A chainsaw (or chain saw ) is a portable handheld power saw that cuts with a set of teeth attached to a rotating chain driven along a guide bar.
116-659: David Blaine (born David Blaine White; April 4, 1973) is an American magician, mentalist , and endurance performer . Born in New York City , Blaine became interested in magic at a very young age. He gained prominence in 1997, when his first television special, David Blaine: Street Magic , aired on ABC . That year, he also appeared in Magic Man . He later starred in the television specials David Blaine: Real or Magic (2013), Beyond Magic (2016), and The Magic Way (2020). Known for his dangerous stunts, in 2008 he attempted to break
232-418: A bicycle chain , but without rollers ) features small, sharp, cutting teeth. Each tooth takes the form of a folded tab of chromium-plated steel with a sharp angular or curved corner and two beveled cutting edges, one on the top plate and one on the side plate. Left-handed and right-handed teeth are alternated in the chain. Chains are made in varying pitch and gauge; the pitch of a chain is defined as half of
348-537: A two-stroke single-cylinder gasoline (petrol) internal combustion engine (usually with a cylinder volume of 30 to 120 cm ) or an electric motor driven by a battery or electric power cord. In a petrol chainsaw, fuel is generally supplied to the engine by a carburetor at the intake. Two-stroke engines have been preferred for chainsaws due to their higher power-to-weight ratio and simplicity. Hydraulic power may be used for chainsaws for underwater use. To allow use in any orientation, modern gas chainsaws use
464-478: A 100 ft (30 m) high and 22 in (0.56 m) wide pillar in Bryant Park , New York City. He was not harnessed to the pillar, although there were two retractable handles on either side of him to grasp in the event of harsh weather. He remained on the pillar for 35 hours. He ended the feat by jumping down onto a landing platform made out of a 12 ft (3.7 m) high pile of cardboard boxes and sustained
580-435: A 2.5 rating in the 18–49 age bracket, and posted the best numbers in the 9:30–11:00 pm time slot for ABC's 2013 season. On November 15, 2016, ABC aired Beyond Magic , a 42-minute television special in which Blaine performs magic for various public figures. Among the featured stunts is one in which Blaine seemingly catches a .22 caliber bullet in a small metal cup held between a gum shield in his mouth. The bullet catch trick
696-715: A certain number will lead to something positive. This principle involves structuring a routine to present different experiences to the observer versus the participant. For example, a mentalist may have an audience member pick a "random" card that is actually forced by the mentalist's assistant. The participant believes they freely chose any card, while the audience knows it's manipulated. The most skilled mentalists ensure their performances seem completely natural, organic and unrehearsed even though they are carefully planned. They structure their acts, patter and effects to come across as pure luck, coincidence or chance rather than as clever illusions or tricks. This 'invisible' artistry maintains
812-415: A choice (eg a number, a playing card, a selection from a list of items) and to recall that choice when later asked to participate during the performance. Typically the spectator will believe she has a free choice, but in fact it will be a choice forced by the mentalist, This can be done in a number of ways. One popular method is a proprietary device called a Svenpad. This is a notepad in which every second page
928-595: A clipboard or other hard surface, then he asks the spectator to reveal the thought, and the mentalist at that point quickly and covertly writes or completes his prediction using a nail writer or swami gimmick. These are small devices which allow the mentalist to write unseen with his thumb under cover of a clipboard or in his pocket. Again, these traditional magicians’ devices have now been supplemented by technology. The mentalist can now buy blackboards and whiteboards which are capable of writing (apparently) handwritten messages fed to them remotely, small printers which can print
1044-464: A cut is complete. The chainsaw operator may be trapped or crushed. Similarly, timber falling in an unplanned direction may harm the operator or other workers, or an operator working at a height may fall or be injured by falling timber. Like other hand-held machinery, the operation of chainsaws can cause vibration white finger , tinnitus , or industrial deafness . These symptoms were very common before vibration dampening using rubber or steel spring
1160-443: A diaphragm carburetor, which draws fuel from the tank using the alternating pressure differential within the crankcase. Early engines used carburetors with gravity fed float chambers , which caused the engine to stall when tilted. The carburetor may need to be adjusted to maintain an appropriate idle speed and air-fuel ratio , such as when moving to a higher/lower altitude or as the air filter clogs. Carburetors are adjusted either by
1276-414: A different way than conjuring techniques utilized in stage magic. Magicians often ask the audience to suspend their disbelief, ignore natural laws, and allow their imagination to play with the various tricks they present. They admit that they are tricksters from the outset, and they know that the audience understands that everything is an illusion. Everyone knows that the magician cannot really achieve
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#17328700524521392-474: A drum. On this drum sits either a fixed sprocket or an exchangeable one. The clutch has three jobs: When the engine runs idle (typically 2500–2700 rpm) the chain does not move. When the clutch is engaged and the chain stops in the wood for another reason, it protects the engine. Most importantly, it protects the operator in case of a kickback. Here, the chain brake stops the drum, and the clutch releases immediately. A guide bar, typically an elongated bar with
1508-626: A flat ravine close to the initially planned landing zone. He landed successfully and without harm. In 2014, Blaine embarked on his first ever live tour, in which he took his tricks and stunts on the road, wowing audiences in the Middle East and North America. In June 2019, Blaine brought his 'Real or Magic' tour to the UK & Ireland, in which he performed in Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Bournemouth and London, throughout June. Blaine had planned to take
1624-511: A guide frame was granted to Samuel J. Bens of San Francisco on January 17, 1905, his intent being to fell giant redwoods. The first portable chainsaw was developed and patented in 1918 by Canadian millwright James Shand. After he allowed his rights to lapse in 1930, his invention was further developed by what became the German company Festo in 1933. The company, now operating as Festool , produces portable power tools. Other important contributors to
1740-539: A key differentiation between a mentalist and someone who purports to be an actual psychic is that the former is open about being a skilled artist or entertainer who accomplishes their feats through practice, study, and natural means, while the latter may claim to actually possess genuine supernatural , psychic , or extrasensory powers and, thus, operates unethically. Renowned mentalist Joseph Dunninger , who also worked to debunk fraudulent mediums, captured this key sentiment when he explained his impressive abilities in
1856-409: A mild concussion . He later said in his 2009 TED Talk that he had had severe hallucinations in the final hours of this stunt, causing the buildings and structures around him to look like animal heads. On September 5, 2003, Blaine began an endurance stunt in which he was sealed inside a transparent Plexiglas box. The case was suspended 30 feet (9.1 metres) in the air next to Potters Fields Park on
1972-412: A mind-reading stunt might also involve the magical transposition of two different objects. Such hybrid feats of magic are often called mental magic by performers. Magicians who routinely mix magic with mental magic include David Copperfield , David Blaine , The Amazing Kreskin , and Dynamo . Mentalism techniques have, on occasion, been allegedly used outside the entertainment industry to influence
2088-411: A round end of wear-resistant alloy steel typically 40 to 90 cm (16 to 36 in) in length, is used. An edge slot guides the cutting chain. Specialized, loop-style bars, called bow bars, were also used at one time for bucking logs and clearing brush, although they are now rarely encountered due to increased hazards of operation. All guide bars have some elements for operation: The lower part of
2204-547: A similar feat but died in 1926 before he could perform it." On November 27, 2000, Blaine performed a stunt called Frozen in Time , where he attempted and failed to stand in a large block of ice located in Times Square , New York City for 72 hours. It was covered on a TV special. He was lightly dressed and appeared to be shivering even before the blocks of ice were placed around him. A tube supplied him with air and water, while his urine
2320-596: A single mother, Patrice White, a teacher who was of Russian Jewish ancestry, and a father William Perez who is a Vietnam War veteran of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. When Blaine was four years old, he saw a magician performing magic on the subway. This sparked a lifelong interest for him. He was raised by his mother and attended a Montessori school in Brooklyn. They later moved to Little Falls, New Jersey , where he attended Passaic Valley Regional High School . Per one account, his mother developed cancer when Blaine
2436-514: A small metal cup in his mouth. On October 5, 2012, Blaine began performing a 72-hour endurance stunt called Electrified: One Million Volts Always On atop a 22-foot-tall (6.7 m) pillar on Pier 54 in New York City, which was streamed live on YouTube . During the stunt, Blaine stood on the pillar surrounded by seven Tesla coils producing an electric discharge of one million volts or more continuously. The coils were directed at Blaine for
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#17328700524522552-468: A smaller wound and protect the adjacent muscles, nerves, and veins. While symphysiotomy had too many complications for most obstetricians, Jeffray's ideas about the excision of the ends of bones became more accepted, especially after the widespread adoption of anaesthetics. For much of the 19th century the chainsaw was a useful surgical instrument, but it was superseded in 1894 by the Gigli twisted-wire saw , which
2668-682: A sneaky maneuver that sets up the trick. For example, a mentalist may engage in lively conversation while secretly writing something on his palm. Or he may dramatically throw his jacket on a chair to cover up a hidden assistant in the audience. This technique involves making calculated guesses and drawing logical conclusions about a person by carefully observing their appearance, responses, mannerisms, vocal tones, and other unconscious reactions. Mentalists leverage these cues along with high probability assumptions about human nature to come up with surprisingly accurate character insights and details about someone. They can then present this as if they magically knew
2784-454: A spectator’s chosen number and feed the printed paper into an (apparently) sealed jar, and a host of other technological gadgets which make it appear that the mentalist predicted the spectator’s thought, when in fact he simply waited for it to be disclosed by the spectator and then created the evidence of his “prediction”. Many mentalism effects rely on pre-show work. This involves the mentalist or his assistant interacting with certain members of
2900-416: A spectator’s phone a fake version of a popular website such as Google Images, which allows him to know an image which the spectator believes has been chosen secretly. Where a mind-reading performance does not involve the spectator writing the secret thought down, generally the method employed is that the mentalist purports to predict the secret thought by (apparently) writing an unseen prediction, often behind
3016-604: A stunt titled "Buried Alive". On the final day of the stunt, April 12, hundreds of news teams were stationed at the site for the coffin opening. A team of construction workers removed a portion of the 75 cubic feet (2.1 m) of gravel surrounding the 6-foot (1.8-metre) deep coffin before a crane lifted the water tank. Blaine emerged and told the crowd, "I saw something very prophetic ... a vision of every race, every religion, every age group banding together, and that made all this worthwhile." BBC News stated, "The 26-year-old magician has outdone his hero, Harry Houdini , who had planned
3132-615: A theatrical act that includes special effects that may appear to employ psychic or supernatural forces but that is actually achieved by "ordinary conjuring means", natural human abilities (i.e. reading body language, refined intuition, subliminal communication, emotional intelligence ), and an in-depth understanding of key principles from human psychology or other behavioral sciences. Performances may appear to include hypnosis , telepathy , clairvoyance , divination , precognition , psychokinesis , mediumship , mind control , memory feats, deduction, and rapid mathematics. Mentalism
3248-762: A wheeled power unit to drive the cutting bar. After World War II, improvements in aluminum and engine design lightened chainsaws to the point where one person could carry them. In some areas, the chainsaw and skidder crews have been replaced by the feller buncher and harvester . Chainsaws have almost entirely replaced simple man-powered saws in forestry. They are made in many sizes, from small electric saws intended for home and garden use, to large "lumberjack" saws. Members of military engineer units are trained to use chainsaws, as are firefighters to fight forest fires and to ventilate structure fires. Three main types of chainsaw sharpeners are used: handheld file, electric chainsaw, and bar-mounted. The first electric chainsaw
3364-399: Is a common source of damage to chainsaws, and tends to lead to rapid wear of the bar, or the chain seizing or coming off the bar. In addition to being quite thick, chain oil is particularly sticky (due to " tackifier " additives) to reduce the amount thrown off the chain. Although motor oil is a common emergency substitute, it is lost even faster, so leaves the chain under-lubricated. The oil
3480-411: Is adjusted so that it neither binds on nor comes loose from the guide bar. The tensioner for doing so is either operated by turning a screw or a manual wheel. The tensioner is either in a lateral position underneath the exhaust or integrated into the clutch cover. Lateral tensioners have the advantage that the clutch cover is easier to mount, but the disadvantage that it is more difficult to reach nearby
3596-399: Is an example of dual reality (discussed below) in mentalism. This technique involves implanting an idea, thought, or impression in the mind of the spectator or participant. The mentalist does this by using subtle verbal cues, gestures, body language, and sometimes visual aids to influence their thoughts. For instance, asking someone to "think of any card in a normal deck" automatically plants
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3712-751: Is commonly classified as a subcategory of magic and, when performed by a stage magician, may also be referred to as mental magic . However, many professional mentalists today may generally distinguish themselves from magicians, insisting that their art form leverages a distinct skillset. Instead of doing "magic tricks", mentalists argue that they produce psychological experiences for the mind and imagination, and expand reality with explorations of psychology, suggestion, and influence. Mentalists are also often considered psychic entertainers, although that category also contains non-mentalist performers such as psychic readers and bizarrists . Some well-known magicians, such as Penn & Teller , and James Randi , argue that
3828-415: Is imperceptibly shorter. The long pages each have written on them an item from a list of choices (eg film stars, holiday destinations etc), but the short pages each have the same item - the force choice - written on them. When riffled from front to back only the long pages are visible, showing the full range of different choices. But when riffled from back to front only the short pages are visible, each bearing
3944-416: Is no danger in this that I see." At night, Blaine shivered uncontrollably from the inclement weather. The New York Times published an article describing the science behind Blaine's stunt. Musicians Pharrell Williams and Andrew W.K. performed solos on a keyboard which controlled the electric discharge . The event concluded on October 8, 2012, at 8:44 pm. Blaine was able to walk away with assistance and
4060-430: Is normally lubricated for life. Most modern gasoline-operated saws today require a fuel mix of 2% (1:50). Gasoline that contains ethanol can result in problems for the equipment because ethanol dissolves plastic, rubber, and other material. This leads to problems, especially on older equipment. A workaround for this problem is to run fresh fuel only and run the saw dry at the end of the work. Separate chain oil or bar oil
4176-515: Is pumped from a small pump to a hole in the bar. From there, the lower ends of each chain drive link take a portion of the oil into the gauge towards the bar nose. The pump outlet and bar hole must be aligned. Since the bar is moving out and inwards depending on the chain length, the oil outlet on the saw side has a banana-style long shape. Chains must be kept sharp to perform well. They become blunt rapidly if they touch soil, metal, or stones. When blunt, they tend to produce powdery sawdust, rather than
4292-407: Is pumped, typically each tank filling to keep the nose sprocket well lubricated. Here, one or two bolts from the saw run through. The clutch cover is put on top of the bar and it is secured through these bolts. The number of bolts is determined by the size of the saw. Different bar types are available: Usually, each segment in a chain (which is constructed from riveted metal sections similar to
4408-413: Is today a huge range of electronic, computer and other gimmicks available to the mentalist. These include dice which secretly transmit the numbers thrown, decks of cards which secretly transmit the cards chosen, notepads which secretly transmit what has been written etc. Smartphones have added an additional range of possibilities. For example, the mentalist can use concealed NFC tags to covertly download onto
4524-459: Is used for the lubrication of the bar and chain on all types of chainsaws. The chain oil is depleted quickly because it tends to be thrown off by chain centrifugal force , and it is soaked up by sawdust. On two-stroke chainsaws, the chain oil reservoir is usually filled up at the same time as refueling. The reservoir is normally large enough to provide sufficient chain oil between refueling. Lack of chain oil, or using an oil of incorrect viscosity ,
4640-513: The Guinness World Record for breath holding. He succeeded in holding his breath for 17 minutes 4 seconds, setting a new world record for oxygen assisted static apnea. He is the author of Mysterious Stranger: A Book of Magic (2002), an autobiography and armchair treasure hunt with instructions on performing magic tricks. Blaine was born and raised in Brooklyn , New York City, the son of
4756-510: The James Randi Educational Foundation for many years to investigate and debunk fake psychics. He is clear with the public that the effects and experiences he creates through his stage performance are the result of his highly developed performance skills and magic techniques, combined with psychological principles and tactics. Max Maven often presented his performances as creating interactive mysteries and explorations of
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4872-455: The theatrical trickery employed by stage magicians. Many mentalists claim not to be magicians at all, arguing that it is a different art form altogether. The argument is that mentalism invokes belief and imagination that, when presented properly, may allow the audience to interpret a given effect as "real" or may at least provide enough ambiguity that it is unclear whether it is actually possible to somehow achieve. This lack of certainty about
4988-660: The American talk show Live with Regis and Kelly , held his breath for 17 minutes, 19 seconds. On September 18, 2008, Blaine announced his The Upside Down Man performance with Donald Trump . Blaine planned to hang upside down without a safety net for 60 hours. On September 22, Blaine began his stunt Dive of Death , hanging over Wollman Rink in Central Park and interacting with fans by lowering himself upside down. He pulled himself up to drink fluid and restore normal circulation. Reportedly, Blaine risked blindness and other maladies in
5104-709: The British press have made reference to the exploit." Then-US president George W. Bush referred to Blaine's stunt in a speech at the Whitehall Palace in London, saying, "The last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames. A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me." A number of spectators threw food and other items towards the box, including eggs, paint-filled balloons and golf balls, according to The Times . A McDonald's hamburger
5220-601: The David Blaine Ascension stunt, which involved him floating while holding on to a cluster of 52 helium -filled balloons using a harness. The stunt took place on the morning of September 2, 2020, in Page, Arizona , and was streamed live on YouTube as a YouTube Original program. Blaine managed to get to an altitude of 24,900 feet (7.6 km) above sea level (more than 20,000 feet (6.1 km) above ground level ), before letting go of his balloons and parachuting down towards
5336-681: The Resorts World hotel, which had an extended run through to June 2023. After the success of this stint on the strip, he then announced his 'Impossible' residency at The Encore theatre, Wynn, would begin in December 2023. This show is still running today, with Blaine performing an array of his favourite tricks and stunts over the course of three shows, on 3 days, of each month. On October 29, 2002, Villard published Mysterious Stranger: A Book of Magic , an autobiography and armchair treasure hunt with instructions on performing magic tricks. The treasure hunt
5452-408: The ability to master magic techniques and showmanship, read body language , and influence audiences with psychological principles, such as suggestion . In this vein, Brown explains that he presents and stages "psychological experiments" through his performances. Mentalist and psychic entertainer Banachek also rejects that he possesses any supernatural or actual psychic powers, having worked with
5568-998: The actions of prominent people for personal and/or political gain. Famous examples of accused practitioners include: In Albert Einstein 's preface to Upton Sinclair's 1930 book on telepathy, Mental Radio , he supported his friend's endeavor to test the abilities of purported psychics and skeptically suggested: "So if somehow the facts here set forth rest not upon telepathy, but upon some unconscious hypnotic influence from person to person, this also would be of high psychological interest." As such, Einstein here alluded to techniques of modern mentalism. Chainsaw Modern chainsaws are typically gasoline or electric and are used in activities such as tree felling , limbing , bucking , pruning , cutting firebreaks in wildland fire suppression , harvesting of firewood , for use in chainsaw art and chainsaw mills , for cutting concrete, and cutting ice. Precursors to modern chainsaws were first used in surgery, with patents for wood chainsaws beginning in
5684-600: The allegations and confirmed that he would "fully co-operate" with a police inquiry. Detectives later declined to take further action after investigating her claim. In April 2019, Blaine was investigated by the New York City Police Department over allegations that he sexually assaulted at least two women. No charges were made. Mentalist Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists , appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Mentalists perform
5800-402: The audience before the performance begins. This can be in a pre-show reception, or in the auditorium itself as the audience take their seats, or even in the queue outside the performance venue before the performance. Pre-show work can take a number of forms. One type involves the mentalist talking to a spectator whom he will later, during his performance, involve in one of his effects. In this case
5916-497: The audience to decide, creating what has been described as "a wonderful sense of ambiguity about whether they possess true psychic ability or not." Contemporary mentalists often take their shows onto the streets and perform tricks to a live, unsuspecting audience. They do this by approaching random members of the public and ask to demonstrate so-called supernatural powers. However, some performers such as Derren Brown who often adopt this method of performance tell their audience before
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#17328700524526032-401: The bar. Tensioners through the clutch cover are easier to operate, but the clutch cover is more difficult to attach. When turning the screw, a hook in a bar hole moves the bar either out (tensioning) or in, making the chain loose. Tension is right when it can be moved easily by hand and not hanging loose from the bar. When tensioning, hold the bar nose up and pull the bar nuts tight. Otherwise,
6148-415: The billet. Typically the mentalist will fill up the other 3 quadrants of the billet with writing so that only the bottom right-hand quadrant is left clear. Once the thought is written and the billet folded, the mentalist will hold the billet up to the light to demonstrate that no writing can be seen through the paper. In the course of this action he is able, unobserved by the audience, to slip his thumb between
6264-624: The bullet catch trick on tour, although, after the successful/unsuccessful live attempt, in the MGM Grand Arena, in 2015, he shelved this idea and went with the main stunt of the underwater breath hold for these shows. This was the stunt he carried out in his 2006 'Drowned Alive' TV special and of which he also performed again, in a live world record attempt, in 2009, on the Oprah Winfrey Show. In September 2022, Blaine began his first ever Las Vegas residency, with his 'David Blaine Live' show at
6380-410: The centre part of the billet which bears the written thought, and later finds an opportunity to read it covertly. Alternatively the mentalist may covertly peek at the written thought. There are a large number of detailed choreographies used by mentalists to achieve a peek. One popular version - known as the "acidus novus" peek - requires the spectator to write her thought on the bottom right-hand corner of
6496-404: The chain breaks during operation due to poor maintenance or attempting to cut inappropriate materials. Gasoline-powered chainsaws expose operators to harmful carbon monoxide gas, especially indoors or in partially enclosed outdoor areas. Drop starting, or turning on a chainsaw by dropping it with one hand while pulling the starting cord with the other, is a safety violation in most states in
6612-422: The chain might derail. The underside of each link features a small, metal finger called a "drive link", which locates the chain on the bar, helps to carry lubricating oil around the bar, and engages with the engine's drive sprocket inside the body of the saw. The engine drives the chain around the track by a centrifugal clutch, engaging the chain as engine speed increases under power, but allowing it to stop as
6728-447: The chain runs in the gauge. Here, the lubrication oil is pulled by the chain to the nose. This is basically the thickness of the drive links. The end of the saw power head has two oil holes, one on each side. These holes must match with the outlet of the oil pump. The pump sends the oil through the hole in the lower part of the gauge. Saw bar producers provide a large variety of bars matching different saws. Through this hole, grease
6844-494: The earliest on record in the modern era was performed by diplomat and pioneering sleight-of-hand magician Girolamo Scotto in 1572. The performance of mentalism may utilize conjuring principles including sleights, feints, misdirection , and other skills of street or stage magic . Nonetheless, modern mentalists also now increasingly incorporate insights from human psychology and behavioral sciences to produce unexplainable experiences and effects for their audiences. Changing with
6960-457: The edges set at an angle; the chain was moved around a guiding blade by turning the handle of a sprocket wheel. As the name implies, this was used to cut bone. One of the earliest patents for an "endless chain saw" comprising a chain of links carrying saw teeth was granted to Frederick L. Magaw of Flatlands, New York in 1883, apparently for the purpose of producing boards by stretching the chain between grooved drums. A later patent incorporating
7076-480: The engine speed slows to idle speed. Consistent improvement to overall chainsaw design, including adding safety features , has taken place over the years. These include chain-brake systems, better chain design, and lighter, more ergonomic saws, including fatigue-reducing antivibration systems. As chainsaw carving has become more popular, manufacturers are making special short, narrow-tipped bars (called "quarter-tipped" "nickel-tipped", or "dime-tipped" bars, based on
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#17328700524527192-494: The entirety of the endurance stunt, during which he did not eat or sleep. He wore 34 pounds (15 kilograms) of gear, including a chainmail Faraday suit , designed to prevent electric current from traveling through the body. John Belcher, a physics professor from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , reportedly said, "He has a conducting suit, all the current is going through the suit, nothing through his body. There
7308-457: The focus of this show, boys and girls, is not Blaine. It is really about theatrical proxemics; about the show-within-a-show and the spontaneous, visceral reactions of people being astonished." USA Today called Blaine the "hottest name in magic right now". On April 5, 1999, Blaine was entombed in an underground plastic box underneath a 3-ton water-filled tank for seven days, across from Trump Place on 68th St. and Riverside Boulevard, as part of
7424-538: The folds of the billet and expose a view of the bottom right-hand quadrant. He then gestures with the billet, bringing it at eye-level across his field of vision, and in so-doing is able secretly to peek at the spectator's written thought. This is only one of a number of such peek choreographies. Some involve placing the billet in a gimmicked wallet, which allows the mentalist covertly to see the writing. Others employ sleights of hand derived from card or coin magic. In addition to these traditional magicians' techniques, there
7540-418: The following way: "Any child of ten could do this – with forty years of experience." Like any performing art, mentalism requires years of dedication, extensive study, practice, and skill to perform well. Much of what modern mentalists perform in their acts can be traced back directly to "tests" of supernatural power that were carried out by mediums, spiritualists , and psychics in the 19th century. However,
7656-434: The force selection. Other forcing methods include trick decks of cards, where all the cards are the same. During the performance itself, when the mentalist involves the spectator in his effect, he will usually aim by careful use of language to avoid any mention of the pre-show interaction to the wider audience, either by himself or the chosen spectator. His aim is to suggest that he and the spectator have not previously met. When
7772-742: The forerunner of Pioneer Saws Ltd and part of Outboard Marine Corporation , the oldest manufacturer of chainsaws in North America. In 1944, Claude Poulan was supervising German prisoners cutting pulpwood in East Texas. Poulan used an old truck fender and fashioned it into a curved piece used to guide the chain. The "bow guide" now allowed the chainsaw to be used by a single operator. McCulloch in North America started to produce chainsaws in 1948. The early models were heavy, two-person devices with long bars. Often, chainsaws were so heavy that they had wheels like dragsaws . Other outfits used driven lines from
7888-449: The general idea of a playing card in their mind. Similarly, asking them to "visualize the card clearly in your mind" can put the image of a particular card in their imagination. Also known as diversion, this technique aims to divert the audience's attention away from the secret method or process behind a mentalism effect. Magicians and mentalists frequently use grand gestures, animated movement, music, and chatter to distract attention from
8004-503: The history of mentalism goes back even further. Accounts of seers and oracles can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible and in works about ancient Greece . Paracelsus reiterated the theme, so reminiscent of the ancient Greeks, that three principias were incorporated into humanity: the spiritual, the physical, and mentalistic phenomena. The mentalist act generally cited as one of
8120-413: The idea of a saw "with joints like the chain of a watch" independently very soon after Park's original 1782 publication, but that he was not able to have it produced until 1790, after which it was used in the anatomy lab and occasionally lent out to surgeons. Park and Moreau described successful excision of diseased joints, particularly the knee and elbow, and Jeffray explained that the chainsaw would allow
8236-543: The impossible feats shown, such as sawing a person in half and putting them back together without injury, but that level of certainty does not generally exist among the mentalist's audience. Still, other mentalists believe it is unethical to portray their powers as real, adopting the same presentation philosophy as most magicians. These mentalists are honest about their deceptions, with some referring to this as "theatrical mentalism". However, some magicians do still mix mentally-themed performance with magic illusions. For example,
8352-419: The increasingly unstable ice box seemed a shadow of the confident, robust, shirtless fellow who entered two days before." Blaine later said it took a month to fully recover and that he had no plans to attempt a stunt of this difficulty in the future. In 2010, a magician from Israel named Hezi Dean broke Blaine's record when he was encased in a block of ice for 66 hours. On May 22, 2002, a crane lifted Blaine onto
8468-488: The information through psychic powers. Hot reading refers to the practice of gathering background information about the audience or participants before doing a mentalism act or seance. Mentalists can then astonish spectators by revealing something they could not possibly have known otherwise. However, doing hot readings without informing the audience is considered unethical. Ethical mentalists only do hot readings if they explicitly disclose it, or do it for entertainment with
8584-469: The large forces involved in the work, from the fast-moving, sharp chain, or the vibration and noise of the machinery. A common accident arises from "kickback" when a chain tooth at the tip of the guide bar catches on wood without cutting through it. This throws the bar (with its moving chain) in an upward arc toward the operator, which can cause serious injury or even death. Another dangerous situation occurs when heavy timber begins to fall or shift before
8700-510: The late 19th century. A chainsaw comprises an engine, a drive mechanism, a guide bar, a cutting chain, a tensioning mechanism, and safety features. Various safety practices and working techniques are used with chainsaws. A "flexible saw", consisting of a fine serrated link chain held between two wooden handles, was pioneered in the late 18th century ( c. 1783 –1785) by two Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffray , for symphysiotomy and excision of diseased bone, respectively. It
8816-422: The length spanned by any three consecutive rivets (e.g., 8 mm, 0.325 inch), while the gauge is the thickness of the drive link where it fits into the guide bar (e.g., 1.5 mm, 0.05 inch). The conventional "full complement" chain has one tooth for every two drive links. "Full skip" chain has one tooth for every three drive links. Built into each tooth is a depth gauge or "raker", which rides ahead of
8932-399: The limits of what is real may lead individuals in an audience to reach different conclusions and beliefs about mentalist performers' claims – be they about their various so-called psychic abilities, photographic memory, being a "human calculator", power of suggestion, NLP , or other skills. In this way, mentalism may play on the senses and a spectator's perception or understanding of reality in
9048-407: The longer, clean shavings characteristic of a sharp chain; a sharp saw also needs very little force from the operator to push it into the cut. Specially-hardened chains (made with tungsten carbide ) are used for applications where the soil is likely to contaminate the cut, such as for cutting through roots . A clear sign of a blunt chain is the vibrations of the saw. A sharp chain pulls itself into
9164-400: The mentalist onto the billet to make sure she writes in the middle. She is then instructed to fold the billet up so that the writing cannot be seen by the mentalist. The mentalist then takes the billet and tears it into small pieces, which he may then burn or throw away or return to the spectator's hand "for safe-keeping". Secretly, during the tearing process, the mentalist tears out and secretes
9280-426: The mentalist sets up the trick by covertly obtaining information from the spectator which he will later reveal during the performance. The interaction with the spectator may be made to seem like a casual “meet the audience” conversation, with no warning that the spectator is later to be involved in the performance. Alternatively, the mentalist may tell the spectator that he intends to involve her in his show. In that case
9396-401: The mentalist then secretly to access the written-down information. There are various techniques which the mentalist can use. A classic method is the "centre tear". The spectator is asked to commit her thought to writing on a small piece of paper (referred to by mentalists as a "billet"). She is told to write the thought in the centre of the billet, and sometimes a circle or a line will be added by
9512-400: The mentalist's misdirection - and the true method being employed is classic magicians' trickery. A characteristic feature of "mind-reading" by a mentalist is that the spectator must write the thought down. Various justifications are given for this - in order to enable the spectator to focus on the thought, or in order to show it to other audience members etc. - but the real reason is to enable
9628-524: The modern chainsaw are Joseph Buford Cox and Andreas Stihl ; the latter patented and developed an electric chainsaw for use on bucking sites in 1926 and a gasoline-powered chainsaw in 1929, and founded a company to mass-produce them. In 1927, Emil Lerp , the founder of Dolmar , developed the world's first gasoline-powered chainsaw and mass-produced them. World War II interrupted the supply of German chainsaws to North America, so new manufacturers sprang up, including Industrial Engineering Ltd (IEL) in 1939,
9744-655: The most common type, but they faced competition from cordless lithium battery powered chainsaws from the late 2010s onwards. Although most cordless chainsaws are small and suitable only for hedge trimming and tree surgery , Husqvarna and Stihl began manufacturing full size chainsaws for cutting logs during the early 2020s. Battery powered chainsaws should eventually see increased market share in California due to state restrictions planned to take effect in 2024 on gas powered gardening equipment. A chainsaw consists of several parts: Chainsaw engines are traditionally either
9860-405: The mysterious dimensions of the human mind. He is described as a "mentalist and master magician" as well as a "mystery theorist." Other mentalists and allied performers also promote themselves as "mystery entertainers". There are mentalists, including Maurice Fogel , Kreskin , Chan Canasta , and David Berglas , who make no specific claims about how effects are achieved and may leave it up to
9976-485: The mystique around mentalist performances. Styles of mentalist presentation can vary greatly. In this vein, Penn & Teller explain that "[m]entalism is a genre of magic that exists across a spectrum of morality." In the past, at times, some performers such as Alexander and Uri Geller have promoted themselves as genuine psychics. Some contemporary performers, such as Derren Brown , explain that their results and effects are from using natural skills, including
10092-405: The operator or, in some saws, automatically by an electronic control unit . To prevent vibration induced injury and reduce user fatigue, saws generally have an anti-vibration system to physically decouple the handles from the engine and bar. This is achieved by constructing the saw in two pieces, connected by springs or rubber in the same way an automobile suspension isolates the chassis from
10208-424: The participant's consent. Master mentalists have an in-depth understanding of human psychology which allows them to subtly manipulate thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. They use verbal suggestion, social pressure, visual cues and mental framing to influence perceptions and reactions. This lets them guide participants towards the responses, outcomes or choices they want. For instance, a mentalist may hint that choosing
10324-597: The place it used to be 100 years ago." Time commented, "His deceptively low-key, ultracool manner leaves spectators more amazed than if he'd razzle-dazzled." In Magic Man , aired January 16, 1998, Blaine is shown traveling across the country, entertaining unsuspecting pedestrians in Atlantic City , Compton , Dallas , the Mojave Desert , New York City, and San Francisco, recorded by a small crew with handheld cameras. Jon Racherbaumer commented: "Make no mistake about it,
10440-407: The pre-show interaction is usually characterised as preparation “to save time during the show” or similar. Either way, the mentalist will use the occasion to obtain information from the spectator covertly for later revelation, either by traditional sleight of hand methods such as a billet peek, or by using electronic gimmickry such as a Parapad. Alternatively, the mentalist may ask the spectator to make
10556-459: The risks of refeeding. Despite cautious management, he had hypophosphatemia and fluid retention, important elements of the refeeding syndrome ." On May 1, 2006, Blaine began his Drowned Alive stunt, which lasted seven days and involved a submersion in an 8 feet (2.4 m) diameter , water-filled sphere containing isotonic saline in front of the Lincoln Center in New York City. During
10672-417: The size of their tips). Some chainsaws are built specifically for carving applications. Echo sponsors a carving series. Today's chainsaws have multiple safety features to protect the operator. These include: ‹The template How-to is being considered for merging .› Two-stroke chainsaws require about 2–5% of oil in the fuel to lubricate the engine, while the motor in electrical chain-saws
10788-494: The south bank of the River Thames in London, and measured 3 feet (0.9 metres) by 7 feet (2.1 metres) by 7 feet (2.1 metres). A webcam was installed inside the box so that viewers could observe his progress. The stunt lasted 44 days, during which Blaine drank 1.2 US gallons (4.5 litres) of water per day and did not eat. The stunt was the subject of public interest and media attention, The Times reported that "1,614 articles in
10904-403: The spectator’s covertly obtained information or forced choice is revealed, this greatly enhances the effect from the point of view of the wider audience. It will usually seem that the mentalist has elicited a wholly uncommunicated thought from a random audience member. The chosen spectator herself, having participated in the pre-show encounter, perceives a different and less spectacular effect. This
11020-407: The stunt, he sustained kidney and liver damage. At the end of the stunt, Blaine attempted to free himself from handcuffs and chains after exiting the sphere. After the stunt, Blaine entered into an agreement with researchers at Yale University to monitor him in order to study the human physiological reaction to prolonged submersion. On November 21, 2006, Blaine began his Revolution stunt, where he
11136-400: The stunt. He was criticized when, only hours into the endurance challenge, he was seen standing on a waiting crane platform, not upside down as expected. During the stunt, he came down once an hour for a medical check and to use the bathroom. In this 42-minute television special that aired on April 18, 2010, Blaine performed an illusion of catching a .22 caliber bullet fired from a rifle into
11252-631: The taste is caused by ketones , which are produced when the body burns fat reserves. The stunt ended on October 19, and Blaine emerged in tears saying "I love you all!" and was subsequently hospitalized. The New England Journal of Medicine published a paper that documented his 44-day fast and stated his re-feeding was perhaps the most dangerous part of the stunt. The study reported, "He lost 24.5 kg (54 lb)—25 percent of his original body weight—and his body mass index dropped from 29.0 to 21.6. His appearance and body-mass index after his fast would not by themselves have alerted us to
11368-434: The times, some mentalists incorporate an iPhone into their routine. Mentalists typically seek to explain their effects as manifestations of psychology, hypnosis, an ability to influence by subtle verbal cues, an acute sensitivity to body language, etc. These are all genuine phenomena, but they are not sufficiently reliable or impressive to form the basis of a mentalism performance. These are in fact fake explanations - part of
11484-411: The tooth and limits the depth of cut, typically to around 0.5 mm (0.025"). Depth gauges are critical to safe chain operation. If left too high, they cause very slow cutting; if filed too low, the chain becomes more prone to kick back. Low depth gauges also cause the saw to vibrate excessively. Vibration is uncomfortable for the operator and is detrimental to the saw. The tension of the cutting chain
11600-477: The trick starts that everything they see is an illusion and that they are not really "having their mind read." This has been the cause of a lot of controversy in the sphere of magic as some mentalists want their audience to believe that this type of magic is "real" while others think that it is morally wrong to lie to a spectator. Professional mentalists generally do not mix "standard" magic tricks with their mental feats. Doing so associates mentalism too closely with
11716-512: The wake of the Me Too movement resulted in renewed scrutiny of alleged misconduct. Subsequently, British news outlets reported that London's Metropolitan Police had asked Blaine to travel to the UK for interview under caution regarding allegations by former model Natasha Prince that Blaine had raped her at a house in Chelsea , West London in 2004. Speaking through his lawyer, Blaine "vehemently denies"
11832-482: The wheels and road. In cold weather, carburetor icing can occur, so many saws have a vent between the cylinders and carburetor which may be opened to allow hot air to pass. Cold temperature can also contribute to vibration-induced injury, and some saws have a small alternator connected to resistive heating elements in the handles and/or carburetor. Typically, a centrifugal clutch and sprocket are used. The centrifugal clutch expands with increasing speed, engaging
11948-485: The wood without pressing on the saw. Since the air intake filter tends to clog up with sawdust, it must be cleaned from time to time but is not a problem during normal operation. Protective clothing is designed to protect operators in the event of a moving chain touching their clothing by snarling the chain and sprocket, by using special synthetic fibers woven into the garment. Despite safety features and protective clothing, injuries can still arise from chainsaw use, from
12064-476: Was 15 and died when he was 20. Per another, "When Blaine was 21, his mother was stricken with cancer and passed away in 1994." When Blaine was 17 years old, he moved to Manhattan , New York City. On May 19, 1997, Blaine's first television special, David Blaine: Street Magic , aired on ABC . "It really, really does break new ground," said Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller . When asked about his performance style, Blaine explained, "I'd like to bring magic back to
12180-495: Was created by game designer Cliff Johnson and solved by Sherri Skanes on March 20, 2004. In November 2006, Blaine performed a stunt in New York's Times Square in support of The Salvation Army. After 52 hours, Blaine escaped from the shackles that had held him in a spinning gyroscope suspended above the ground. Blaine said this stunt was particularly important to him since The Salvation Army had provided him with clothing while he
12296-439: Was flown up to the box by a remote-controlled helicopter as a taunt. The Evening Standard reported that one man was arrested for attempting to cut the cable supplying water to Blaine's box. On September 25, BBC News reported that "if his endurance test is real rather than an elaborate illusion", then Blaine's claim of tasting pear drops indicates he is advancing through the first stage of starvation. A medical doctor said that
12412-794: Was growing up. On January 15, 2010, Blaine returned to Times Square to perform "Magic for Haiti", a performance lasting 72 hours which raised nearly US$ 100,000 for Haiti earthquake relief. Blaine also donated two $ 1 million Tesla coils to Liberty Science Center after performing a massive electricity stunt. Blaine and his former girlfriend, French model Alizée Guinochet, have a daughter born on January 27, 2011. He dated Fiona Apple in 1997 and have relationships with Madonna , Bijou Phillips , Josie Maran , Daryl Hannah and Lonneke Engel . Multiple reports of sexual misconduct by Blaine have been reported and investigated, without charges filed. An October 2017 report published in The Daily Beast in
12528-486: Was illustrated in the second edition of Aitken's Principles of Midwifery, or Puerperal Medicine (1785) in the context of a pelviotomy . In 1806, Jeffray published Cases of the Excision of Carious Joints , which collected a paper previously published by H. Park in 1782 and a translation of an 1803 paper by French physician P. F. Moreau, with additional observations by Park and Jeffray. In it, Jeffray reported having conceived
12644-520: Was introduced. Heated handles are additional help. Newer, lighter, and easier to wield cordless electric chainsaws use brushless motors, which further decrease noise and vibration compared to traditional petroleum-powered models. The risks associated with chainsaw use mean that protective clothing such as chainsaw boots , chaps, and hearing protectors are normally worn while operating them, and many jurisdictions require that operators be certified or licensed to work with chainsaws. Injury can also result if
12760-415: Was invented by Stihl in 1926. Corded chainsaws became available for sale to the public from the 1960s onwards, but these were never as successful commercially as the older gas-powered type due to limited range, dependency upon the presence of an electrical socket , plus the health and safety risk of the blade's proximity to the cable. For most of the early 21st century petrol driven chainsaws remained
12876-695: Was performed live on stage in front of 20,000 people in an August 2015 Las Vegas performance in which Blaine fired the gun himself. Blaine's mouthguard broke during the performance. Since then, Blaine has never performed the stunt again. On April 1, 2020, Blaine starred in David Blaine: The Magic Way, airing on ABC . The special consisted of various close-up magic acts, performing card tricks through video chat, and also performing in-person for many famous athletes, actors, and other celebrities as well as ordinary citizens. The special also includes performances by Blaine's daughter. In 2020, Blaine performed
12992-425: Was removed with another tube. He was encased in the box of ice for 63 hours, 42 minutes, and 15 seconds before being removed with chainsaws . The ice was transparent and resting on an elevated platform to show that he was actually inside the ice the entire time. He was removed from the ice and taken to a hospital due to fears he might be going into shock . The New York Times reported, "The magician who emerged from
13108-438: Was set by Peter Colat of Switzerland on February 10, 2008. Before entering the 1,800-US-gallon (6.8-cubic-metre) water tank, Blaine spent 23 minutes inhaling pure oxygen. Blaine held his breath for 17 minutes 4-1/2 seconds, surpassing Colat's previous mark of 16 minutes 32 seconds, setting a new Guinness World Record that stood until September 19, 2008, when it was surpassed by German diver Tom Sietas who during an episode of
13224-497: Was shackled to a rotating gyroscope without food or water, intending to escape within 16 hours. Blaine completed the stunt 52 hours later. Blaine appeared on the April 30, 2008, episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for oxygen-assisted static apnea , following his failure to break the then-current record of unassisted static apnea in his previous attempt Drowned Alive . The previous record
13340-415: Was substantially cheaper to manufacture, and gave a quicker, narrower cut, without risk of breaking and being entrapped in the bone. A precursor of the chainsaw familiar today in the timber industry was another medical instrument developed around 1830, by German precision mechanic and orthopaedist Bernhard Heine . This instrument, the osteotome , had links of a chain carrying small cutting teeth with
13456-609: Was transported to a hospital for a medical check. Blaine donated two of the Tesla coils to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey , to be exhibited on permanent display. In 2013, Blaine starred in a 90-minute ABC television special, David Blaine: Real or Magic , on November 19, 2013. The special, directed by Matthew Akers , featured Blaine performing magic for celebrities and public figures. Real or Magic achieved
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