Monday, 24 September 2012

Spellbound

I've just seen a wizard in Starbucks.



I assumed the book he was reading, Transcendental Magic by Eliphas Levi, was either a history of magic or possibly a novel. But no, it turns out it's a book written in 1855 about transcendental magic, and how to do it.

At one point, it made him laugh.



49 comments:

  1. This is awesome, both for happening and for someone (you) catching it. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Anonymous5:30 pm

    Hi John, do you ask people's permission to post their photos on your blog?

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  3. Anonymous5:36 pm

    Is that not Wagner? (Former X-factor contestant, not dead composer)

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  4. Once, in about 1995, I saw a guy sitting in an all-night diner, giggling incessantly over the book he was reading.

    On closer inspection, the book was "How to win at Nintendo games," about 1988 vintage.

    We couldn't figure out what was going through his mind, but we finally decided it must be, "HA! That's ridiculous! I can beat "Contra" in HALF that time. Up-down-up-down-left-right-left-right, etc."

    Either that or he was just crazy.

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  5. He's got very angry-looking eyebrows.

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  6. Daedalus7:49 pm

    Says here the book is written by the son of a shoemaker. Probably cobblers, then.

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  7. Anonymous8:28 pm

    Do please check to ensure you're not now a toad!

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  8. A wizard who can't be bothered to brew his own coffee? I suppose he's got bat testicles, rat brains and the likes in the pantry, but no instant coffee.

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  9. My first thought was "BILL BAILEY!"

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  10. My first thought was "BILL BAILEY!"

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  11. Anonymous11:21 pm

    What is he doing so far away from Ankh-Morpork?

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  12. Anonymous11:32 pm

    There used to be a shop in town which sold magic books. I used to read a few myself, just out of curiosity, but it was never my thing. Leave it to the real Wiccans :)

    On another note, I met a genuine Satanist in a bookshop once. This little old man with white hair. You know what's really weird? Nicest guy I ever met. Honestly, wouldn't hurt a fly. Weird.

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  13. Sparrow2:42 am

    I never got the concept of over paying by 300% or more for a cup of coffee. I make mine in the morning, put it in a thermal cup and I'm good to go. No magic in that, just common sense for not wanting to waste money.

    Can't wait for the next installment of Cabin Pressure. Maybe Martin can learn how to make just one cup of coffee!

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  14. He may not be a wizard but . . . are you sure he's not a knight or something? His hair and beard remind me of one of King Arthur's knights.

    In fact, I almost expect him to shout "Ho wench! Go forth and brew my latte! I have a quest to finish for milady!"

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  15. The enchanted Frog7:55 pm

    Don't laugh at him because he's a real wizard who could put a terrible spell on you ! His whole power is in his hair, any volunteer to cut it ?

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  16. I've got that book-its a riot!

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  17. I think it might be Alan Moore's avatar. Apparently he's a wizard and worships some Roman snake god.

    He'll be at home moaning about Hollywood and blowing his nose on £20 notes and the avatar says "sod this for a lark" and goes off for a poppy seed muffin and an americano.

    It might also be Hagrid.

    Easy to confuse the two.

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  18. NoisyJones3:52 pm

    Was it a "Mwah-ha-ha" type laugh, with related rubbing of hands/twirling of moustache?

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. This is brilliant! xD Thanks for sharing.
    Btw love your humor! Thanks for making me laugh. One of the best qualities person can have. To be able to make other laugh :)

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  21. Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday Mr Finnemore!
    Happy Birthday to you!

    It happens to be my birthday too today, and I was very honoured to discover I have such a spectacular birthday twin. I hope you are having a very lovely day.

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  22. Anonymous2:40 pm

    Happy Birthday, Mr Finnemore!

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  23. Laura G2:40 pm

    Brilliant! I love birthdays! Many happy returns, Mr F.

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  24. Happy Birthday Mr. Finnemore!! Best wishes from Romania!

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  25. Perrywinkle3:42 pm

    Happy Birthday, Mr. Finnemore,

    here's hoping that you have a lovely birthday on which you are appropriately celebrated and showered with a lot of nice and quirky presents (or useful ones, whichever you prefer)!

    Thank you so much for all the laughs!

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  26. Perrywinkle6:05 pm

    I love the new series of JFSP, btw, especially yesterday's bit about the alchemists...
    Aren't you in fear of revenge now that you've revealed their secret?

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  27. Suzanne6:14 pm

    Happy birthday from The Netherlands. You are absolutely amazing!

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  28. Happy Birthday to the brilliant you!

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  29. Happy birthday and many many happy returns!
    I love seeing people enjoying what they're reading, although I was embarrassed once to realise that of the two books I had taken with me on a flight, one made me laugh uncontrollably and the other made me cry.
    I wish there had been a wizard on the flight.
    Or a few episodes of Cabin Pressure.

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  30. Alex C5:48 pm

    While (finally) purchasing the 1st 3 series from audible, as part of a 3 for 2 deal I also got Supergods by Grant Morrison - the wizard not quite pictured here. Co-incidence? I think not...

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  31. Anonymous12:28 pm

    I'd go berserk if anyone (even you) posted my photo without having asked for my permission (which I'd never give). Did you ask?

    Besides, I love your work!

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  32. love this post
    because your article is very interesting to read

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  33. Articles are very nice

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  34. nice post ..
    really very nice your post

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  35. Laura G10:59 am

    What has become of Radio Four Continuity? Cabin Fever? Cabin Fever! Honestly, such ignorance. It would never have happened on Charlotte Green's watch.

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  36. Dear Mr Finnemore

    I must say that your writing style's changed a bit since you penned 'Cabin Fever'.

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  37. Eclectic Man8:47 pm

    Maybe they still have the same announcer who introduced "The go on show all those years ago"?

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  38. Molly4:59 pm

    I'm much enjoying the new Souvenir Programme series. Very, very much. Thank you.

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  39. Is it a good or a bad sign that I own that book? My hair looks better though. I hope.

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  40. Did he not catch onto you at all looking at him...or even a follower of you and now see this picture of himself and the comment you left?

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  41. Anonymous5:38 am

    Is there any update to when cabin pressure will air again.

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  42. I knew they're among us, muggles!

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  43. Rebecca4:03 pm

    I think I recognise the reader, and if it's who I think it is then he is indeed a wizard of sorts. He's an academic who researches (among other things) the relationship between magic, science and religion in early modern Europe. Knowing academics, his mirth was probably caused by a translator's error or a wry footnote :)

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