The Genii Forum

JHostler

Mnemonics and peg systems just don't work for me, I've tried numerous times. I need a stack that uses rules/math and then that blends into memorization. Haven't played with a stack in quite a while though. Same here. Without Joyal's book, I doubt I ever would have committed a stack to memory. (And,...

JHostler

Thanks to those intrigued enough to take a look. Still "on the house" until midnight CST tonight.

Cheers,

Hostler

JHostler

I've noticed nothing unusual about the writing. Fairly "in the pocket" for books of its kind. Photo-illustrated in full color. Fine piece of wordage; worth the $$$ for genuinely road-tested material.

JHostler

As an antidote to dreary "heartland" weather - and in celebration of 2020's demise (may we never speak of her again) - a couple of pandemic holiday treats. Gratis. Message me if interested... "Of Tactics, Touches, and Tells" (aka “Lucky Chip”) - A little miracle with a poker chip...

JHostler

Mnemonics and peg systems just don't work for me, I've tried numerous times. I need a stack that uses rules/math and then that blends into memorization. Haven't played with a stack in quite a while though. Same here. Without Joyal's book, I doubt I ever would have committed a stack to memory. (And,...

JHostler

To use magic (or anything theatrical) as the springboard for a "conversation" or a larger point, the latter must be somewhat coherent and emotionally aligned with the springboard. Suggesting that you're OK with "trashing the planet" and not recycling because this changes the cour...

JHostler

Really enjoyed the music-related chats I had with Matt. A genuinely nice guy whose interests and talent extended well beyond magic.

JHostler

Only a small percentage of practitioners understand magic as a performing art, and even fewer are any good at it. Meanwhile, the sheer volume of material - and number of folks (especially young folks) capable of advanced sleight of hand - has exploded. I don't think personality has much to do with i...

JHostler

... I wondered why he would have had the book printed in Chicago, when he could have done it in house. I assume for the same reason he used a pseudonym. Upstanding member of the community etc. etc. The nine-year age difference doesn't bother me so much; a man in good health at 49 could pass for 40....

JHostler

Has anyone ever looked into newspaperman Eber S. Andrews? He certainly had the writing chops, publishing know-how, and financial means necessary to pull off the first edition. What he lacked was everything else - any known connection to gambling or magic.

JHostler

Not long before COVID-19 upended planet earth, there was much grousing concerning the steady stream of huge, "over-priced" books hitting the magic market. So I had some fun with an inflation calculator this afternoon... • Nemo 500 & Kaps wallets from Joe Stevens - $75 each in 1983 ($19...

JHostler

All books thrown in the Bay...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/johos-7566/m.h ... pg=&_from=

JHostler

A few books for your consideration, all in great condition. Add $3 per book for media mail to the lower 48 United States: David Roth’s Expert Coin Magic (1st edition with slipcase) - $99 Meant to Be by John Born (1st edition, 3rd printing; hardcover with no dust jacket – I believe “as issued”) - $69...

JHostler

Very sad to hear this. Seeing John at the shop in St. Louis was a treat and - though he never knew it - one of the reasons I'm still in magic today. Re-reading Portfolio #1 at the moment. RIP...

JHostler

…once again proving Charlie Miller’s old maxim, “As logicians and philosophers, magicians make great cat sitters.” That performance was nothing less than a love letter to future magicians. The premise of the show is superb, both the hosts and producers want nothing but the best for magic as an art/c...

JHostler

MagicbyAlfred wrote:... When they inevitably expose the double lift...

This "simple" sleight (and even moreso its sister "double turnover") is performed so poorly by even seasoned magicians that I'd say we've already exposed the heck out of it.

JHostler

Louis was apparently a pretty well-rounded guy. I just now made the connection that he was the same Falanga well-known in concert taping and Grateful Dead circles. RIP.

JHostler

Jack Shalom wrote:I wonder if the watch change would register...unless the watch turned out to be the spec's...

A simple pre-change cue sets it up. ("Why on earth did I buy a [color] watch? Can you help me...") That part isn't my worry. The credit police, though... those guys are terrifying.

JHostler

So... back in the dark ages when I first learned Rollover Aces, I thought it might be fun to time the sequence (as other performers have) but with a little twist. The gist of it is that I'd complain about my wrist watch being hard to read, have an audience member time the thing with their own, and t...

JHostler

You're all so quick to write off the most obvious conclusion: Derren has an identical (and rather mischievous) twin, also named Derren.

JHostler

According to his 5/27/15 post, the original MCJ ended at "a very busy time in my life." This would have been in the thick of "Trick of the Mind." He drops another bit of relevant info in that post as well. (There's also a mathematical/numerological/vitamin B2-infused proof... but...

JHostler

Holy cow. Assuming this isn't a huge put-on, it feels really weird having had email conversations with the man - who at one point referred to himself as "nobody of any consequence." If "Andy" HAS managed to fabricate this... well, major kudos!

JHostler

'tis gone!

JHostler

For your consideration… A near-mint copy of Ramon Rioboo’s “Second Thoughts.” Hardcover, 356 pages. Low-sleight material from another master of the Spanish school. (This is the 2019 English language Hermetic Press edition…) As a quarantine bonus, I’ll throw in a copy of Karrell Fox’s AbraKFox (compl...

JHostler

Your quotes may have been accurate, but not your interpretation. In the US, if I own rights to a video of your performance, only I have legal recourse for the theft or unauthorized use of that content. Not you. You forfeit those rights to me upon purchase, unless otherwise specified. That's only wh...

JHostler

but US law is what it is. I just quoted the US law above... There's no need to take my word for it, when you can read it for yourself. Why is it that in the whole world, it is only on the Genii forum that people stand up and shout "I DO NOT OWN MY OWN WORK!!!" ? Your quotes may have been ...

JHostler

Tom, I have no idea what you are talking about. That's all I'm going to say. If you had read just a few words more, you would have found the relevant section. In short, you have the exclusive rights to authorize someone else to display or air your work. No need at all to transfer your copyright - t...

JHostler

If Dimmare was on a Luis de Matos show, I wouldn't think he owned the copyright -- de Matos would. And therefore he wasn't in a position to claim the youtube video infringed him. Of course, it depends on the contracts, to which I am not privy. An artist obviously own the copyright to their own work...

JHostler

Last call for Mrs. Smyth. (She "married well" last week.) Just shoot an email to hostlerj at geemail dot com before the happy couple jets to the glass spheres of Kakslauttanen on Sunday.

JHostler

Thanks, Daniel (and the other folks who have provided kind feedback). While born of the need for some serious distraction, this was a blast to think through. I'm surprised more hasn't been written about / done with the secondary mathematical principle involved.

JHostler

Available to any serious magicians who may be interested... "Miss Smyth," a new take on ye ol' Smith Myth. No force. No setup. No charge. No nothin'.

In memory of the greatest American[a] songwriter of our time, John Prine.

Email me if interested.

JMH
hostlerj at geemail dot com

JHostler

After wading through quite a bit of Steve Forte's Erdnase section, I keep coming back to two statements near the beginning. Both reflect key themes running throughout the text. The first (page 611) implies that Steve's core finding - that SWE was not a professional card cheat - is inconsistent with ...

JHostler

Bob Farmer wrote:Not a Parrothead! Before Jimmy there was Marty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD8MnvyAi6I

I have been schooled - the strangest part being, I know the song well. Just never made the connection!

JHostler

A Rush guy AND Parrothead? You never cease to amaze!

JHostler

Decided to have some fun with this. Now listed on eBay (24-hour auction) at $49.99.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164073385869

JHostler

"The Legendary Kabbala"

JHostler

My asking price of $75 (this INCLUDES media mail shipping to the continental US) reflects the generally “used” condition of this lot. I’ve highlighted the conditional quirks of a few books, but this shouldn’t be considered an exhaustive description: • Brain Food by David Parr (hardcover with dust ja...

JHostler

This is really simple. ... 4) The obvious solution to the current "issue:" Steve could hand-number each book in the current run of 1000. He'll be signing most of them anyway. ... Hm, reminds me of expensive art prints, where a certain quantity are uniquely numbered (and perhaps signed) wh...

JHostler

This is really simple. 1) Producing something as a limited edition DOES add value and drive demand. That's why it's done. 2) Producing something as a limited edition DOES obligate the seller (ethically, if not legally) to maintain the edition's limited status. 3) Both sellers and buyers should exerc...

JHostler

FWIW, there was apparently an episode of "Magic Newswire" where Johnny Thompson, Harry Riser and Bob White discussed the Miller/Vernon material in ECT (http://magicnews.libsyn.com/mnw336-redux-the-charlie-miller-interview). A few hints can be found here >> https://www.magicana.com/news/blo...

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