David Blaine; TED Talks

David Blaine is not a magician, he's just talented:



After watching this explanation of his 17 minute breath holding demonstration, I have a lot more respect for this guy.

I do not really consider him a magician or trickster anymore, he's just a skilled individual that's really in tuned with his body.

Evidence of actual supernatural, but natural, phenomenon that scientists recognize.

For those who are new to TED,

"TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK, TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Program, the new TEDx community program, this year's TEDIndia Conference and the annual TED Prize."
+ http://www.ted.com

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Thank you for posting this...incredibly fascinating.

Wow, that was really interesting. Honestly, I initially doubted the legitimacy of his feat, but now that I realize that it was legitimate I can't get over how absolutely amazing of an accomplishment that was.

I wouldn't say he's not a magician, because the term magician applies (in mature, unabridged minds) a master of illusions. That's what he is, he's very talented at making the audience perceive one thing while actually something different is indeed happening. I actually know famouse magician who is indeed in the brotherhood of magicians... don't ask me who though i forgot his last name

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Originally Posted by MementoMori

I wouldn't say he's not a magician, because the term magician applies (in mature, unabridged minds) a master of illusions. That's what he is, he's very talented at making the audience perceive one thing while actually something different is indeed happening. I actually know famouse magician who is indeed in the brotherhood of magicians... don't ask me who though i forgot his last name

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What he did was not an illusion or "trick" - it was simply skill.

I find even more credibility with the fact that he shows us how he was planning on trying to "trick" it and then actually tries. Further, that he was invited by TED.

Did you watch the video..?

What of Pete Colat, who held his breath for 16 minutes? He is not a magician but a diver. The body can be trained to do these things.

I consider myself a passionate skeptic, but do not be so skeptical that you ignore something actually amazing.

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i didn't watch the video because my browser picks and chooses when it wants to load videos... But i have watched all his tricks, yes i know the big ones are trained bodily skills. but he has really great street magic that is "Illusory" and that is what i was talking about.

I was indeed surprised that he continued to refer to himself as a magician (yes I realize he is a magician and has many tricks up his sleeves)...but the feats that he has performed are clearly not illusion. Which made me wonder why he kept calling himself a magician almost as if, to remind us...in a way. It sort of confused me and almost made me question what I was being presented with, but realized that he could not be a sham. Things like the world record are not going to be broken with a trick or illusion and he clearly welcomes rigorous scientific examination.

What would be a better word for him other than magician though?

I saw the video a week ago, I was amazed of his commitment and will-power.

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Originally Posted by MementoMori

i didn't watch the video because my browser picks and chooses when it wants to load videos... But i have watched all his tricks, yes i know the big ones are trained bodily skills. but he has really great street magic that is "Illusory" and that is what i was talking about.

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I do believe he admits and reveals a lot of those.

However, this breathing one is not a "trick"

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Go David Blaine, that cunt Criss angel has got nothing on you.

yeah i know, i didn't say it was.

It makes me wonder how long he could have held his breath if he had managed to keep his heart rate under 38 bpm.

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Originally Posted by Xaqaria

It makes me wonder how long he could have held his breath if he had managed to keep his heart rate under 38 bpm.

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Maybe he could have beat his rival, the beaver!:lol: I once held my breath for 5 minutes. I normally can't hold it for 1 minute, let alone more but somehow my head underwater that day seemed like i could hold my breath longer. I could have kept on going, i did not seem to be wanting air, i felt comfortable but said i should get out before i do something bad.

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Originally Posted by LucidFlanders

Maybe he could have beat his rival, the beaver!:lol: I once held my breath for 5 minutes. I normally can't hold it for 1 minute, let alone more but somehow my head underwater that day seemed like i could hold my breath longer. I could have kept on going, i did not seem to be wanting air, i felt comfortable but said i should get out before i do something bad.

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That's really cool. This has sort of inspired me to learn more about this sort of thing. But I'd probably read about meditation and yogis and the stuff they accomplish. Maybe Blaine should attempt something like that next. To heat his body up to an incredible temperature like those Tibetan monks can do.

So worth the watch, I love TED talks. I too wonder how long he would have gone under ideal circumstances.

And to be able to claim a world record, to push the limit farther than any other human being has done before, must feel pretty empowering.

Great video. Thanks for posting O'nus. Indeed, Blaine is an incredible magician as well as very in tune with his body. Remember the levitation and card tricks he does. ;-)

Nice hand btw.

http://www.topnews.in/usa/files/David%20Blaine1.jpg

It was cool until he inexplicably started crying. All of that oxygen deprivation must have srewed with his emotions. Other than that I enjoyed it very much. :thumbup: