COPPERFIELD'S PARANORMAL POWERS?

Maybe something was lost in translation, but I came across a curious reference to David Copperfield and his "claims of paranormal powers" in an article from the online version of AllAfrica.com. The piece talks about everything from "Goatmen," Third Eyes and occcult practices before saying of Copperfield, "Critical inquiry could also affirm the existence of certain paranormal practices as the case of David Seth Kotkin, a Jewish American magician and illusionist, better known as David Copperfield, illustrates. David Copperfield's claims to magical powers had been subjected to rigorous scrutiny over the years. He was not only the youngest person ever admitted to the Society of American Magicians but his proven illusions include walking through the Great Wall of China, making the Statue of Liberty disappear, flying, and levitating over the Grand Canyon. Not only did he provide entertainment he also used his magical powers to good effect, when in 1982, he founded Project Magic, a rehabilitation programme aimed at using magical powers to help disabled patients regain lost or damaged dexterity skills. The programme has been accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association, and is reportedly in use in over over 1100 hospitals in some 30 countries worldwide. Essentially the magic of David Copperfield is tested and proven and some public good have indeed come out of it."