Stevie Starr

Stevie "The Professional Regurgitator" Starr is a Scottish performance artist known for being a professional regurgitator. In his act, he swallows various items, such as coins, lightbulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar and goldfish, and then regurgitates them. He has never described exactly how this is done, and the implausibility of some of his regurgitations have led some to believe that he is an illusionist. Starr has a busy international touring schedule for his longer solo act. He has performed on the same bill as comedian John Oliver, who talked about Stevie's act as part of a Late Show with Jimmy Fallon web exclusive segment called "Would You Rather: John Oliver".

Got Talent appearances (2010-2015)

Britain's Got Talent

In April 2010, Starr auditioned for the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent. During his audition, he was swallowing numbered coins and a billiard ball and then regurgitating them on demand and in order. He progressed to the semi-finals. In those he swallowed Amanda Holden's engagement ring, followed by a locked padlock and its key. He then regurgitated the padlock, which enclosed the engagement ring, followed by the key. Starr finished in fourth place in the public vote and did not progress to the final.

The Man

"The Man" is a slang phrase that may refer to the government or to some other authority in a position of power. In addition to this derogatory connotation, it may also serve as a term of respect and praise.

The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either passively, openly or via sabotage.

History

As a phrase meaning "the boss" it dates from at least 1918.

In the Southern U.S. states, the phrase came to be applied to any man or any group in a position of authority, or to authority in the abstract. From about the 1950s the phrase was also an underworld code word for police, the warden of a prison or other law enforcement or penal authorities.

The use of this term was expanded to counterculture groups and their battles against authority, such as the Yippies, which, according to a May 19, 1969 article in U.S. News and World Report, had the "avowed aim ... to destroy 'The Man', their term for the present system of government". The term eventually found its way into humorous usage, such as in a December 1979 motorcycle ad from the magazine Easyriders which featured the tagline, "California residents: Add 6% sales tax for The Man."