This is utterly brilliant
This is utterly brilliant
Sure, Mr K might find him juvenile, but don't let that make you miss out on the utterly brilliant posts like this
1. 10 years ago, my friend in NYC floated a dollar bill for an appreciative group of spectators. When he was done I asked him, "What do you think they're thinking? Do any of them not know it's just suspended from something that's too small to see?" I wasn't asking to be a dick. I was genuinely curious. And so was he. So we put an ad up on Craigslist and paid 10 people to come to a rehearsal studio to show them live magic and performances of magic on video. After watching the floating bill trick we asked for their thoughts, and they all politely answered that they didn't know how it was done. Then we said that we would double what we were paying them if they could guess how it was done and they all said, "I guess it's hanging on a string that's too small to see?" Nothing gives you greater insight into how people really view your performance than paying them.
continues...
http://www.thejerx.com/blog/2015/6/8/pr ... atter-rule
1. 10 years ago, my friend in NYC floated a dollar bill for an appreciative group of spectators. When he was done I asked him, "What do you think they're thinking? Do any of them not know it's just suspended from something that's too small to see?" I wasn't asking to be a dick. I was genuinely curious. And so was he. So we put an ad up on Craigslist and paid 10 people to come to a rehearsal studio to show them live magic and performances of magic on video. After watching the floating bill trick we asked for their thoughts, and they all politely answered that they didn't know how it was done. Then we said that we would double what we were paying them if they could guess how it was done and they all said, "I guess it's hanging on a string that's too small to see?" Nothing gives you greater insight into how people really view your performance than paying them.
continues...
http://www.thejerx.com/blog/2015/6/8/pr ... atter-rule
Yes, it is mrgoat, I just can't log in with old account.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Andy is a very funny writer. But what people miss (in his new blog and his old one) is how intelligent and inventive his advice about magic is.
If I were Richard I would sign him up for GENII. Magic needs more of this refreshing type of thinking.
Great to see Andy's new blog lives up to the legendary status of his old one.
http://www.thejerx.com/
If I were Richard I would sign him up for GENII. Magic needs more of this refreshing type of thinking.
Great to see Andy's new blog lives up to the legendary status of his old one.
http://www.thejerx.com/
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
+1 to the columnist notion
Still reeling from the Elmsley Count observation. All four cards? Just four cards? Still face down?
Still reeling from the Elmsley Count observation. All four cards? Just four cards? Still face down?
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Brilliant observations about magic -- the best thinking I've read in years on the subject.
Matt Field
Matt Field
Re: This is utterly brilliant
It's impossible for a writer to find the humor in a subject unless that writer has sufficient insight into the subject to know where there is humor, and where there isn't humor.
Frankly, Andy's is some of the best writing on magic I've read in a long while ... and I'm glad to see him back and writing on a regular basis.
His irreverent tone is incredibly refreshing, and his thinking that examines the fact that many magicians fool only themselves is spot on.
Perhaps most obvious is that his constant sarcastic jabs at the Magic Cafe are incredibly well deserved.
The place is run by patently inept school yard bullies who have a vision of themselves far, far higher than the lowly vision most people who actually put the content into the Magic Cafe view them with.
That Andy points the Magic Cafe shortcomings and follies out on a regular basis is almost too obvious, and again ... ultimately quite refreshing to read.
Frankly, Andy's is some of the best writing on magic I've read in a long while ... and I'm glad to see him back and writing on a regular basis.
His irreverent tone is incredibly refreshing, and his thinking that examines the fact that many magicians fool only themselves is spot on.
Perhaps most obvious is that his constant sarcastic jabs at the Magic Cafe are incredibly well deserved.
The place is run by patently inept school yard bullies who have a vision of themselves far, far higher than the lowly vision most people who actually put the content into the Magic Cafe view them with.
That Andy points the Magic Cafe shortcomings and follies out on a regular basis is almost too obvious, and again ... ultimately quite refreshing to read.
Re: This is utterly brilliant
Roger M. wrote:The place is run by patently inept school yard bullies who have a vision of themselves far, far higher than the lowly vision most people who actually put the content into the Magic Cafe view them with.
Yikes!
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
mr_goat wrote:Sure, Mr K might find him juvenile ...
And yet he finds it great when a guy pulls a playing card out of his ass.
Go figure.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Actually it was the upper region of his butt crack, not his ass. Do I think that was juvenile? No--it was a brilliant and transgressive performance of magic in a pop culture setting.
What I think is juvenile is endlessly slagging people off with the careless use of foul language that is indicative of sloppy writing.
When not jerking around in the manner, the author of the blog has interesting things to say.
What I think is juvenile is endlessly slagging people off with the careless use of foul language that is indicative of sloppy writing.
When not jerking around in the manner, the author of the blog has interesting things to say.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
There hasn't really been a whimsical section of GENII since Max stopped his (much missed) monthly quiz.
Re: This is utterly brilliant
Jonathan Townsend wrote:+1 to the columnist notion
Still reeling from the Elmsley Count observation. All four cards? Just four cards? Still face down?
What was the Elmsley Count observation?
Re: This is utterly brilliant
hmmm.... well, you've convinced me: I'm the greatest mind in modern magic. Good points, everyone. And thank you for the kind words.
Something tells me this isn't the first time in your life you've made this distinction i.e. "No, no, no, sweetheart, actually it was the upper region...," or "Look, officer, actually it was the upper region...," etc.
Richard Kaufman wrote:Actually it was the upper region of his butt crack, not his ass.
Something tells me this isn't the first time in your life you've made this distinction i.e. "No, no, no, sweetheart, actually it was the upper region...," or "Look, officer, actually it was the upper region...," etc.
"Juvenile and silly" -- Richard Kaufman
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Actually, it is indeed the first time in my life I've had to make that distinction.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Richard Kaufman wrote:....was a brilliant and transgressive performance of magic in a pop culture setting.
Now there's a multi-purpose phrase to keep on permanent standby. Truly utilitarian.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Richard Kaufman wrote:I guess you don't understand it.
Calm down Mister K. Of course I understand it, as much as anyone can understand anything.
I was attempting to pay you a compliment for a well-executed stand-alone turn of phrase. Hence the Smiley.
Perhaps you didn't understand that.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
I've been really enjoying the new iteration of the blog.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Sorry Leo: sometimes my Aspergers gets in the way.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Mr. K, I hope that I can help. Asparagus is said to be a useful companion plant for tomatoes as the tomato plant repels the asparagus beetle. Asparagus, in turn, may also repel some harmful root nematodes that affect tomato plants. I suggest that you invest in some tomato plants which should keep your asparagus in check.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
Mervyn Peake wrote:Mr. K, I hope that I can help. Asparagus is said to be a useful companion plant for tomatoes as the tomato plant repels the asparagus beetle. Asparagus, in turn, may also repel some harmful root nematodes that affect tomato plants. I suggest that you invest in some tomato plants which should keep your asparagus in check.
Comedy most definitely isn't your forte.
For a first post ... really?
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
You may enjoy reading a review of The Jerx which I posted here:
http://jackshalom.net/2015/08/15/perx-of-the-jerx/
http://jackshalom.net/2015/08/15/perx-of-the-jerx/
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity.
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity.
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Re: This is utterly brilliant
That is a great review, Jack. Excellent writing.
Like everyone else I am really enjoying Andy's return to blogging.
The writing and thinking alone is wonderful. And to have Andy toss out some of the strongest magic I have ever seen is just incredible.
Like everyone else I am really enjoying Andy's return to blogging.
The writing and thinking alone is wonderful. And to have Andy toss out some of the strongest magic I have ever seen is just incredible.