MagicSafire.com's blog

Soulja Boy Can't Touch This

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:05:05 -0700

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iphone craziness

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:21:22 -0700

Written by Safire

While standing in line for the new 3G iphone in front of San Francisco's Apple Store, MarketWatch caught me doing a little iphone dance. So I did what all Asians do... I made a peace sign and waved "hello".

iphone line

My friend commented that I appear very excited about the 3G during the interview. Well, I've been waiting for it since the iphone first came out last year. What's a couple more hours in line? Now if only the 16Gb came in titanium silver.

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Welcome to Dismal Nevada

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:09:31 -0700

Q: What did you do this 4th of July?
A: I watched a town burn to the ground.

My "friend" convinced me to get in the back of a pick-up truck with a slightly less than sober driver under the premise that since the playa was completely flat and nothing existed for miles, there would be no chance of a collision.
While rumbling down the usually flat and empty desert at 30 miles an hour on the back of a pick-up truck, my gluteus maximus came to understand the term Jello-butt. At the same time, desert dust swarmed around us and into our eyes and nostrils.
When the truck mercifully came to a stop, a small town made of painted facades and plywood rose up in front of our dust-filled eyes. In the middle of this impressive construction stood a wooden pole with what appeared to be many large marshmallow-like piñatas. Lucky volunteers were instructed to spin the wheel to choose a number. The corresponding wooden donkey replete with jihad quantities of explosives, was daringly lit and pushed towards the centerpiece.

Explosive donkey

Welcome to Dismal Nevada: Before and After the donkeys of death and destruction:

Dismal Nevada burns

Before

Dismal Nevada burns

After

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Fire Arts Festival '08

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:35:24 -0700

Tonight is the last night to catch The Crucible's Fire Arts Festival in West Oakland. I recommend getting there about an hour before the performances start so you have time to look at the fire sculptures. Here are some pictures from my visit a couple days ago:

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Fire tornado...minus Copperfield.

Fire Arts Fest

One angry grasshopper. I don't want to know how much white gas they used for all the exhibits.

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Non-fire, but still beautiful.

Fire Arts Fest

Dr. MegaVolt getting it on with a Tesla coil.

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If you have VIP access, you can climb the Steampunk Treehouse...it looks like a cross between a submarine and your grandmother's basement on the inside.

Fire Arts Fest

Serious hotness.

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Weezer's Hootenanny!

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:00:27 -0700

Three days notice, two days to practice, one goal... Weezer's Hootenanny! This has been one of the most exhausting and gratifying weeks of my life. I heard less than a week ago on the radio that Weezer would be throwing a hootenanny. The only way to get in would be to audition by submitting a performance of a Weezer song with an instrument and a friend. I just started learning guitar a couple months ago...and I'm definitely addicted. The dexterity and dedication required to play guitar rivals that of performing magic. Playing guitar and singing at the same time is like rubbing your tummy and patting your head... while singing. I remember being sore from practicing certain magic moves repeatedly, but magic has never given me such sore hands and callouses. Below is the video of Pork and Beans that I submitted to play with the band. My friend Simran is playing the tablas. Halfway through our takes, he started beatboxing!

Re: Hootenanny!

"I'm like the mage with the magic spell"

I just came back from playing with Weezer at the Alameda Navy base's O'Club. There were about 80 people invited. It was hot, sweaty, and one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Weezer Hootenanny "Pork and Beans" LIVE105.COM

After the first take of Pork and Beans, the producer said, "That was the best Pork and Beans of this tour!" Yeah San Francisco! No photos or videos were allowed, but here are some of the official pictures/video from Live 105 and a blurry cell photo.

rivers cuomo

weezer

brian bell...one sexy beast

your head is famous

hootenanny

Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell, Scott Shriner were all very affable. Even though Patrick was out with a knee issue, the band still sounded amazing. Live 105 will be playing our hootenanny versions of the songs. There will be a CD made later with the best takes from the hootenannies.

I knew all that Rock Band playing would pay off :P

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Kooza

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:51:10 -0700

Kooza, originally uploaded by MagicSafire.com.

The audience gasps as the unicyclist tosses his partner into the air and across his body like a lithe feather boa gliding around one's body. Only this adornment is a hundred pound girl who makes dancing with a unicyclist look easy.

Kooza

Kooza is one of Cirque du Soleil's traveling shows. So although it does not benefit from all the trappings of your typical Las Vegas Cirque du Soliel show with mult-million-dollar special effects and lighting, one quickly forgets because their artists are so skilled in transporting the audience from their humble seats into their magical realm.

The creator of Cirque du Soliel, Guy Laliberté, is a magician who creates with unexpected media. He turns acrobats into majestic dancers, jugglers into sophisticated showmen, and clowns into story-tellers. Although this formula of acrobatics, dancing and juggling may seem tiring to anyone who has seen more than one Cirque du Soleil show, the sheer skill of their performers more than makes up for repetition in theme.
There is always something unexpected at a Cirque du Soleil show. Catch Kooza in San Jose from now till March 16th! I wonder if Cirque du Soliel needs a magician...

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Happy Vday!

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:47:41 -0800

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Rock Band

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:48:21 -0800

Rock Band.jpeg

Easily the most addictive and hence dangerous games I have ever played.... anyone up for a game of Rock Band?

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The Lovemakers

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:19:41 -0800

Lovemakers at cafe du nord

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MacWorld

nobody@vox.com(MagicSafire) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:43:11 -0800

Anyone going to MacWorld Tuesday or Wednesday?

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