Clever Scam. . . In my "In Box"

This was a very official looking email from Pay Pal.


Unauthorized access to your PayPal account!

We recently noticed more attempts to log in to your PayPal account from a foreign IP address.

If you accessed your account while traveling, the unusual log in attempts may have been initiated by you. However, if you are the rightfull holder of the account, please visit Paypal as soon as possible to verify your identity:

Click here to verify your account (This is where they asked for my email address and password)

You can also verify your account by logging into your PayPal account at https://www.paypal.com/us/.
If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us no choise but to temporaly suspend your account.

We ask that you allow at least 72 hours for the case to be investigated and we strongly recommend to verify your account in that time.

Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team


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PayPal Email ID PP468


Mother Fuckers, I didn't fall for their scam! I did send the email to paypal and this is what they had to say about it.


Dear Tom Frank,

Thank you for contacting PayPal. We appreciate you bringing this
suspicious email to our attention.

Commonly referred to as phishing, these emails are sent by fraudsters in
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After review, we can confirm that the email you received was not sent by
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Our fraud prevention team is working to disable any website linked to
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Bellingham gig audio clip from drive back

The Sorrows of Satan

in my "In Box"

Sometimes I get emails from people who read my words. I am touched, flattered and honored that anyone takes time out of their life to take a look at mine. What's more is, it's typically a heart felt letter of encouragement. How nice is that! Thank you all for being there. . . wherever you are. Thanks Jim Sisti, Bill Scarlett and all my other friends in magic.


Hi Tom:

Hope you're feeling better. I had a brief go-round with kidney stones about four years ago and that was enough for me!

Since your son is back in Cincinnati, I thought I'd drop a little reading material on you. As you're probably aware, Richard Osterlind is my business partner and I publish his books, both print and electronic variety. I've attached a couple of titles for your holiday reading pleasure.

Happy holidays!

Best,

Jim


Here's another


Hi Tom,

My name is Bill Scarlett. I'm a magic hobbyist and divorcing dad and have been reading your blog with much interest. You certainly get major points for your bravery. I am in the midst of a messy divorce myself and am trying to hang on to my relationship with my two wonderful kids; William (8) and Sarah Jane (6).

Today they are on their way to Virginia with their mother and I won't see them for a week. Last night was my last night with them til they return. My son William gave me a carefully wrapped package last night that he had made at school. It was a laminated poster that he had made. It said the following:

"I remember when you took me to Disney World you took me on a scary ride, but you held my hand. I was not scared then.

I also remember when I fell in the water you jumped in after me and put me on the dock. I also remember when you taught me how to ride a bike. I went faster than you could run. You chased me down the road.

Merry Christmas 2005 Love William"

As I read it out loud, I couldn't help getting choked up. I plan on framing it and placing it in a prominant place in my house.

I just wanted to share this with you and wish you well with your kids. Take care of yourself, they need you!

Best wishes,

Bill Scarlett

Tuesday Night Magic Session

More Session Pics Click Here

Last night's session was a frenzy of magic. Well attended by some of Seattle's magic enthusiasts. Steve Ameden, Tim Flynn, Soloman Notik, Scotty Walsh, Philemon, Jose, Chad Rees, Gary McKibben aka Professor Gizmo, Tom Boland (first time ant our Tuesday Night session), Nash Fung, Robert Stephens and yours truely.

A good time was had by all. . . . I hope so, the session at 5:45AM.

I love jamming on magic, hanging out with other magicians and discussing psycology, technique, performance and art in magic. Sol and I discussed the book "Strong Magic" by Ortiz. We both liked it a lot and talked how it had effected the way the we perform. Tim busted out his Cups and Balls Routine, with his big Gazzo Cups , Jose Pouch, and Tim Flynn Table Top. Nice Job Tim! Here's a not I got from Tim this AM


Thanks for the session, I am glad you are feeling better... Thanks for the top change info...
What in my cups and balls will make it better, I realize you don't like to ctitque these things because you know that no one really wants to hear their mistakes, but enough time had passed that I can take it...
Steve said I was flashing the extra ball while holding out with the wand, good stuff... Chad said that it is too many oranges and that by the time I got to the 5th and 6th loads it was obvious where they were coming from, I stated that that is probably true but that a layman would be mis directed by the revelation of a ball or something... you stated that as well a little later, I am not trying to defend or rationalize but laymen are different...prof. Gizmo said that 6 oranges seems a little too busy... I kinda agree, anyway, I have spent a lot of money on this routine, cups and pouch etc.... I greatly appreciate your insight and honesty in this matter, Truly I just want to develop a superb routine. I thought perhaps the routine I am doing is too long, or does not "flow" well, at other times it seems to go just fine....
Blah, blah, blah....
you are still welcome to come by Saturday, should be a great feast. You can come by at the last minute as well, no pressure...
Love to you,
Your friend
Tim


I'm a lucky guy to have the friends I do. Lucky and blessed. We have a good time and are all interested in growing as artists, performers and magicians.

I attempted to perform my three card mental problem and the 12 card mental problem and failed on both accounts. Well. . . . sometimes it just goes that way.

Christmas party shows last weekend

I arrived at the EMP 15 minutes early. Met the woman who hired me and she paid me before I even started, got to like that. This was going to be a cake gig as most strolling gigs are. It was a company christmas party luncheon with an open bar cocktail hour, sit down buffet lunch, DJ, Bono Look Alike, and a dance competition for company departments with a $1000 cash prize.

As people started milling in, I didn't want to approach them too quickly. I like to start my rounds after they've had a chance to get a drink and settle in a bit. Then I get to work. It's a delicate moment when approaching small groups of people talking. You have to capture their interest without being overbearing. I usually explain that I am there to amaze amuse and mystify them. I ask them if they would like to see a little magic. . . or if I am interrupting. And so the fun begins. Mostly cards and coins, my tried and true 6 tricks performed over and over again. MIx it up a little when I approach a group where there might be a person or two that I performed for already. I was put on the spot to fool a few company know it all's. What can I say, I did not disappoint.

The music was cranked up a tad more than I would have liked, but my training at the Fenix had taught me to go into pantomime mode. Magic is a visual medium it can play just as strong without words. Incidentally the DJ had the smallest rig I have ever seen. Two ipods in a mixer that delivered excellent sound.

After 45 minutes the dance contest started and was pretty fun to watch. Then came the delicious buffet lunch. I was invited enjoy the meal and I did. It was a first class meal. This is usually my favorite part of a gig like this. I innocently invite my self to sit at the head table of executives. This is where the real fun begins, impromptu effects using things on the table. It never fails to amaze me how interested people are in what I do. I give them the whole Industrial Strength Magic Riff and pass out some business cards. Then disappear into the afternoon/night .

The next gig was a 45 min. after dinner performance in one of the private dining rooms at Daniel's Broiler in Bellevue. Nice place on the 21 floor with a nice view. The show was an intimate performance for 28 people. Dinner was running about 30 minutes late, but I assured Sue, the woman who had booked me that I was very casual about the whole affair and that I would practice a bit in the hall, get my hands warmed up and be ready when every she was wanted me to.

After a generous helping of high energy comedy magic, sleight of hand, we wandered into the realm of Magic o the mind, intuition and experiments outside the realm of trickery. I performed the 3 card mental problem which couldn't have gone better, I followed that up with the Zingone 12 Card Mental Problem. I finished up with the Deans Box, the Bra trick and the Linking Rings. Both the booker and I were very pleased with how the show came off.

Later that night English Beat played the Fenix Underground. Finally I band I had hear of and actually like their Ska Music. Nice sets there too.

X-Mas Card from Sylvester the Jester

Every year Danny makes his own Christmas Cards. Here is the one for 2005!

Outside Cover


Inside

Good Fellowship

More games

Had fun with my kids today!

Got up at 8:00AM this morning out the door by 9:00. Beautiful 2 hour drive over the Cascades to visit with the kids in Ellensburg. We had a really good time!



Here's Liam my youngest (4 years old). His vocabulary is growing all the time just like him. I can even understand what he's saying!



There's really not too much to do in Ellensburg. We had some fun outside. We made a couple of games around throwing rocks. One of them was seeing if we could break holes in the ice that had formed over a stream.



Another, was seeing if we could throw rocks in a foot wide drain pipe. Poor Hope caught one in the side of the head.



Liam's turn.



Me and Max



Max shows me his Star Wars toy



More role playing fun with Star Wars



This is an ornament that Max made for me.



My beautiful daughter Hope



Here are some cookies that Hope made for me and Buster. She was very specific, two for me two for Buster. I don't know if Buster's will last the two weeks while he is gone. We have a cookie monster that lives in our house.



After playing outside for an hour and half we had lunch at McDonalds then went to see a Movie!