Aaaah! So, as the first one to have the current technique for eyehooks televised, do all the emulators pay royalties to me, or to the television show? Because apparently the couple of years I spent figuring it out, counts for nothing.

Selectively quoting buddhist philosophy? One of the major precepts is to not take anything that isn't freely given. Relevant to this discussion...did Dan give Murrugan permission? George can't give permission for something that isn't his.

If your favorite client, Todd, releases a recording of "Amazing Grace" (a traditional song), do they have rights? The song is traditional. The particular performance is copyrighted.

I understand your desire to CYA your show, friends, and performers, but you ducked the question.

You haven't answered the ethical question.

Harley, in this case, I don't see the big ethical issue......he didn't make any money for attempting this. He just wanted to do it and did (with no negative intention). If he had been on national television, etc. then I would understand the conflict. It's not part of his personal show. Seriously though, I wasn't selectively quoting Buddhist philosophy....it's how I have had to learn to see things, so I wouldn't struggle in conflict over the same things happening to me. I have had many songs/ideas stolen from me and used to make hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the end, our memory is based on what we have created......once something is created, it's hard to control.....great ideas are living things with a mind of their own....they mate with other ideas and eventually even better ideas are born. If you have created stunts that have been imitated, then it is up to you to claim the status as the best at that stunt by performing it better than anyone else. It is also up to you to establish that you created it, so the history books remember you. It's hard to shoot down a man who has a natural urge to push the limits of his mind, body, and soul. The urge of the soul comes before ownership of ideas. One is eternal.....one is temporary. If you have ideas on how we should all approach this type of thing in the future, I would love to hear and apply them. Like I said, there was no intention to insult or steal from anyone.....just an urge to advance and be Amazed at what can be done.

Is anything really new and never been done before ?

Harley, I love you like an uncle (not the weird one that shows you dirty magazines at Thanksgiving), but I do have to say this with NO disrespect whatsoever.... you did not invent the eye hook stunt. Gaffed or not, eye hooking has been done for a very long time. There is footage of people pulling little carts, lifting objects and so forth. You may have put a lot of time and effort into PERFECTING the act and making sure you are doing it SAFELY, but really you cannot lay the amount of claim to it that you have. Am I the first guy to lift things with his nipples? Heck no. Have I pushed it to the limits as no one before? D#mn right I have. I made sure to not use a prop that any current living performer uses. Not because I didn't want to step on anyones toes, but because I wanted to stand out as someone who does things a little differently.

Harley, if someone used your "patented" style for lifting and got paid $10,000 for it, do you feel like you deserve a part of that? If someone else said they invented it, can you sue them? Choose your battles, this one should be left alone. I am retired from stage shows, but I keep in the community as a reference, a resource, and as a supplier of products for performers not easily found in the world. I make eye lifting hooks. Do I need your permission to do that? Did I have to get permission from the estate of Melvin Burkheart to make blockhead nails? The last set of eye hooks I made, the customer was worried that you (yes Harley, specifically YOU) would get angry at him. Why? I'm not trying to start a fight with you, as I said I love you and have a deep respect for you. This may be the reasons I am bringing all this to your attention. You are appearing quite bitter, and you're one heck of a sweet guy to look like that.

Respectfully yours,
TGN

Who cares? Really... I don't care if it's new or old... is it good? That's all that matters.

Ken, here's the video you requested and I promised.........Amazing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/venicebeachfreaks......VshdO0cg

Murrugun The Mystic eating Fire and Steel

Wow,,that`s the first time that I have seen that done.

He must have had some kind of burn discomfort !

Thanks for that it made my day.

Ken.

No problem Ken, it was Amazing to see!!!

Hey T-Ray, I was by the other day and the place was locked up. What hours are the Venice Beach Freakshow open?

Right now we are guaranteed to be open 11am-7pm on the weekends. Your best bet is to call first.


B.

This is an actual question and not an attack of any kind; how come you are only open on weekends? Seems like Venice Beach is a big tourist spot where you could do at least some weekday business.

We are open some weekdays......however in the fall/winter, it gets very slow on the boardwalk. Next week and the following week, we will be open Weds-Sun. In the summer, we are open everyday.

Cool stunt. I wonder if it would be significantly different, in technique, than putting out a torch. (Not to take anything away from Murrigan's accomplishment).

I didn't ask him the details, but it appears to basically be like a torch....you just have to know how to swallow swords first He did cough up a good bit of fuel afterwards.....so the fuel obviously goes down with the sword.

So.. you finally admit that your presence here is for nothing other than to start trouble? Glad to hear you being honest about your intentions. Now I can have you reported.

Looking at it I should have worried about the flame staying alight at the point of the sword when swallowed !

You know that shudder feeling you get when the tip hits the wall,,,well imagine if it were alight,,,God forbid.

That would not be good

I don't know if there are any baseball fans here, but we had some special guests come through the Freakshow this weekend..... Jose Canseco and his daughter. His daughter was determined to go in.....she pulled out her own money and paid for everyone!!! They loved the show, especially Rocky The 5 Legged Dog, Myrtle and Squirtle the Two Headed Turtle and The Sideshow Teen Sensation.... The Freak Prodigy AKA. Brett Loudermilk!! She thought he was cute...........Another Satisfied Customer!!!

Sideshow teen sensation?

I don't know about that but Jose dropped a 50 on the bladebox (so I had a steak dinner). Indeed another satisfied customer.

Brett were you in the box, in your knickers?

You know me too well.