Friday the 13th: A Lucky Day!

It is appropriate that tickets for an event that will focus on countering superstition go on sale today.

Some years ago, I was honored to be asked by Penn Jillette, one half of the team of Penn and Teller, perhaps the most amazing and entertaining team of magicians in the world, to assist them in the preparation of a magic trick.

Both Penn and Teller are well-known atheists, and they are both interested in science, and they wanted to do a trick that would be a take-off of an old song by Tex Ritter, called The Soldiers Deck of Cards. The song was about a soldier who was taken to task by his commanding officer for bringing a deck of cards to a military briefing. The soldier explained how the cards helped him remember important parts of the Bible, and all was forgiven.

Penn and Teller wanted to incorporate a card trick where Teller would be at a lecture of mine, and would explain how the deck of cards in his hand helped him recall important parts of science, as well as the fact that no God appeared to be necessary to explain the world around us. During the explanation he would do some amazing slight of hand card magic, while Penn would relate the story.

We worked together on a script, incorporating modern science, and Penn and Teller worked out the magic part. They performed the trick in their regular Vegas show, which I have been pleased to attend, and also on television. They called it The Atheist’s Deck of Cards, but on television it was apparently called The Scientist’s Deck of Cards.. :)

Either way it is a great trick and an entertaining way to explain some science, as well as getting in a dig for atheism, and I felt really lucky to be a part of it. It also helped cement my friendship with Penn. The longer I have known him the more respect I have for his intellect, interests and discipline.

Which is why I am so exciting to be doing an event with Penn onstage in Toronto on August 9th, that will combine our interests in combatting superstition, promoting sound science, and, of course magic.

There will be some surprises, and I am hoping that all those who attend will be entertained, provoked, and hopefully informed as well. Should be fun all around.

In anticipation of the event, I would certainly be very happy to hear from any of you about topics you would like us to discuss. There will be a Q&A at the event as well, but it would be nice to hear in advance about ideas you might have to help spice up our dialogue. Thanks. Hope to see many of you there.

And of course, what better day for tickets to go on sale for our event than today, Friday the 13th!

NOTE ADDED (June1): Unfortunately, which Friday the 13th was lucky, the logistical gods were not smiling on us later, and the event just had to be cancelled for logistical reasons. Sorry about that. Was looking forward to it.