The devious art of improvising, lesson two.(NOTES ON A STRANGE WORLD)(Column)

From: Skeptical Inquirer | Date: January 1, 2007| Author: Polidoro, Massimo | Copyright information

Harry Houdini, discussing fraud detection, once wrote in his book A Magician Among the Spirits that, "It is manifestly impossible to detect and duplicate all the feats attributed to fraudulent mediums who do not scruple at outraging propriety and even decency to gain their ends.... Again, many of the effects produced by them are impulsive, spasmodic, done on the spur of the moment, inspired or promoted by attending circumstances, and could not be duplicated by themselves."

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