I'll repeat: FISM has as much control over 'Happy Valley' as the IBM and SAM have over Rob Stiff.

Rip off of Anders Moden's HEALED & SEALED and stocked by Magic Shops online and all over the USA:
http://www.magictricks.com/videos/dvds/dvdcrushed.htm

Rip off of Dan Harlan's CARDTOON:
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Cartoon-Deck......00TFNC92

Rip off of Viking Magic's BADLANDS BOB:
http://www.madhattermagicshop.com/magics......_id=1848

etc etc etc.. http://magicfakers.blogspot.com/

But it's not just Magic Makers

MAK MAGIC make a rip off of Wayne Rogers Appearing Ladder
http://www.funtymemagic.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1063

and his Appearing Spade
http://www.makmagic.com/product.asp?prodid=P6803

and his Appearing Broom
http://www.vanishingrabbit.com/index.php......_id=9141

Add to that the popularity of the PreviewMagicDVD website... and the "tutorial" website of http://learnmagictricks.org/


"If this is the way that America's entertainment industry is going, and magic is reduced to cheap imitations and the people themselves not respecting the international laws of magic, the FISM board" would have a great argument for not holding a FISM in the USA....

A bit of China racism in this thread.

I've spent a fair bit of time dealing with China over the years. Maybe I can enlighten a few of you.

Language... most young people in Beijing and Shanghai can speak at least basic English. I don't really understand what Santiago is trying to say - but yes they don't use the roman alphabet. Nearly everyone is familiar with the roman alphabet though... it's used to number a lot of apartment blocks.

Karch/Lee, I hate to break it to you... you're not Stephen Spielberg. You already support the Chinese economy with half of the goods that you purchase each month. I'd actually argue that you can help the situation more by actually attending and bringing a little cultural cross pollination.

You people need to learn your history and understand why China is how it is. It's a country that is still suffering the effects of the Cultural Revolution. What is required is growth in the local magic scene. When that happens, original routines and products will start to be developed. At the moment it's largely an importer of art and culture. Are you going to be someone that helps with that? Or someone who hinders it?

Some original Chinese 'magic' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KtDORlJQe4

Why do you ask if I have a cat????