Whiz of the Web: Wednesday Whiz-Up

The best of the internet, squirted out in flavorful neon globules, just for you.

• Apparently, magician David Copperfield has a trick where it looks like he's flying. You can see an extremely corny video of the trick being done here. If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind having magic tricks spoiled for you, or you've always desperately wanted to know how he does this, then you're in luck! The Russians have cracked the code! Just check out this Google-cached version of a Russian website which explains exactly how the trick is done. Hint: he's on ropes. (Via)
• GamePro Online has put together an amusing list of the most controversial ads to appear in the print version of the magazine. Most are not really all that controversial (or all that good, for that matter), but just a little bit more bloody or sexualized than you might expect from a normal magazine ad. Still, worth a gander. (Via)
• The phrase "gravity-powered aircraft" got Phillyist pretty excited (what can we say, we're nerds here), but the experimental plane described in this article on Damn Interesting is really more of a helium-powered aircraft than anything else. (UPDATE: As an alert reader has pointed out, helium is not flammable. Oops! So, we take back that criticism of the plane. Heh. What can I say, I was never very good at chemistry...) And we all know how well helium-powered aircraft have worked in the past (*cough* Hindenburg! *cough*). Still, despite the flammable gas and a method of travel that involves lots of ups and downs (which certainly wouldn't be pleasant for those of us who dislike air travel to begin with), this design does sound pretty clever, and would result in a silent, pollution-free, practically fuel-less aircraft capable both of hovering (even during a complete power loss), and of vertical take-off and landing on land or sea. Not as awesome as an anti-gravity plane, but still pretty sweet. (Via)