First they were talking about getting rid of cash, (and I do about a million tricks with bills) now they want to and are actively ridding the world of "polluting" plastic straws.

Give me a break!

Why is it that every time I build my repertoire with A given item, they get the brainless idea of doing away with it!

Arrrrrrrggghhhhhh!!

I know it is FRUSTRATING but think about how much trash is piling up with no place to go. For what? so we can do tricks and suck?

This proliferation of plastic was a bad idea from the start.

I'm hoping that the aversion to plastic may keep us in paper bills a little longer. I just came up with something I love.

People who did tricks with collar stays and button hooks had to change with the times and so will we. Sigh.

-Mary Mowder

Or the instructions you see in old magic books... "borrow a top hat from an audience member." When was the last time that happened?

I would imagine they will go back to paper straws.

Randi

There were a lot of Magicians bemoaning the passing of paper straws. I guess they're back in business (if they are still with us). I guess I know at least one paper straw trick so some of us are still here.

-Mary Mowder

I remember Kolar's string and straw trick. It must be as old as I am. I've never seen anyone do it.

Until they decide that THOSE are polluting, then we're back to square one. I respect you guys' opinions on it, but to me it's just the last straw!!

No? The straw that broke the camel's back?

Umm I'm pretty certain paper is a better long term solution in the long run. Your "repertoire" vs long term sustainability of the planet it is no contest and you lose badly.

To do the trick from Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic you need a paper straw. So I was upset when those got rough to find.


Plastic really is not a good thing for our environment. People do not use it properly and if we have an alternative why not use it?

Solution for you? Stock up on plastic now.

Believe me, I am.

Or adapt and create and grow.

Nobody can take away your creative mind no matter what happens. Use that.

That's one thing we never have to worry about. That's running on 8 cylinders.

Use hemp straws.

Something recyclable. Reusable straws are a challenge to keep clean.

I miss these from my childhood:

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Flavoring-S......74ZHPKXS

Are these made of paper still?

They're plastic now

Alas, we don't see much magic with cigarettes any more. And there were some great acts with the buggers (think of Cardini). But not to worry too much about straw magic, if you keep and reuse a stash of straws. People don't use thimbles that much; but I don't know if they've lost their magic yet. ps, there are fake cigarettes out there...so even that magic doesn't have to disappear! Lynn

Try to borrow a "dime" from a spectator. That is a laugh. Among those who no longer carry cash, even lass carry coins. I have a little pill jar full of dimes I introduce and allow the spectator to pick one..

LOL! Same goes for half dollars; and yet, it's the go-to coin for a lot of magicians!...and we can't forget the "foreign" (copper/odd shaped etc) coins. Just a thought, but the Kennedy half dollar must seem "foreign" to magicians outside the US! Coins seem like they'll become as scarce as the plastic straws. Difference of course is that they wont end up in the trash!!! And I got this feeling that coin magic will be here for a long time. Lynn

So somebody moved your cheese. Get over it, find new stuff to do.

By the way, there is no doubt that plastic pollutes. There’s no need for quotation marks as if the matter were up to debate. And reducing the amount of plastic in our landfills is anything but “brainless.” Paper, not so much.

I heard they were trying to get rid of magicians as well. Yeah and plastic bottles and bags as well. Seems like they want to cause magicians a lot of hassle lol. I need to stock up for about 20 years worth. Although I kinda doubt they will actually get rid of everything. I also hate when Bicycle keeps changing the cases and adding those stupid stickers and APP logos on them or whatever.

I use the old Rider Back boxes to match all of my gimmicked decks from the 80's/90's. So I always have to stock up on vintage decks when I find them. Luckily The USPCC sells classic tucks (boxes) at least. Sometimes it is even hard to find glass bottles around here which is what they want to go back to. They just need to get the littering under control not get rid of everything. It is recycled anyway usually, they just need to get it under control and people need to stop being morons and carelessly throwing it everywhere except the garbage. But I am pretty stocked as of now.

I can already picture people on eBay selling "rare plastic straws" for $100 like they did Twinkies when they quit making them. Then Twinkies came back shortly after lol.