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Substitute teacher ousted for allegedly practicing wizardry
The teacher does a trick in which a toothpick disappears, the reappears. He showed it to some middle-schoolers, and that got him into trouble. (Tampa Tribune | Photo and story)
May 6, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
Useless white trash...too fucking stupid to live in modern society.
Posted by: Sean, Torrington CT | May 6, 2008 6:00:09 AM
this is completely insane
Posted by: elchampino | May 6, 2008 6:05:03 AM
me thinks the school board knows a lot more about this wizard then they're telling the press. and the whole wizardry angle--including the 'student who was traumatized' all comes from mr wizzo. methinks he conjured up poor example of a lawsuit.
Posted by: lester | May 6, 2008 6:12:01 AM
Wow. If you're going to get fired for a magic trick it ought at least to be something on the level of Penn and Teller's "torn and restored snake." Now I can imagine that freaking a bunch of kids the fcuk out. But disappearing toothpick? What was he teaching, a class of primitive African tribesmen???
Posted by: Howie Feltersnatch | May 6, 2008 6:13:22 AM
Judging from their reaction, Howie, yes.
Posted by: elchampino | May 6, 2008 6:15:25 AM
Actually, that's an insult to primitive African tribesmen, who I'm sure would have behaved more rationally and less batshitcrazy.
Posted by: elchampino | May 6, 2008 6:23:58 AM
Thank god someone is thinking about the kids!
Posted by: SteveO | May 6, 2008 6:24:04 AM
I remember a sub in the 7th grade that read our palms. We all thought it was cool. She didn't do any magic tricks but she must have been a witch. I also thought people stopped believing in wizards a very long time ago. That wizard in the T-Mobile TV spots is just an actor, not a real wizard. I wonder if those guy will get fired next.
Posted by: The Asshole Guy | May 6, 2008 6:27:27 AM
Great. here is someone who actually likes to teach and gets canned for this crap. Anyone else out there not want to be a teacher?
Posted by: jupiterjim | May 6, 2008 6:28:07 AM
wow. Whoever supports the claims of "wizadry" seriously needs their United States citizenship revoked. Right. Now. for the good of the Country.
Up Thor! Lets all get naked, cover ourselves in wine, have an orgy, make toothpicks disappear, and practice animism!!! Yay! (whoops, did I say that out loud or just think it??)
Religious Fundamentalists are THE greatest threat to America today, and that goes double for all you Christ Thumpers. Especially the Christ Thumpers. Leave Jesus alone. Just put him down. Step away from the Jesus. Please. He does not appreciate what you FOOLS are doing on his behalf.
Wizadry, WTF?!?, %$#@ YOU people, seriously!
Howie- the gods must be crazy.
Posted by: sometimesilie | May 6, 2008 6:32:31 AM
Palm reading isn't witchery or wizardry or anything. You can get a book on how to do it at the library. I have a friend who used to be a stage magician until health problems forced him to stop. He does a ventriloquist act and makes balloons now. He was doing some entertainment at a church function, and a woman told him to stop because it was demonic. He was doing his ventriloquist act with a sock puppet. She went to the preacher, and he said something to my friend. Then he went back to the woman and told her, "I had a talk with Tommy's hand, and he promised to behave."
Posted by: Fredzilla | May 6, 2008 6:40:23 AM
Ok, the kid who was traumatized needs go grow some hair on his nards and his father needs a nice tall glass of STFU.
On the other hand, it seems they had other reasons to fire his butt and they really didn't require any explanation. Should've just went with performance issues and left this wizard BS out of it.
Posted by: Inigo Montoya | May 6, 2008 6:48:15 AM
This is why I never make fire in public.
Posted by: BallstotheWall | May 6, 2008 6:48:24 AM
Your world frightens and confuses me! Me see man make wood disappear then reappear! How he do this thing? Must be powerful shaman! Thag scared of powerful man and magic stick. Thag complain. Now man has vanished. Thag's magic more powerful! Make man and magic stick go away! You will worship me! Bow before Thag, or he make you go away too!
Posted by: Unfrozen Caveman | May 6, 2008 6:54:50 AM
Wow, since that school obviously has a problem with a toothpick magic trick, I'd hate what that district would say about Chris Angel.
Posted by: twerp | May 6, 2008 6:58:08 AM
I guess Chris Angel would be Top Wizard since he's the best magician ever.
Posted by: twerp | May 6, 2008 6:59:09 AM
Had a 9th grade math teacher, he was chinese, used to tell us he had pet crickets in his drawer and he would talk to them during class. We never learned a damn thing in his class because he was too busy talking to his crickets. This guy retires from teaching but a guy that does "magic tricks" and keeps his class entertained wont. STUPID...more right wing paranoia
Posted by: Cherie | May 6, 2008 7:03:18 AM
"The Gods Must Be Crazy"- Haven't thought about that movie in years!
I'm thinkin' with the current state of our educational system and all the problems with students and such, having a wizard on hand might be helpful. Of course, he's gonna need something bigger than a toothpick!
Posted by: jojo | May 6, 2008 7:05:05 AM
What would they say about Cris Angel? They'd probably say, "Hey, planting collaborators in the audience, using clever editing and camera tricks isn't really magic." Then they'd beat his ass till he cried for being such a crappy magician.
Posted by: Howie Feltersnatch | May 6, 2008 7:07:34 AM
If he had done the "got your nose" trick, they probably would have burned him at the stake.
Posted by: Drake Timbershaft | May 6, 2008 7:17:57 AM
Hmmm. as a witch, i find this whole thing to be really funny, and REALLY DUMB!!!! Oh well, thats bible thumpers for you. I guess their just pissed because their jesus cant make a toothpick disappear. silly little jesus guy.
Posted by: Amara | May 6, 2008 7:19:58 AM
twerp, I used to think the same thing about CRISS ANGEL...I watched all his specials and saw him in Vegas, thought he was amazing with slight of hand etc....and then I started watching his attitude and personality go down hill as he gained in popularity. He's my age...43, and he started doing what he could
to "hang out" with people like Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears...I totally lost respect for him...and I haven't seen him on TV lately either. He should've stayed focused and real.
Posted by: Cherie | May 6, 2008 7:20:39 AM
What is a wizard doing teaching school? Shouldn't he be out helping cell phone salesmen get revenge on that bastard Chad?
Posted by: EV | May 6, 2008 7:20:41 AM
Fredzilla I was being sarcastic when I said that 7th grade sub must have been a witch for reading our palms. If a man can be accused of being a wizard for a simple magic trick than a woman reading my palm might be a witch.
As for Chris Angel. That guy is nothing but a loser. His magic sucks monkey ass and so does he. At least David Blane will place orange soda in your mouth. If you don't understand that joke follow the link.
http://www.jokeroo.com/funnyvideos/david_blaine_spoof.html
That is some funny magic wizard witch vodoo stuff right there.
Posted by: The Asshole Guy | May 6, 2008 7:20:41 AM
Making a toothpick disappear is just a sleight-of-hand trick. There's nothing occult about it at all.
The kid who was freaked out by it really does need to grow a pair ... of brain cells!
Posted by: Phranqlin | May 6, 2008 7:31:25 AM
Religion is a form of insanity
Posted by: RUSTY | May 6, 2008 7:42:43 AM
Religion is a form of insanity
Posted by: RUSTY | May 6, 2008 7:44:51 AM
Yeah, Angel does have a bad attitude lately but I still like his magic. It's really cool. Personally, I don't believe in magic but I do believe in tricks. It's really cool to see how people pull off that kind of stuff. I may not be a big fan of Angel's personality but I'll always be a fan of his tricks. He's 43? Dang, I thought he was closer to my age. He's pulling off the young look pretty well. That in itself is a magic trick.
Posted by: twerp | May 6, 2008 7:53:45 AM
Fucking Florida. That state is really fighting with Texas for the "shittiest state in the union" award. Old people, Kent Hovind and his zany creationists, Cuban immigrants, and now this?
This would only happen in these ridiculous bible-thumping towns. Figures that it would happen in Florida. Here or Kansas, with their dumbass attempts to remove the teaching of evolution.
Posted by: Joe | May 6, 2008 8:06:02 AM
I have an artificial eye(ceramic actually,to repace my original eye that was destroyed in an accident)..i don't believe in the shape the world is in today that i would even tell a classroom of children about it..cause one might be offended by the unnatural idea of it..and accuse me of being a monster from hell or something..
Posted by: Bruce Joyner | May 6, 2008 8:06:20 AM
A wizard huh? and he uses his incredible powers to make a *toothpick* disappear?
School children ought to be exposed to MORE sleight of hand not less. Teaches them to deal with misdirection and to distrust adult claims in general.
Posted by: nellagain | May 6, 2008 8:27:21 AM
Kid's in public school freaking out about a toothpick disappearing, imagine how totally whackjob the kid would be if he had been totally homeschooled.
The thought of kids like this growing up and being in charge of things scares me.
Posted by: David | May 6, 2008 9:00:01 AM
That's nothin...my ex wife is a teacher and she made my whole bank account disappear.....yet...she's still teaching.
Posted by: JJ | May 6, 2008 9:00:32 AM
***BURN HIM ***
He turned me into a newt!
Posted by: Monty Python | May 6, 2008 9:19:34 AM
Arthur C. Clark said that any technology, sufficiently advanced would appear as magic to a primitive culture.
And this did happen in the south. They haven't invented misdirection there yet.
Posted by: boynamedsue | May 6, 2008 9:20:33 AM
lmao @ jj
Posted by: twerp | May 6, 2008 9:21:26 AM
Leave Jesus alone. Just put him down. Step away from the Jesus.
LOL, sometimesilie. Good stuff.
Posted by: Me | May 6, 2008 9:46:14 AM
The human species is doomed.
Posted by: Dave | May 6, 2008 9:47:21 AM
Unfrozen Caveman, thanks for the laugh! My coworkers think I'm crazy but they probably can't handle magic toothpicks either.
Posted by: Reno | May 6, 2008 9:54:47 AM
SOUNDS LIKE A RELIGION ISSUE....AND SHE HAS A RIGHT TO PRACTICE HERS AS ANYONE ELSE DOES.
Posted by: ULTRA | May 6, 2008 10:22:17 AM
OMG....Heaven forbid kids should be allowed to have fun or be entertained while they learn!
Posted by: ttjack | May 6, 2008 10:45:04 AM
Magic tricks are illusion, there is nothing supernatural or satanic or dangerous about them. Sue the school for wrongful termination.
Posted by: Charles Brobst | May 6, 2008 1:29:43 PM
HOLY COW! Check this guy out! Cult leader from New Mexico compares himself to Jesus, bangs young girls. It´s up on CNN.
http://strongcity.info/
Posted by: sometimesilie | May 6, 2008 1:58:47 PM
YES YES YES! Here´s a letter where one of the cult members threatens Governor Richardson and asks him if he gets his orders from the Bilderburger group. I´m still reading it...
http://strongcity.info/LOR/sc/post/letter_to_new_mexico_governor_bill_richardson/
Posted by: sometimesilie | May 6, 2008 2:03:36 PM
one more and I promise I´ll stop...
Tell me, Governor, where did your orders come from? Was it from your handlers at the Bilderberg Group? You and Texas governor, and fellow-Bilderberger, Rick Perry are both singing from the same hymnbook, and I am eager to know who is directing policy from above. Who made the decision that it’s time for the states to move against groups who are separate from mainstream society? If you tell me, I will pray for the plagues to fall on them, too. But until then, the buck stops with you.
Posted by: sometimesilie | May 6, 2008 2:05:13 PM
You know what's even weirder than that?
BORIS JOHNSON in now the Mayor of London.
For those of you unfamiliar with Boris--this is a little like having Stephen Colbert get elected Mayor of New York. I wasn't all that fond of Red Ken...but he was the only politician in written history to have run on a ticket of Raising Taxes and still WIN.
Boris Johnson...
Posted by: nellagain | May 6, 2008 2:23:31 PM
Can Mr Wizard make the school board disappear?
Is it texass' turn now?
Posted by: A.V. | May 6, 2008 3:39:16 PM
I would say that this could happen in Indiana; to be precise, southern Indiana but, I owe a debt to these fine folks and should not ridicule them.
Last full moon my neighbors went out and of their own free will; banged on pots and pans to drive off whatever foul demon was eating our beloved Luna!
Beat that Florida; you suckers do not have the kind and loving people that populate southern Indiana.
Posted by: Icecycle | May 6, 2008 3:59:49 PM
Sleight-of-hand does not equal wizardry... ::sighs:: Most fundies agree with that. But of course, then you get the absolute crazies out there who can't figure out the trick, and OMG IT MUST BE MAGICK!1!1!1!!11!!!!
Posted by: kestrelmas | May 7, 2008 5:41:43 AM
ILLUSION
Posted by: Gob | May 7, 2008 12:06:33 PM
Guys, guys, guys...maybe we are missing the point...
Maybe making the toothpick disappear...was a euphemism...maybe the guy was jeanitically challenged.
THATS why he got fired.
;)
And twerp...I'm sorry to say this...but Chris Angel is lousy...it's just refined hocus-pocus that we used to do with our camcorders as kids by stopping the camera and 'doing our magic' then start recording again.
Ace.
Posted by: Ace | May 11, 2008 4:44:27 AM
AND...watching his show is like watching a magic infomercial, the sincerity of his audience...bleh...I keep expecting a 1-800 number to pop up at any time.
Posted by: Ace | May 11, 2008 4:45:59 AM
