Latest news with #magic
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Communication is magical': Camp Bruce at ISU helps young people with significant needs
Four-year-old Karson Morge got to work his magic during Camp Bruce at Indiana State University. Magician Jason Brewer needed an assistant, and Morge stepped up to the task on Thursday. At first, Brewer showed his audience that his 'magic coloring book' was incomplete because all the pages were blank. But when Morge took some special wands, and did a little magic dance, the coloring book had colored pictures in it. Later, with Morge's assistance, the pictures disappeared —like magic. Morge was one of 16 children participating this week in Camp Bruce, which is for individuals with significant communication needs. Many of the campers are nonverbal and received assistance from ISU graduate students on how to better use communication devices. The theme for this year's Camp Bruce, which completed its 14th year, was 'Communication is magical.' The four-day program took place at ISU's Bayh College of Education. It is conducted by camp director April Newton, who also is a speech pathologist for the Vigo County School Corp. and teaches a graduate class at ISU called augmentative and alternative communication or AAC. For the graduate students, the camp provides a hands-on experience for them toward the end of the course, Newton said. Nineteen graduate students assisted with Camp Bruce this year. Campers benefit in many ways, as well. 'It's such a great experience for those kids, and they really benefit by seeing other kids using communication devices,' Newton said. 'They may be the only one in their school that uses it.' In addition, the campers 'make friends. They make connections,' Newton said. The kids rotate through different stations planned by the graduate students. This year, it included a magic room with science experiments; arts and crafts; and games. On Thursday, campers enjoyed a glow room that offered glow-in-the-dark bowling, hop scotch and ring toss; they also could receive tattoos that glowed in the dark. Among the campers this week was Caroline Barnett, age 5, who attended Camp Bruce for the first time. She received assistance in how to better use her communication device, an Accent 1000 eye gaze. Eye gaze technology uses specialized cameras that enable those with physical disabilities to control a computer using eye movements. Her mother, Madalyn Barnett, said, the camp 'has been amazing. She's had a great time and definitely gained some friendships and great experience learning with her tablet. They also have parent programs where we can learn more about their devices as well.' Thursday, the culminating day of camp, was also sibling day and Caroline's brother, Noah, participated in activities — and he was another who helped during Jason Brewer's magic show. It was Karson Morge's first year at Camp Bruce, said his grandmother, Rose Marie Morge, who was present for Thursday's culminating event in which campers received certificates and watched a video that highlighted their week at camp. 'I think it's a great resource for families to help with children work with these devices,' she said. Karson has looked forward to camp each day. Erica Barker, an ISU graduate student in speech language pathology, has worked closely with Karson during Camp Bruce. 'It's really awesome. We're obviously helping the students with their AAC devices and from my perspective as a graduate student, we are currently in an AAC class as well, so it's been really nice to take the information we are learning in class and apply it here in camp,' Barker said. Also, 'It's so rewarding to be making an impact on the children here by helping them use their devices,' said Barker, who is from Richmond. Veteran Camp Bruce camper Jack Magnuson proudly showed his glow-in-the-dark tattoos and shared that one of his favorite parts of camp was an interactive good-bye song at the end of each day. The program is funded through ARC of the Wabash Valley.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bob Dylan, 84, Releases Heartfelt Birthday Wishes to a Late Great Performer
Bob Dylan, 84, Releases Heartfelt Birthday Wishes to a Late Great Performer originally appeared on Parade. Bob Dylan has made many different connections throughout the years. The 84-year-old American icon often turns up in the least likely of places, my favorite of which being the random episode of the History Channel's Pawn Stars, where he signs a copy of his album "Self Portrait." It's such a strange yet fitting moment to see the artist in, and I think it's extremely emblematic of his position in pop culture. The friendships and influences Dylan has found himself enamored with throughout the years have no boundaries, whether it be musicians, actors, or in this case, a magician. Dylan recently took to his X account to post birthday wishes to Ricky Jay, an American magician who passsed back in 2018. Happy birthday Ricky Jay. You're truly missed. You took a lot of magic out of the world when you left. Rest in peace. — Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) June 26, 2025 Jay was an incredibly respected magician, having been called one of the greatest sleight of hand artists in a New Yorker profile piece. He was a student of magic as an art, and he wrote extensively about it throughout his life. He was a true professional of the art. He must have had an effect on Dylan, as he still remembers Jay long after his passing. Fans left many comments remembering Jay in the replies to the post. "A great entertainer of a bygone era. A true American master with such a personality. Loved him particularly in those Mamet films; they definitely speak the same language, Mamet and Jay." "Legendary artists recognize legendary artists." "Bob always remembers his friends." "Two great American Originals. And RJ so brilliant and unique in all those great Mamet and PTA films. RIP." Happy late birthday to the great Ricky Jay. We're all blessed to have the greats recognizing the greats like this, even as the years go on.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Bob Dylan, 84, Releases Heartfelt Birthday Wishes to a Late Great Performer first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Magic Still Works In A Rational World
Magic isn't just what Messado performs—it's what he creates between perception and belief, turning ... More centuries-old illusions into unforgettable moments. We live in an age where almost every question has an answer. You can pull a supercomputer from your pocket, speak into it, and learn the speed of light or the average lifespan of a star. We rely on facts, not folklore. And yet, magic still holds us. That moment when your jaw drops, when something impossible unfolds in front of you, and your brain spins trying to make sense of it—that moment is real. And it's timeless. The Enduring Power of Magic Even when we know it's an illusion, magic captivates us. It invites us to suspend disbelief, not because we're gullible, but because part of us wants to experience wonder. Magic isn't about deception. It's about emotion. About creating a moment that makes us question what we think we know. In a culture that values logic and skepticism, magic gives us permission to be surprised. It's not a failure of reason—it's a victory of imagination. The Neuroscience of Wonder At the core of every magic trick is a psychological game. Magicians don't just fool the eye; they hack the brain. Cognitive scientists have found that magic works by exploiting gaps in attention, working memory, and prediction. Our brains create mental models to understand the world. When a magician causes a coin to vanish, they are exploiting our brain's expectations about continuity and object permanence. Sleight of hand directs our focus while the real action happens somewhere else. Studies using fMRI scans show that when people experience a good magic trick, areas in the brain linked to conflict detection and surprise—like the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex—light up. We're not just amused. We're neurologically jolted. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder And that jolt is pleasurable. It breaks through our cognitive autopilot. It reminds us that the world might still have secrets. A Magician's Origin Story I recently had a chance to chat about magic—both the art and the science of it—with Joshua Messado. Messado shared that he didn't grow up with dreams of being a magician. He was 18 when he bought a late-night infomercial kit with his first credit card. He maxed out his $100 limit (and never did pay the bill). He didn't start seriously performing until he was 22, after stumbling into a magic show at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. A job that fell through led him to Houdini's Magic Shop, where he met mentor Ran'D Shine, and fell in love with the craft. Years later, a spontaneous 10-second clip filmed by his best friend, magician Eric Jones, caught the attention of Ellusionist, one of the world's top magic companies. That video led to a call from the CEO, a trip to the Magic Live convention in Las Vegas, and a surreal encounter. After arriving in Las Vegas, Messado was invited to a private party. He almost skipped it. He was tired. It was late. But his assistant pushed him to go. When he arrived in front of the hotel, a limousine was waiting. The limo drove them to a sprawling mansion, filled with many of the most influential names in magic. As Messado entered, someone asked, "Did Dave see your trick?" Confused, Messado asked, "Dave who?" The reply: "David Copperfield. He's right outside. Would you mind showing him the routine?" Moments later, Messado stood in front of Copperfield, surrounded by legendary magicians he had admired for years. With no room for hesitation, he delivered the linking rings routine he'd spent over a decade perfecting. "I hit every move with clarity and precision," he recalls. "And at the end, [David Copperfield] said, 'I'm a fan now.'" It was the kind of moment most magicians only dream of. For Messado, it was confirmation that he was exactly where he was meant to be. Just two days earlier, he had been on the streets of Philadelphia. Now he was performing for the magician who inspired him to chase this path. Redefining a Classic Among magicians, few illusions are as iconic as the linking rings. For over 2,000 years, they've been used to demonstrate the impossible: solid metal rings seemingly passing through one another. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book. And yet, Messado found a way to make it feel brand new. He told a story of a neighborhood pizza shop that inspired him. The owner of that pizzeria shared his secret, 'Just do one thing better than everyone else." While working at Houdini's Magic Shop in Atlantic City, Messado took this sage wisdom and applied it to his magic with a dedicated focus to be the best at performing the linking rings trick. What sets the Messado Linking Rings apart isn't just technical mastery. It's the structure. The surprise. The audience involvement. It happens in their hands. They feel the rings link. They pull them apart. It violates everything they know about solid objects and physics. 'The rings aren't magic,' Messado says. 'They're just metal. The magic is in you.' Magic as a Shared Experience For Messado, magic has never been about ego. It's about connection. 'I'm nothing without an audience,' he says. 'I'm just a dude with some metal rings.' That philosophy drives his outreach work. Through Mr. Messado's Magic School for the Young and Young at Heart, he teaches kids in underserved Pittsburgh neighborhoods. They learn a few tricks, then perform in a full theater show the next day. The program, supported by the PNC Foundation and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, offers something deeper than sleight of hand. It offers the experience of being seen. The joy of creating astonishment. The reminder that magic, real or not, makes us feel something true. The Illusion That Matters Magic persists because it taps into something ancient and emotional. It works not in spite of our intelligence, but because of how our minds are built. In an era of deepfakes and algorithmic sleight-of-hand, authentic astonishment is more valuable than ever. The science of magic reveals its mechanics. The art of magic reveals something more: a flash of awe, a shared moment of disbelief, a brief reset of what we think we know. That's why magic still works. And why it always will.
UAE Moments
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Your Daily Career Tarot Card Reading for June 26th, 2025
26.6.25 Temperance: If you've drawn this card it's a sign that success is within your reach. All you need is the right ingredients in the right combination and you're there. Although you'll have a sixth sense about what's best for you, there are certain factors that may not be under your control - and it's these that bring that touch of magic into the equation. You're learning how to co-create with the Universe.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
30 Hobbies for Moms That Work With Your Life
If you're like most of us moms, you're trying to fit way more than 24 hours into every day (and have room to sleep a little too). Caring for everyone else can be pretty time-consuming, but there are actually lots of fun hobbies for moms who don't have a lot of free time. Whether you're a single mom, a stay-at-home mom, a working mom, or a combo of these, we've got your next hobby idea right here. You know those hours you spend at the playground or park? There are rocks there, and in fact, landscape rock can be a great place to find agates and other cool specimens. If you get really into rockhounding, you can look for rocks while your kids play at the beach or explore a creek. Who doesn't want to be the mom who can do magic tricks (we all know that just keeping small humans clean, fed, and alive is basically magic already)? Get a few simple books on magic from your local library and study up. This is a great hobby to pick up and put down, and you've got a built-in audience in the form of your kids. It's nice to have a quiet hobby for naptimes or after kids are in bed, and it's even better if you can put it aside easily. Genealogy is basically like a giant puzzle to solve. How many generations can you go back? How much do you know about your family history? Join a service like Ancestry or do it on your own. Not sure what you might like to do as a hobby? Think about what excited you before you had kids. There's probably a variation that will be easy to do in small bursts of time. Your kids have sippy cups and juice boxes, so why shouldn't you? We love winemaking as a mom hobby because it's happening in the background while you're going through your day-to-day routine. You get winemaking supplies and set everything up, and then, you just let time do its thing. You can start with a wine kit (or dry wine kit) too if you want to make things even easier on yourself. Related: We all have a camera at our fingertips these days, so you don't have to invest in a ton of expensive equipment or be a pro photographer to take pictures. The key is consistency. Set a goal to take one photo every day. It doesn't matter what it is (your lunch, your little one's scraped knee, the flower you saw on your walk, anything goes). At the end of the year, you'll have a photo journal of your life. From herbs like mint to edible mushrooms, nature is full of tasty foods to augment your supermarket staples. Grab a book and get to know what you're seeing. There are lots of edible berries too. Make sure you supervise littles and talk about what you're doing so they don't go eating everything they encounter, though. Sure, a ballroom class would be fun, but finding a sitter is a pain. You've got YouTube, though. Learn any kind of dance you want and practice during naptime or in the evening. It's even great exercise (and no one has to know you're doing it if you're self-conscious). Related: Geocaching is basically a giant treasure hunt. You use GPS coordinates to find little hidden stashes of notes, small trinkets, and other little things. It's really cool as a hobby for stay-at-home moms or moms with flexible schedules because you can go out looking for caches when the trails aren't too busy and get the kids out at the same time. You can use a geocaching app to help. Doing your nails is about a lot more than putting on some polish these days. You can create funky designs with special nail art brushes and pens, practice different painting techniques, and more. This is a perfect hobby for busy moms because it doesn't take that long to do, but you get to enjoy it for days or even weeks. Related: Who says bird watching is only for grandpas? When you're rocking your kids, making dinner, driving to work, or walking to the park, there are birds. Pick up a field guide for your area so you can identify what you see and keep a log. This can actually be a really fun hobby to share with kids too. If you don't have a huge hobby budget but want to try something fun, we love upcycling. You can hit up the thrift stores or flea markets or shop your own house for some fun things to use in new ways. What's great about this as a mom hobby is that it's easy to pick up and put down. You don't have to do a project all at once, and you can even take older kids thrifting with you (a toddler in a thrift store is like a bull in a china shop, though). From your best friend to your grandma, the people in your life will love getting a real letter or two. A text or a phone call is always nice, but you can hold a real letter in your hand and reread it anytime. Writing letters is easy to do while kids are playing, and if you get interrupted, you can put it away until you have a little more time. An added bonus of letter-writing is that you get to have a record of your days with your kids. I wrote my grandma twice a week in the last few years of her life, and when she died, I discovered a whole box of my letters that she had saved. They're all about my kids when they were little babies. Related: We've got even more ideas for hobbies for single moms, stay-at-home moms, working moms, and any other kind of mom. Try one of these: Joining a book club (or starting your own) Canning jams and jellies Coloring in adult coloring books Growing a garden Arranging flowers Making soap Biking Drawing Practicing martial arts Hiking Cross stitch Scrapbooking Stand-up comedy Journaling Sewing and quilting Writing fan fiction Collecting shells Decorating cakes Related: Making time for yourself can be as easy as finding the right hobby for busy moms. You do things for other people all day long, and doing something just for yourself, something you really love, is important. Try lots of different hobbies to find the perfect one (or ones) for you.
