Law and Magic Blog

Witches Call In Supernatural Assist For Patriots In Game With Broncos

The witches were out in Salem, Massachusetts yesterday (Friday the 13th) to assist Tom Brady and the Patriots (how appropriate--and how forgiving) as they prepare to take on Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos whatever day they do that (I'm not really a football fan--it is football they play, right?) The witchly folk held a seance (a seance? isn't that a spiritualist practice?) at noon to "send out mojo" and "call angels" (what a combination) to help out the team. More here. I'm assuming the witches are asking for good karma, as it were, for the Patriots, and nothing really bad (except a spectacular loss) for the Broncos. That would be just be mean, and these people don't seem mean. Seriously, I like seeing folks supporting the local team. It's neighborly.

Interestingly, NBC Sports discusses a recent poll that seems to show that of those who are aware of Mr. Tebow's religious beliefs, a majority believe that his success is due to supernatural intervention. What will happen if the Patriots win?

Psychic Paul Dies

Paul the Psychic Cephalopod is no more. He will (presumably) return to the sea from whence we all came. Although, maybe not. According to a spokeshuman at his home aquarium, "We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine...While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action."

 

Psychic Paul's Enemies

According to Reuters, some Germans want revenge on Paul the Psychic Octopus, just because he picked the right winner in the Spain-Germany face off in the recent World Cup semi-final. They suggest grilling and eating him. 

Now, let's wait ein minuten hier. I write as someone who has actually eaten some octopus. I'm sure it wasn't related to Paul, even distantly. First of all, IMHO octopus tastes like the inside of one's cheek, actually. Even with the sauce. It's awfully rubbery and tends to go on and on. And on. Second, I understand the German fans' disappointment. But eating the fella who predicted your team's loss? That's just bad sportspersonship. There oughta be a law.

Psychic Pscephalopod Selects Spain For Soccer Shocker

So if Paul the Octopus is wrong, will the Germans replace him with a squid?

...No...and Paul was right! Spain won its match against Germany, and will play the Netherlands in the finals for the World Cup on the 12th. So, does Paul get something for this feat? Maybe his own special underwater treasure chest for his aquarium?

More about "El Pulpo" here.

For World Cup Soccer Referees, the Word's the Thing

So, while various World Cup soccer players making their traditional complaints about this year's Adidas-supplied ball (it has a "supernatural feel", for example, and is hard to kick), the World Cup refs are taking instruction in swear words. Since they are not citizens of the same countries of the teams on the field, they are not likely to be fluent in the language--or the curse words--being flung about. So, they need to be brought up to speed. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) gives refs the power to toss a player who uses "offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" during a game.

Note that one needs to understand not just spoken but body language to know when disrespect occurs. And since cursing never has the same effect on one in a second or third language as in a first language, someone really does have to explain such things. What are the magic words and behavior that invoke the penalty of ejection from the game? That's the question in a lot of sports as well as law, isn't it?

Wrestle That Deck!

Check out this DC area magician. His name is Hudson Taylor, and I think we'll be hearing from (and seeing) him in the future (and I don't even have a crystal ball).

Thanks to Ken Trombly for the tip.

Update: I blogged about Mr. Taylor's fiancee's work, elsewhere, without realizing she was Mr. Taylor's fiancee. Lia Mandaglio is a George Washington Law School student, and has written an extremely interesting piece called Speaking Across the Divide: A Functional Grammar Analysis of Feminist and Masculist Reproductive Rights Rhetoric in the United States. Ah, the mysteries of the law and magic connection.  

Magazine Covers, Publicity, and Jinxes

Michelle Harner of Concurring Opinions writes about jinxes: that supposed Sports Illustrated cover jinx and a possible Time Magazine "Person of the Year" cover jinx.

Sports fans are probably familiar with Sports Illustrated’s cover jinx. As SI itself explains, “Millions of superstitious readers — and many athletes — believe that an appearance on Sports Illustrated’s cover is the kiss of death.” (The SI jinx timeline really is remarkable, see here.)

So, is the same type of jinx emerging with Time’s “Person of the Year” cover? Richard Nixon receives the honor (for a second time) in 1972, and the Watergate scandal breaks in 1973. Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all receive the honor in the year they are elected President of the United States, and their approval ratings drop dramatically in the following, first year of their presidential terms. “You” receive the honor in 2006, and we all know what happens to the bank accounts of many of those honorees in 2007 and 2008. And now just a month after being named Time’s Person of the Year for 2009, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s confirmation is in question. (See here and here.)

So, is Mr. Bernanke in trouble because of his appearance on the cover? Or do his problems simply come around the same time as the appearance? Did he appear on the cover because he's of interest and do his problems also relate to the fact that he's of interest (under scrutiny)? I think the latter is more likely. People who make Time's cover are in the public eye (except for "You"). What happens to them, or what they do, good or bad, tends to make the headlines. I don't think we need to employ magic, jinxes, or luck to explain that.

Sports Injuries and Physical Therapy

The New York Times's Gina Kolata writes about insurance companies that are refusing to pay for physical therapy and physicians who report that some of it doesn't work for the injuries for which it's prescribed. What's going on? Says one expert she interviewed,

It depends....“There is a growing body of evidence that supports what physical therapists do, but there is a lot of voodoo out there, too,” Dr. Irrgang said. “You can waste a lot of time and money on things that aren’t very helpful.”

Sometimes, manual stretching by a physical therapist can actually eliminate a sports injury, he said. His two examples are manual stretching of the shoulder for shoulder impingement syndromes, in which the shoulder blade rubs on a major tendon, the rotator cuff, and manual stretching of the ankle for ankle sprains.

They are the exceptions. More common are the “voodoo” treatments, he said. And what might those be? None other than ice and heat and ultrasound, Dr. Irrgang said. Also, he said, there is no evidence showing laser and release — a massage technique — to be effective in helping injuries heal. (Links omitted).

Read the rest of Ms. Kolata's article here.

Paranormal Expert: Newcastle United Is Cursed

Newcastle United fans can take heart–there’s a reason their favorite team is having problems. It’s cursed. At least that what paranormal and “curses” expert Trevor Brown told the Sun newspaper. Does that mean that management can cut back on raises?

Jesus On the Ceiling

So, what's new in the world of pareidolia? Well, folks patronizing a weight-loss center in Arkansas City, Kansas say they've spotted Jesus in a splotched ceiling tile (the result of a leaky roof. I see a heart, myself). So, does it keep clients honest, reporting what weight they've really lost, and how many reps they've really done? And what's the name of the center? The One-Stop Body Shoppe. I guess so--it's a mix of body and spirit, after all.