Brits! Please torture David Blaine!

[Jobber of the Week 0]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...1335EDT0591.DTL

 

When magician David Blaine organized his latest feat -- six food-free weeks suspended in a plexiglass box beside London's Tower Bridge -- he prepared for loneliness, hunger and boredom. He may not have planned for Londoners.

 

Since he entered the dangling box on Sept. 5, Blaine has been jeered, pelted with eggs and awakened by drummers. A tabloid newspaper grilled hamburgers under his box. A toy helicopter was sent up to dangle a cheeseburger in front of him.

 

One newspaper dubbed Blaine-baiting "the new national sport."

 

That may be changing, as Londoners come to admire the endurance -- or at least the curiosity value -- of the New York showman.

 

On a warm Monday afternoon, dozens of onlookers paused to squint up at Blaine as he sat unshaven and shirtless in his transparent case. For a while, he sat resting his head in his hands, occasionally waving at the crowd. After a while, he opened his journal and contemplated its pages.

 

"He looks really bored," said one young man watching the slow-motion spectacle.

 

"I feel sorry for him now," said a female companion.

 

Security has been stepped up around Blaine's site in response to the egg-throwing -- as well as tomato-chucking and french fry-hurling -- incidents. Two rings of fences encircle the enclosure, and security guards search onlookers before they are allowed to enter the dirt enclosure above which Blaine-in-a-box dangles from a crane.

 

A former street magician, Blaine, 30, now specializes in feats of endurance. In the past he has spent 35 hours standing atop a 100-foot pole in New York and had himself encased in ice for three days.

 

This time he plans to spend 44 days suspended 40 feet above the ground with only water, a quilt, a pillow, a journal, a change of clothes and a photo of his mother inside his 7 foot-by-7 foot-by-3 foot box.

 

Blaine has said the stunt will give him the chance to search for "truths."

 

"This is worth it for my art, even if I drop dead," he said before he entered the box.

 

While Blaine ostensibly has only two pipes -- an incoming one for water and an outgoing one for urine -- some have suggested he could easily have nutrients added to his water or hide food among his belongings.

 

But others have been won over.

 

"I don't think there's a trick to it," said Stephen Watson, 31, from Maidenhead, west of London, who said he planned to return in a few weeks to check on Blaine. "I'm skeptical he can actually make it."

 

And the negative press has brought out Blaine's supporters. A handmade banner hanging from the fence urges him the "Keep the Faith." Students, tourists and office workers stop to wave and give him the thumbs-up.

 

Wanda Banaszak and Kristina Codling came to London from Sussex, southern England, to watch Blaine as they picnicked beside the River Thames.

 

"He brings in the crowds," said Banaszak. "I don't know why people are throwing things at him."

 

"I don't know why people always have to knock things in this country," Codling said.

 

"I've come to say I saw him, so I can tell my grandchildren. Like people say, 'I saw Houdini,' or 'I saw Blondin.' I saw David Blaine."

 

And now...

 

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/09/16...aine/index.html

 

A man has made the most concerted attempt yet to disrupt David Blaine's starvation stunt by climbing on a tower connected to his cage and trying to cut off his water supply, police said.

 

The 30-year-old U.S. illusionist was woken early Tuesday when the attacker scaled a scaffold connected to the glass box suspended by a crane next to Tower Bridge in London in which he is hoping to spend 44 days without food.

 

London's Evening Standard reported that during the incident the man tugged at cables attached to the cage and shouted: "Go home David, go back to America. We don't want you here, I'm going to rock you."

 

A Scotland Yard spokesman told CNN: "We were called at 4.45 a.m. to a man who had climbed on to the water tower near Blaine's box.

 

"The Fire Brigade and ourselves were monitoring the situation.

 

"The man threw water bottles and other objects from the tower and tried to cut through water and cable lines connected to the tower, but without success.

 

"He came down of his own accord at 5.18 a.m. A man in his forties was arrested for criminal damage and was taken to a south London police station."

 

During the 10 days he has spent in the transparent box -- measuring about 2 meters deep, 2 meters long and 1 meter wide -- Blaine has been taunted by passersby, pelted by flying objects and kept awake by a banging drum.

 

Tabloid newspapers have tried to outdo each other with editors devising stunts such as cooking barbecues underneath the box and flying meals next to him in stunt aircraft.

 

The 30-year-old New Yorker -- known for other feats of endurance such being buried alive and encased in a block of ice -- has been drawing inquisitive onlookers as well as agitators.

 

And they have caused problems of their own. The stunt has resulted in traffic problems as motorists driving across Tower Bridge slow down to take a look. Up to 4,000 people turned out to see Blaine begin his gruelling challenge.

 

Despite much publicity, Blaine's feat will not be recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.

 

Compilers of the book said they would not actively endorse fasting records -- and that the size of his temporary home is not as small as current record holders. (Full story)

 

Guinness also dismissed Blaine's earlier feats -- being buried alive and living in an ice block -- as not measuring up.

 

Blaine is being permitted to take diapers, a journal, some pens, lip balm, a pillow and a pad to lie on into the box. And his girlfriend has been allowed to go up the crane to clean the outside of the plastic box.

 

Will someone just go up with some strong cutters and cut the chain already?

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Blaine needs to be stopped. Where are the Super Best Friends when you need them!?

 

Quick, Seaman...haha...use your hydro powers to knock the glass case down!

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

*Looks at sub-title*

 

I think indifferent is the right word. Besides, we can't all dislike him, he makes tons of cash from what I last heard....

[Guest Choken One]

Please...Staging a Hunger Strike in London isn't saying much...

 

It's akin to locking yourself in a icebox in Alaska.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

To quote Michael Palin (sp?):

 

What are you doing in England?

[Guest Urine Sane]

A toy helicopter was sent up to dangle a cheeseburger in front of him.

 

[Gert T 0]

"Security has been stepped up around Blaine's site in response to the egg-throwing -- as well as tomato-chucking and french fry-hurling -- incidents. Two rings of FENCES encircle the enclosure, and security guards search onlookers before they are allowed to enter the dirt enclosure above which Blaine-in-a-box dangles from a crane."

 

 

Man, did I read that wrong the first time. I thought you British people are unbeliveably cruel!

[Ripper 0]

London's Evening Standard reported that during the incident the man tugged at cables attached to the cage and shouted: "Go home David, go back to America. We don't want you here, I'm going to rock you."

 

Whats being missed in all of this is that this guy shouted "I'M GOING TO ROCK YOU!" as a threat.

 

It doesn't beat "Unleash the fucking fury!" but it is coming close to the funniest threat EVER award.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Nothing will ever top the lament of Yngwie Malmsteen.

[Ripper 0]

Nothing will ever top the lament of Yngwie Malmsteen.

No, I don't think anything will ever come close.

[Steviekick 0]

Poor Malmsteen. This whole thing makes me appreciate the people of Great Britain all the more.

[nl5xsk1 0]

"Security has been stepped up around Blaine's site in response to the egg-throwing -- as well as tomato-chucking and french fry-hurling -- incidents. Two rings of FENCES encircle the enclosure, and security guards search onlookers before they are allowed to enter the dirt enclosure above which Blaine-in-a-box dangles from a crane."

 

 

Man, did I read that wrong the first time. I thought you British people are unbeliveably cruel!

Gert, I had the same thing happen. Literally took a double-take at that sentence before I realized what it actually said.

 

In my opinion, the only shit around that spectacle is the one that locked himself in a box as a publicity stunt. Fuck David Blaine.

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

I went down to London the other day and decided to swing past the stunt.

 

Words cannot describe how boring it is to watch a man sitting in a see-through box doing nothing at all. The fact that you've got burger vans below the site wafting the smell up to him 24/7 just makes it funnier.

[Ripper 0]

"Security has been stepped up around Blaine's site in response to the egg-throwing -- as well as tomato-chucking and french fry-hurling -- incidents. Two rings of FENCES encircle the enclosure, and security guards search onlookers before they are allowed to enter the dirt enclosure above which Blaine-in-a-box dangles from a crane."

 

 

Man, did I read that wrong the first time. I thought you British people are unbeliveably cruel!

Gert, I had the same thing happen. Literally took a double-take at that sentence before I realized what it actually said.

 

In my opinion, the only shit around that spectacle is the one that locked himself in a box as a publicity stunt. Fuck David Blaine.

Admit it. He made your watch disappear on a street trick one day and didn't give it back. I know you are still angry but LET IT GO...

 

 

But really, whats all the hate on Blaine for. He does stupid stuff that only hurts himself. He's like Jackass only more boring.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Heard about this on Stern the other day. Supposedly someone also tried fucking around with the pipe that supplies him with water.

[Ripper 0]

Heard about this on Stern the other day. Supposedly someone also tried fucking around with the pipe that supplies him with water.

REALLY!!

 

I heard that somewhere too. Now...where...was...that....?

 

[nl5xsk1 0]

"Security has been stepped up around Blaine's site in response to the egg-throwing -- as well as tomato-chucking and french fry-hurling -- incidents. Two rings of FENCES encircle the enclosure, and security guards search onlookers before they are allowed to enter the dirt enclosure above which Blaine-in-a-box dangles from a crane."

 

 

Man, did I read that wrong the first time. I thought you British people are unbeliveably cruel!

Gert, I had the same thing happen. Literally took a double-take at that sentence before I realized what it actually said.

 

In my opinion, the only shit around that spectacle is the one that locked himself in a box as a publicity stunt. Fuck David Blaine.

Admit it. He made your watch disappear on a street trick one day and didn't give it back. I know you are still angry but LET IT GO...

 

 

But really, whats all the hate on Blaine for. He does stupid stuff that only hurts himself. He's like Jackass only more boring.

Yes, my watch was taken, but it was those damn Penn & Teller jokesters ... Damn them straight to hell!

 

For some reason David Blaine is just one of those people that inspires rage in me. He just seems so full of himself, and people that are that pompous infuriate me. His heavily edited TV shows never impressed me, his tricks of human endurance don't impress me now, but yet, just like herpes he seems to periodically make an appearance.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Heard about this on Stern the other day.  Supposedly someone also tried fucking around with the pipe that supplies him with water.

REALLY!!

 

I heard that somewhere too. Now...where...was...that....?

 

If it were in the article, then that is an example of what happens when you just scan instead of read.

[Vyce 0]

Here's why I hate David Blaine: all his fucking tricks are WEAK.

 

I mean, really. Putting himself in a box for six weeks? It's the 21st century, David. Pardon me if I'm not impressed.

 

Harry Houdini deserved my respect because he did shit that could have killed him at any time. I don't see why anything Blaine does should make him nearly as rich or famous as he is.

[devo 0]

Here's why I hate David Blaine: all his fucking tricks are WEAK.

 

I mean, really. Putting himself in a box for six weeks? It's the 21st century, David. Pardon me if I'm not impressed.

 

Harry Houdini deserved my respect because he did shit that could have killed him at any time. I don't see why anything Blaine does should make him nearly as rich or famous as he is.

Houdini was THE MAN. He pulled stuff off that would raise eyebrows even today.

 

Unfortunately, the only thing people seem to ever remember about him is how he died.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Blaine is pretty cool. I saw his show once in Cali.

[Markme123 0]

Here's why I hate David Blaine:  all his fucking tricks are WEAK.

 

I mean, really.  Putting himself in a box for six weeks?  It's the 21st century, David.  Pardon me if I'm not impressed.

 

Harry Houdini deserved my respect because he did shit that could have killed him at any time.  I don't see why anything Blaine does should make him nearly as rich or famous as he is.

Houdini was THE MAN. He pulled stuff off that would raise eyebrows even today.

 

Unfortunately, the only thing people seem to ever remember about him is how he died.

 

How did he die?

[BX 0]

Houdini died on Halloween, 1926 from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. For years, it has been assumed that a blow to his abdomen from an overzealous college student killed him. Houdini was known for his tremendous physical condition, and could withstand blows to the abdomen by tensing his muscles. While performing in Canada, however, he was challenged by a student who didn't give him time to prepare for the punch. Whether or not the blow ruptured his appendix, it did not cause the appendicitis, which is a bacterial infection. Houdini met his untimely death on October 31, 1926, at Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

[Guest Choken One]

kind of a pussy way to die considering all the shit he did...

[Mystery Eskimo 0]

There's been a suggestion that his water supply should be spiked with Viagra.

[Internet Warfare 0]

hodini must be very proud.

[PLAGIARISM! 0]

We were tempted to make the trek down to london to join in the 'who the fuck are you?' chants, but declined..

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Quick, somebody chuck a rock at his box, maybe you'll get a reaction out of him.

 

[King Cucaracha 0]

Quick, somebody chuck a rock at his box, maybe you'll get a reaction out of him.

 

Yeah, like 'ha, the police are behind you'.

 

 

A load of my pals went down on Saturday to see him apparantly. If anything interesting happened, then I'd be surprised.

 

 

Although the other day, Sir Paul McCartney went crazy when he went to see it. He said something about coming to see 'the stupid fuck in the box', lashed out at a photographer, and publicly fired someone.

[Guest BAR]

I'll be going down to London on Dec 19. [sarcasm] God dammit I'll miss him. [/sarcasm]