The Magic of Science KJ Walsh Los Angeles Systemic Initiative scholmagic@aol.com Burn Dollar Bill Take two dollar bills. “Do as I do”. Place your dollar bill in a watered down solution of isopropyl alcohol, have your participant soak his in ethyl alcohol. Light both. Yours will ignite then go out, his will burn up completely! Secret: There are two types of alcohol. Isopropyl for you and ethyl for the participant. Scientific Principle: The water in the isopropyl solution dampens the bill enough so that the combustion point is never reached, while the ethyl alcohol burns hot enough to light the bill. Burn Dollar on Glass Tape a dollar bill to a glass tumbler tightly along the two ends of the bill. Give a participant a lighter and challenge her to light the bill on fire. No matter how long the flame is held directly on the bill, it will not ignite. Scientific Principle: Exposing the bill to as little oxygen as possible is only one of the underlying concepts, the main principle is the glass tumbler disperses the heat of the flame such that the temperature never rises over the combustion point of the bill. Invisible Thread I Using an index card with the center cut and folded down, an “invisible thread” is used to pull down the sides of the index card. Secret: The card is actually moved by pressure with the thumb on the folded down center tab of the card. Scientific Principle: Illusion only, but used to illustrate any non-contact force such as magnetism or static charge. Invisible Thread 2 Invisible thread is used to manipulate a straw in plain sight of the palm of the magicians hand. Secret: Using Avery “Spot o Glue”, place a spot below crease of palm. By changing tension of skin on palm, you can manipulate a straw as if being pulled by an invisible thread. Scientific Principle: Illusion only, but used to illustrate any non-contact force such as magnetism or static charge. Sewer Slugs Slugs created by an “inventor” are used to convert human liquid waste products into a drinkable solution. Slugs are seen to be swimming up and down in the graduated cylinder. Secret: Waste product is actually Mountain Dew, and Slugs are actually raisens. Scientific Principle: As the raisins collect the bubbles of carbon dioxide released by the Mountain Dew, they rise to the top of the cylinder, release the gas, and sink to the bottom to repeat the process. Solution may be tasted after the slugs have “cleaned” the waste. Indubitably, Magic is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgment and practice than in any other branch of physics. ~ Aleister Crowley ~ Against a diseased imagination demonstration goes for nothing. ~ Mark Twain ~ Water of India A seemingly endless amount of water is poured from a bottle created by an “inventor”. Secret: Bottle actually has a tube inserted into the neck, which while inverted, allows only the water trapped in the tube to exit the bottle. Scientific Principle: Used to introduce any concept involving water. Invisible Glue I A piece of newspaper (column of the classified section) is cut repeatedly, and mended with “invisible glue”. Secret: Paper is treated on the back side with repeated applications of rubber cement and talcum powder. Pressure of the scissors causes the rubber cement to adhere and seems to mend the cut paper. Scientific Principle: Illusion only, but used to illustrate any non-contact force such as magnetism or static charge. Imagination is more important than intelligence. ~Albert Einstein ~ Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live. ~ Mark Twain ~ Science does not know its debt to imagination. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ Invisible Glue II “Invisible glue” is applied to a string, which is then inserted into a flask, and the flask is then swung from the string. Secret: Actually there is a cork ball in the flask which when inverted, traps the string between the ball and the flask. Scientific Principle: Illusion only, but used to illustrate any non-contact force such as magnetism or static charge. Eggbert Three eggs are immersed in three different clear solutions. “Eggbert” swims in the bottom of one, on the top of the second, and in the middle of the third. Secret: Three diferent solutions are used. The first, in which Eggbert sinks is water. The second is a concentrated solution of Kosher salt and water. (Table salt won’t result in a clear solution). The third is tricky to prepare. Pour the concentrated salt solution into the bottom of the beaker. Next, holding the jar slightly tipped, gently pour water on the top of the salt solution, making sure not to mix the two by too much movement. Scientific Principle: Density, buyoncy. The profession of magician, is one of the most perilous and arduous specializations of the imagination. ~ William Bolitho ~ Imagination rules the world. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~ Crystal of Knowledge Production box is used to produce a crystal. (production box maybe purchased at a Magic shop, or directions on how to build one are given in Magic and Showmanship for Teachers) Crystal then is used to determine a card drawn by an observer. Secret: Corner of card is torn off while card is behind back, and held in the same hand as the crystal while crystal is held to the head. Scientific Principle: Illusion only. Used to introduce crystals. Rising Balloon A deflated balloon is caused to inflate by mental power alone. Secret: Baking Soda is in the balloon, vinegar in the bottle. Scientific Principle: When the balloon is raised to show the audience, the two combine and gas caused by the reaction fills the balloon. D’lite Pluck a bright light out of thin air and have some fun with it! Comercial trick. Quarter Through Rubber A quarter and a penny are placed on top of a sheet of rubber stretched over a glass. When pushed by an observer, the quarter goes through the rubber into the glass without leaving a hole, while the penny will not pass through. Secret: A piece of rubber dam (available at magic shops and dentist offices) is stretched over a quarter so that the rubber becomes transparent. Lay the rubber over a glass, and secure with a rubber band. It appears as if the coin is on top of the rubber dam, when in fact it is underneath. Lay a penny on top of the dam next to the quarter. Pushing on the quarter will cause it to fall into the cup, while the penny stays on top. Scientific Principle: Illusion, used to illustrate how some substances pass through a cell membrane. Pencil Through a Baggie Several sharpened pencils are put through a baggie full of water, without causing any of the water to spill. Used to illustrate substances passing through cell membranes. Secret: No secret, really! Scientific Principle: I have been told that the heat caused by the friction of the wood passing through the plastic is enough to cause the plastic to re-seal around the pencil when it cools. If you come up with a better explanation, let me know! Rising Willie A piece of paper is set fire, and is caused to rise to the ceiling by mental power. Secret: I don’t really have mental powers! The paper used is the “carbon” sheets found between Spirit Ditto Masters. Scientific Principle: Convection currents caused by the burning paper cause the ash to rise. What is now proved was only once imagined. ~ William Blake ~ He who has imagination without learning has wings and no feet. ~ Joseph Joubert ~ Needle Through a Balloon An oldie but a goodie. A knitting needle is passed through an inflated balloon without popping it. Secret: The rubber of the balloon is thickest at the end near the tie (where the needle should be inserted) and the opposite end (look for the dark patch). It helps to lubricate the needle. Scientific Principle: Used to illustrate how substances pass through a cell membrane. Needle Through the Arm A needle is placed through a human arm, and though there is blood, there is no apparent pain. Secret: This is a commercial trick performed by Harry Anderson, available at a Magic shop for about $30.00. Sorry, you have to spend the money to find out how I did it! We magicians have to keep some secrets you know! Scientific Principle: Used to introduce concepts such as blood, HIV, needles, and antiseptics. The imagination is man's power over nature. ~ Wallace Stevens ~ Bibliography McCormack Magic and Showmanship for Teachers Idea Factory, Inc. Riverview, Florida 33569 Churchill, E. Richard How to Make Optical Illusion Tricks & Toys Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York 10016 White, Laurence B., Science Toys and Tricks Harper Trophy New York, N.Y. 10022 Barr, George Science Tricks and Magic for Young People Generaal Publishing Company L.T.D Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario Cobb, Vicki Magic... Naturally! Harper Trophy New York, N.Y. 10022 VanCleave, Janice 201 Awesome, Magical, Bizarre & Incredible Experiments John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, N.Y. 10158 Walpole, Brenda 175 Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends Random House, New York, N.Y. Walpole, Brenda 175 More Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends Random House, New York, N.Y. Brown, Robert J. 333 More Science Tricks and Experiments McGraw-Hill, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294 Towsend, Charles Barry Worlds Greatest Magic Tricks Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, N.Y.10016

INTERVIEW SKILLS

Interview means “to see between”. It is a meeting between two people where questions are asked and answered to elicit information.

What is a job interview?

An interview gives a prospective employer the opportunity to speak with you and consider your appropriateness for the job in question. A well written resume will get you a call for an interview; the soft skills you exhibit during the interview will get you the job. The resume shows that you possess the desired knowledge skills for the job, so the interview will focus on soft skills (as your personality, attitude, communication skills, interpersonal skills etc) that will help the employer decide whether or not you will fit into the company culture.

Importance of interview

Important for both job seekers and employers, as it connects both of them at the professional level.  This technique assists employers in selecting a right person for a right job. It helps job seekers to present their job skills and acquire a desired position on merit.

Types of Interviews

Some interviews may be very formal, others may be very informal and seem like just a chat about your interests. Remember always you are being assessed.

1.                   Nondirective / Informal interview: An unstructured conversational-style interview.  The interviewer pursues points of interest as they come up in response to questions

2.                   Directive / Formal interview: An interview following a set sequence of questions.

3.                   Screening Interviews: Screening interviews are generally conducted when an employer has a large applicant pool which they want to narrow down to a more manageable number. They tend to be very short, and the questions will focus on basic qualifications. Screening is usually done by phone.

4.                   The Telephone Interview: Companies request an initial telephone interview before inviting for a face to face meeting in order to get a better understanding of the type of candidate. Benefit is that you can have your notes out in front of you. You should do just as much preparation as you would for a face to face interview, and remember that your first impression is vital. Phone interviews may become longer and more detailed if its overseas on video conference.

5.                   The Panel Interview: These interviews involve a number of people sitting as a panel with one as chairperson. This type of interview is popular within the public sector.

6.                   The Group Interview: When candidates are required to perform a task in a group the selection is done in a group interview and the candidate along with a group is asked to solve a particular problem. The performance and behavior is, however, assessed and rated individually. You may be asked to interact with each other by usually a group discussion.

7.                   Stress interview: An interview in which the applicant is made uncomfortable by a series of often rude questions. This technique helps identify hypersensitive applicants and those with low or high stress tolerance.

8.                   Competency Based Interviews: These are structured to reflect the competencies the employer is seeking for the particular job. These will usually be detailed in the job description so make sure you read it through, and have your answers ready for questions such as “Give me an example of a time you worked as a team and look a leadership role to achieve a common goal.”

9.                   Situational interview: A series of job-related questions which focuses on how the candidate would behave in a given situation.

10.               Behavioral interview: A series of job-related questions that focus on how they reacted to actual situations in the past.

11.               Job-related interview: A series of job-related questions which focuses on relevant past job-related behaviors.

12.               The Sequential Interview: These are several interviews in turn with a different interviewer each time. Usually, each interviewer asks questions to test different sets of competencies. However, if you are asked the same questions, just make sure you answer each one as fully as the previous time.

a)      Unstructured sequential: An interview in which each interviewer forms an interview independent opinion after asking different questions.

b)      Structured sequential:  An interview in which the applicant is interviewed sequentially by several interview supervisors and each rates the applicant on a standard form.

13.               Depth Interview: In such a interview, questions are based upon a specific area of the interviewee’s interest. The person has to answer in detail. The academic competence and knowledge is tested thoroughly in such type of interviews.

14.               Candidate-order error: An error of judgment on the part of the interviewer due to interviewing one or more very good or very bad candidates just before the interview in question.

The Interview Process:

Interview acts as a filtering device through which the interviewer screens the desired candidates. It is a method to shorten the candidate list to those who are the required fit in the job profile.

—  Interview Preparation

—  First Impression

—  Information Exchange

—  Closing the interview

—  Interview Follow-up

STAGES OF INTERVIEW

A.      Pre-Interview Process:

1. Preparation

—  Do a SWOT Analysis – Find your strength and Weaknesses

—  Check Resume for any updation.

—  Rehearse your answers  loudly in front  of the mirror to identify any  gaps in your delivery and answering techniques

—  Rehearse a mock interview with  a friend/person and  seek an honest critical feedback

—  Do not fumble or get confused during the actual interview.

—  Find the location so that you know how long it will take you to get there.

—  Get proper rest the night before.

—  Arrive early and use this time to freshen up

2. Employer Research

—  The biggest mistake you can make in a job interview is knowing little to nothing about the company with which you are interviewing!

—  Read about the company products/ services, operations, history, CEO, international/national partnerships etc.

3. Practice Questions/Prepare Answers

—  Some frequently-asked interview questions

—  “Tell me about yourself.” (The interviewer is looking for communication skills and clear thinking about your recent history, not your childhood).

—  “What is your biggest strength?” (Know your top 2 or 3 strengths and be prepared to discuss each with an example).

—  “How will you handle stress on the job?” (Provide a good example of how you have dealt with stress in the past. It’s possible that stress can actually help some people perform better!)

—  Describe your most significant accomplishment. (Relate the situation, the obstacle and the outcome. Tell what qualities were needed to achieve this. Mention a life experience that illustrates your best attributes ).

—  What do you see yourself doing in five years? (You should assure the employer that you’re worth the investment in time and training, and that you plan to be around for awhile – learning and contributing more along the way).

4. What to wear/bring

—  Formals – Well ironed, formal suit, polished shoes, neat hair, minimal jewellery and make-up (girls), look smart and elegant.

—  Confident Smile

—  Professional-looking portfolio/briefcase

—  Two copies of your resume and photographs

—  Copies of result card

—  Nice pen and paper for note-taking

—  Brush/comb, Breath freshener

B.The Interview

1.       First Impression:

—  Recruiters will size you up in the first 30 seconds of  your interview. Make sure that you create a good first impression by being aware of the following:

—  Good eye contact

—  The importance of a smile

—  Firm handshake

—  Clear, well spoken introduction

—  Show confidence and poise

—  Maintain good posture

—  Be careful with vocal tone and volume

2.       Information Exchange

—  Listen carefully

—  Take time with your answers

—  Respond positively

—  Focus answers on the needs of the employer

—  Ask insightful questions, showing your knowledge of the employer and subject.

—  Give examples and provide details: tell stories that illustrate your achievements

3.       Closing the Interview

—  Mention anything relevant that you feel is important. Repeat your “sales pitch” as you show enthusiasm for the job.

—  Take the employer’s business card and thank him/her.

—  Ask what the next step in the hiring process is, if you get confirmed.

C .Interview Follow-Up

—  Send a prompt thank you letter or email.

—  Follow up if you have not heard from the employer in the time period earlier specified.

—  Send a prompt thank you letter or email.

—  Follow up if you have not heard from the employer in the time period earlier specified.

Interview Don’ts

—  No bad manners or rudeness (treat all office staff nicely)

—  DON’T whine or complain about others or about your ‘bad luck.’

—  DON’T be a know-it-all.

—  DON’T try to be funny (but a genuine sense of humor is a good thing).

—  DON’T discuss salary or benefits until you have been offered a job.

Top 10 Interviewing Blunders!

—  Don’t prepare

—  Dress inappropriately

—  Poor communication skills

—  Cell phone goes off

—  Talk too much

—  Don’t talk enough

—  Fuzzy facts

—  Give the wrong answer

—  Badmouthing past employers

—  Forget to follow up

General Interview Preparation

Here’s a list of questions that you should consider your answers for when preparing…

• Why do you want this job?
• Why are you the best person for the job?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• Why are you interested in working for this company?
• What can you contribute to this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• What challenges are you looking for in a position?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why should we hire you?

Over 300 Indian Students Face Deportation In US Fake University Sting

10 Indian-Americans are among 21 people arrested as part of a sting operation in which a fake university was created by US authorities to expose a visa scam. (File photo)

WASHINGTON:  Over 300 Indian students who unknowingly came to the US as part of a fake university sting operation conducted by law enforcement agencies to expose a visa scam, have been identified and located and the process has started for their deportation, officials said.

"The 306 individuals from India who were purported students at the University of Northern New Jersey have been identified, located and placed in the immigration process for removal in accordance to proper due process," Alvin Phillips, spokesman USICE Homeland Security Investigations told Press Trust of India.

10 Indian-Americans are among 21 people arrested as part of a sting operation in which a fake university was created by US authorities to expose a visa scam that allowed more than 1,000 foreigners to maintain student and work visas.

The arrested people were brokers, recruiters and employers who unlawfully and fraudulently obtained or attempted to obtain student visas and foreign worker visas for approximately 1,000 foreign nationals from 26 countries.

It is learnt that a large number of students who received necessary visa and permits to work in the US as a result of the sting operation for which they reportedly paid huge sums of money are from India. These people arrested for their involvement in an alleged scheme to enrol foreign nationals as students in the University of Northern New Jersey, a purported for-profit college located in Cranford, New Jersey (UNNJ).

Unbeknownst to the defendants and the foreign nationals they conspired with, the UNNJ was created in September 2013 by special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The HSI sting investigation was carried out to unearth the unauthorised networks and educational institutions that are "nothing more than sham visa mills," officials said, adding that these educational institutions have no curriculum, no classes, no instructors and no real students.
 

Bound By Legislation On Visa Fee Hike: US Tells India

Last year, the US Congress imposed a special fee of up to USD 4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas - popular among Indian IT companies. (Representational Image)

WASHINGTON:  The US has told India it is bound by legislation on the recent visa fee hike - which has badly hit Indian IT companies, an issue that was strongly raised by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his bilateral meeting.

"There are always two issues, one of course is the recent one, visa fee hike and the other is the old issue of totalisation charges for the IT professionals. The US response really is that we have a legislation which so states it," Jaitley told Indian reporters during a media roundtable.

"So unless that legislation is changed (it is likely to remain)," he said.

Mr Jaitley was responding to a question on the kind of response he received from the US Trade Representative, Mike Froman, when he strongly raised the issue during a meeting early this week.

Noting that such a visa fee is impacting only Indian companies, Mr Jaitley had described it as a "discriminatory" practice.

Last year, the US Congress imposed a special fee of up to USD 4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas - popular among Indian IT companies - to fund a 9/11 healthcare Act and biometric tracking system.

While agreeing on the USD 1.1 trillion spending Bill, Congressional leaders decided to impose a special fee of USD 4,000 on certain categories of H-1B visas and USD 4,500 on L-1 visas.
 

US Says Bound by Legislation on Visa Fee Hike: Arun Jaitley

.Washington: The US has told India it is bound by legislation on the recent visa fee hike - which has badly hit Indian IT companies, an issue that was strongly raised by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a bilateral meeting.

"There are always two issues, one of course is the recent one, visa fee hike and the other is the old issue of totalisation charges for the IT professionals. The US response really is that 'we have a legislation which so states it'," Mr Jaitley told Indian reporters during a media roundtable.

"So unless that legislation is changed (it is likely to remain)," he said.

Mr Jaitley was responding to a question on the kind of response he received from the US Trade Representative, Mike Froman, when he strongly raised the issue during a meeting early this week.

Noting that such a visa fee is impacting only Indian companies, Mr Jaitley had described it as a "discriminatory" practice.

Last year, the US Congress imposed a special fee of up to $4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas - popular among Indian IT companies - to fund a 9/11 healthcare Act and biometric tracking system.

While agreeing on the $1.1 trillion spending Bill, Congressional leaders decided to impose a special fee of $4,000 on certain categories of H-1B visas and $4,500 on L-1 visas
.