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Why We Get Fooled

The Michael Shermer Show

CHAPTER

The Houdini Principle

In April 1922, Sir Arthur Conondoyl visited Houdini in his home. The magician sat out to demonstrate that slate writing could be done by perfectly prosaic means. He presented the author with four cork balls asking him to pick one and cut it open to prove that it had not been altered. While it was soaking, Houdini asked his visitor to leave the house and go down the street in any direction,. take out a piece of paper and pencil and write down a question or a sentence.

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