Magic Books From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
- Magic Apparatus From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 346: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).