Recently sold on Ebay • 1st Edition of "Expert at the Card Table"

From the Jay Marshall Collection

Erdnase, S.W. The Expert at the Card Table. [Chicago, 1902]. First edition. Illustrated. Original green cloth. Pages browned as usual. An exceptionally tight, clean copy of the desirable first edition.

Sold for $2,800.00

Professor Pipe Speaks to Oscar, originally uploaded by brancusi7.

Polly

I dig my chick, what can I say. She makes me feel loved and wanted. She says she's crazy about me too. . . but I just think she's crazy. It takes a strange woman who wants to spend her life with me. I know, I've been through a a few of them. We just like each other. We're nice to each other, she's a real good kisser.

We enjoy each others company and spend as much time together as we can.

She's at work and I miss her.

She cooks, she sews (call me old fashioned, but I think that's cool). She makes me happy.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I cant trace time

Last week I received an email with a power point presentation from the street performer coordinator (a Universal/NBC employee), it had pictures of our acts and bullet requests for changes to be made. On my list were a few items like: Don't put your amp on a stool (then they suggested I could put it on my table), Skirt your table (storage area below visible), Loose the doctors bag for tips and use a basket or clear jar.

I don't like being told what to do. . . . that's why I'm a street performer. I sucked it up and made the changes. Big deal, I'll kiss a little ass when it's called for. This is my bread and butter. They run a tight ship on every level. It's one of the things I like about the place.

The day I got the email, I went to Guitar Center and bought a proper amp stand. Then Polly volunteered to take on the skirt issue. She went to the fabric store, busted out her fancy sewing machine, presto chango, I have a very sparkling table skirt, total show biz baby.

"I'm with it"

Last night Danny Sylvester and I met t the Steve Allen Theater to see Aye Jaye perform his one man show entitled "Carney Trash". I met Aye Jaye years ago at a SAM National Convention in Cincinnati with JR. Aye Jaye is a wildly friendly cat with a big smile and a huge heart. His show took us through his family history, several generations of carnival owners and operators. He hips the audience to the secret underground subculture of carney's and tells of his adventures while educating the audience to the hundreds of years of history relating to carnivals and circuses. 10 in 1 shows, freaks and geeks, scams, cotton candy, midways and sideshows. It's a colorful story and well told. I had a good time and was glad we went.

Afterwards Danny and I hung out and shot the shit for an hour or so. Good to hang with my soul brother.

Cups from the Jay Marshall Collection

All recently sold on Ebay. I bid on some, but didn't get any.

ta da!, originally uploaded by sladegibbs.

A million years ago. . . . don't ask

Polly Lucke nominated for an Emmy!!

Well what do you know!? Polly is up for the coveted Emmy award for Outstanding Hair Design for her work on ABC's smash hit Dirty, Sexy, Money. Way to go Polly!

Emmy Awards are administered by three sister organizations who focus on various sectors of television programming: the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (prime time), the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (daytime, sports, news and documentary), and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (international).

The Emmy Awards recognize excellence within various areas of the television industry. The awards are a symbol of peer recognition from over 15,000 members of the Academy. Each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise.

Sounds to me like we'll be getting all dressed up and going to an awards banquet. I love my girl and this town!

What keeps me coming back

Every night's a little different. The weather has a lot to do with where peoples heads are at. Is it too hot, is it too cold? Is the audience looking into the sun? I've been going to work each night as my spot becomes shade and the evenings sun sets. I continue to be flabbergasted with how cheap people can be. I go out there every night and do the best I can to make people happy with my magic. It's all I ever wanted to do. . . really.

There was this kid last night, he had the best reactions. Mouth dropped, eyes widened. . . he looked like he was watching real magic. My heart filled & soul flew.

It's tough work what I do . . . and where I do it. LA (here and now) is the toughest place I've ever street performed. The economy isn't helping and I feel it in every hat. But I have an endless supply of love in my heart and I'll keep going out there till I get it right. I have good days and weeks and others where I just learn a lot. I've learned not to second guess the evening. I make sure my head is right and that I'm in the proper space to deliver the type of magic I like to do. I do the best I can and the rest either comes together, or it doesn't. No big deal either way.

Lately I've been going to the gym twice a day. Once in the morning, and once after work. Been trying to duplicate my morning workout in the pm. 30 min. weight training, 30 min. cardio losing a few pounds and starting to think I might actually have some muscles. Today instead of working out I went to a yoga class with Polly. Lots of boobs. Feeling very good these days and hope to make sure that it's reflected in each performance.

Presto! New Pixar Movie

Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton (Limelight)

Busker du Jour

magician, originally uploaded by pole_aroid.

The Dark Night

batman_dark_night_poster, originally uploaded by jjaimejr.

Saw this yesterday with Polly on the giant Cinerama Dome screen in Hollywood. Needless to say it ROCKED. Made a 2 hour and 40 minute movie feel like an hour. Across the board a great film. Really fine performances, FANTASTIC production design and great camera work. I love Batman and think that Chris Nolan has a great take on this classic franchise. ( like my LA lingo?)

Video du Jour • Click Here

Living Right • Great Fucking Day!!!

I feel so great right now. After three shitty nights at work, I was doubting that I had any talent at all. Boo hoo, poor me. Last night it was so bad that I left early on a Friday night! I was pissed and wanted a stiff drink or to buy some refer. . . but I didn't. . . I went to the gym instead. Three weeks ago Polly and I joined LA Fitness and it has changed my life literally. Aaron and I have been working out with a trainer a couple times a week and doing self guided workouts on the other days. Polly has been working out and taking some of their yoga classes. I've never been a healthy person, I've always satisfied all of my appetites. Well now it seems to be getting in better shape and watching what I throw down my throat. Learning about diet, protein and carbs. . . fat burning vs cardio, bla, bla, bla all I'm saying is I haven't had a Pepsi in a week.
This is some concoction that Polly whipped up in the blender. It started with 4 cucumbers and ended with her straining out all the mush and being left with this green cucumber juice, add a mint leaf and some other stuff and you get a drink as bad as it sounds. After a sip I had to pass. You have to draw the line somewhere, flavor is mine.

Today started out leisurely smoking a cigar out on the back patio with Polly. She puttered and watered plants as I smoked and read. Currently reading Revelation the latest offering from Mike Caveney on Vernon's treatment of Erdnase. A must for any serious student of card handling.

Before I work out each day I have some sort of protein drink. Here is one tasty morsel that my girl threw together. Frozen mango, blueberry and strawberry with some protein powder and fiber powder. Delicious and nutritious frozen smoothie right out of the blender, yummy in my tummy.

After my mid morning smoke and read, I met Aaron at the Gym (which is literally 3 minutes from the Universal CityWalk) we pushed ourselves and focused in the legs. 3 or 4 different machines swapping off, doing jumping jacks between while the other person is on the machine. 30 minutes of weight training, then 30 minutes of cardio. Biked it today 6 miles in 30 minutes, my legs were thrashed, my heart was racing and music pumped in my headphones. A dip in the pool, hot tub, sauna, shower and off to work. Had sushimi for lunch at the CityWalk before starting. Rocked the room for 5 hours and made decent money. I don't usually work in the day, because it can be blazing hot and my spot in the direct sunlight. For whatever reason, the best spot in the place, Fountain Court was wide open. The nice thing about working this area, is they'll turn the loud piped in music that blares every second of every minute. No one sleeps at the city walk, except babies. Came home Polly made chicken, artichoke & spinach salad with warm shallot dressing.

Later I entered the bedroom, there were candles lit all over the place, giving a very familure space an exotic feel. It was a great night all around!

In my "In Box"

CityWalk Street Performers,

Universal Studios Hollywood & Universal CityWalk is committed to delivering world class entertainment to our guests each day. You all were selected to be a part of this premiere entertainment destination because of your incredible talents and your positive interaction with the guests. We need to take the guest experience a step further by revisiting your set up area. CityWalk has spent millions of dollars on its architecture and the aesthetics are such an important part of who we are. That being said, I will be looking at each of your performance areas, listening to the audio, taking photos and will be giving you notes on how best to present your talents/set up/audio etc.

I will follow it up with a conversation with each of you.

Thank you all in advance for your support.

US Playing Card Company Heads To Northern Kentucky

The United States Playing Card Co. is leaving Norwood after more than a century and moving its headquarters to Northern Kentucky.

The company will relocate to a 570,000 square-foot facility on 40 acres in Boone County in early 2009, according to company statement issued Tuesday.

The new facility will be the new home for the headquarters operations which has been located in Norwood since 1901.

"We were highly impressed with the outstanding support we received during the site selection and thank each state and local team for their efforts to secure this major investment," Phil Dolci, company president, said. "The Northern Kentucky location uniquely offers an easily accessible campus for our employees, who live throughout the region, and an existing facility to position us to immediately expand and improve operations and with capacity for future expansion.

Additionally, the Tri-County Economic Development Corporation, state of Kentucky, Boone County, and Gateway Community and Technical College teamed to provide a strong, comprehensive incentive package to make the project possible in Northern Kentucky, according to the company.

"With the project involving approximately 500 employees, USPC will be one of the 10 largest manufacturers in the Northern Kentucky region, and we look forward to getting to know our new neighbors as we continue to invest in this vibrant region that we are honored to call home," Dolci said.

The privately held company manufactures, markets and distributes playing cards, children's card games, collectible tins, puzzles and card accessories. Its Bicycle playing cards have been the best selling brand for more than 100 years.

Kentucky Post

Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton, originally uploaded by PopCollector.