Search found 441 matches

by Cugel
May 15th, 2009, 9:01 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle
Replies: 352
Views: 101834

Re: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle

Whoa! That's quite an over reaction to a couple of light-hearted posts. You're seeing snark where there was banter. Lighten up.
by Cugel
May 15th, 2009, 7:21 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle
Replies: 352
Views: 101834

Re: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle

Is it just me or is anyone else having technical problems viewing these videos without the quality being dodgy?

Glenn - can you get a Youtube account and post them?
by Cugel
May 15th, 2009, 2:32 am
Forum: General
Topic: Question about Castle notebook Vol . 2 pg 187
Replies: 12
Views: 4719

Re: Question about Castle notebook Vol . 2 pg 187

Jinx wrote:That doesn't answer my question does it.?.


X-men


No, but it proves C-Taylor is a magician playing the role of a card cheat.

Clobberin' time!
by Cugel
May 14th, 2009, 5:50 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Question about Castle notebook Vol . 2 pg 187
Replies: 12
Views: 4719

Re: Question about Castle notebook Vol . 2 pg 187

C-Taylor was asking the same exact question. Uncanny.
by Cugel
May 9th, 2009, 6:49 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle
Replies: 352
Views: 101834

Re: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle

Interesting comment NCMarsh - However Houdini and Scarne were both very good at tooting their own horns and self promotion in my opinion and both of them - and more - I wouldn't say did to bad - self promoting themselves and their performing art and business. Didn't Mickey MacDougal make way more m...
by Cugel
April 30th, 2009, 5:56 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Bob King Alive and Well in Rochester, New York
Replies: 13
Views: 2840

Re: Bob King: Alive and Well in Rochester, New York

But is disco still dead? I hope so.
by Cugel
April 24th, 2009, 6:33 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle
Replies: 352
Views: 101834

Re: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle

Sorry Cugel - even when I think the video is nice work it is "not what I am doing" and not even close to the goal that I went after in my three video's. I have a prediction envelope here that has been held in the safe keeping of the manager of Lloyds of London for the past three weeks and...
by Cugel
April 24th, 2009, 6:33 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle
Replies: 352
Views: 101834

Re: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle

That's lovely Cugel, but - to anticipate Glenn - this is just culling. Glenn is talking about stacking AND culling. (although culling and stacking would probably be a better way round). Yep, Glenn will likely decry it as not meeting his challenge, but only because he won't comprehend what it is he ...
by Cugel
April 24th, 2009, 4:43 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle
Replies: 352
Views: 101834

Re: Riffle Shuffle Work Using The Triumph Shuffle

Cugel, Denis Behr, Eoin O'Hare, El Mystico, mrgoat, Silly Walter, Nikodemus Siivola, Dustin Stinett and anyone. In the spirit of good fun - I would love to see video of any of you guys stacking and culling together on the fly - or stacking and culling four aces from a slug - or stacking and culling...
by Cugel
April 21st, 2009, 5:36 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Rising Card Trick
Replies: 61
Views: 15092

Re: Rising Card Trick

@ Jonathan: I think sleeving should be fine but there is a very slight risk of slightly damaging part of the construction of the case. Depending on which way up the deck is on the sleeve. Flap end downwards would be better. However if you are having a regular deck examined first and then switch to ...
by Cugel
April 18th, 2009, 11:04 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Mr. Kaufman takes it Profound
Replies: 6
Views: 3901

Re: Mr. Kaufman takes it Profound

Wow. Thanks Jonathan.
by Cugel
April 18th, 2009, 7:33 pm
Forum: Reference Room
Topic: Classic Effects
Replies: 13
Views: 5477

Re: Classic Effects

Nathan - very nice performance of the egg bag.
by Cugel
April 18th, 2009, 7:22 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Mr. Kaufman takes it Profound
Replies: 6
Views: 3901

Re: Mr. Kaufman takes it Profound

I suppose that's right if you're talking about Sylvester the Jester, but I think the reverse is actually true. Magicians constantly demonstrate their control over the uncontrollable. If we look at magicians like Lennart Green, his act is all about order being derived out of total chaos. Indeed he ma...
by Cugel
April 8th, 2009, 7:36 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Cugel seems to believe that whats important is how difficult the sleight of hand is while performing the effect


Dustin surprises Cugel by completely misunderstanding the point.

Cugel changes his opinion about Dustin's level of perceptiveness.
by Cugel
April 6th, 2009, 5:38 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Glad you enjoyed the video, Glenn.

Just my opinion!
by Cugel
April 6th, 2009, 6:44 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

by Cugel
April 4th, 2009, 6:01 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Trash Magic Movie Coming Out
Replies: 17
Views: 4183

Re: Trash Magic Movie Coming Out

I completely agree with you: it's a movie about card cheats.

That may not be my last comment. I'd hate to limit my options.
by Cugel
April 4th, 2009, 5:20 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Trash Magic Movie Coming Out
Replies: 17
Views: 4183

Re: Trash Magic Movie Coming Out

Shade is not a "magic" movie, but a movie about cheats. I'd think that you would have recognized that, Cugel, since it's one of your fields of interest. And I'm certainly not alone. A great deal of your readership has an interest in that area. I suppose that's why you published a huge cov...
by Cugel
April 3rd, 2009, 7:37 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Best Quote
Replies: 184
Views: 58090

Re: Best Quote

I read a lot of stuff on bathroom walls at Queens College. The bathroom literature there was much more literate than the stuff scrawled on the wall in the NYU toilets, to which I later transferred. (Not to the toilets, per se.) The best university graffiti advice I know of is the following: "H...
by Cugel
April 3rd, 2009, 6:32 pm
Forum: General
Topic: What is this trick?
Replies: 12
Views: 3863

Re: What is this trick?

Jonathan Townsend wrote:I dunno David but if done in the hands after a few false shuffles that might be a clever use of a classic force.


"..."
by Cugel
April 3rd, 2009, 5:20 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Trash Magic Movie Coming Out
Replies: 17
Views: 4183

Re: Trash Magic Movie Coming Out

Richard Kaufman wrote:Absolutely the worst magic movie made ever is Get to Know Your Rabbit with Tom Smothers and Orson Welles. What awful crap.


Worse than "Shade"? Holey moley. Thanks for the heads up.
by Cugel
April 3rd, 2009, 3:22 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Getting Bodies into Seats At Criss Angel: Believe
Replies: 136
Views: 28091

Re: Getting Bodies into Seats At Criss Angel: Believe

I'm confused. Are they part of the buffet deal?
by Cugel
April 2nd, 2009, 4:29 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: To Peek or Spread
Replies: 11
Views: 2936

Re: To Peek or Spread

I've previously written a number of advantages of this approach, but one of them is that there's no question of the spectator either forgetting or deliberately naming a different card. "If you find that spectators deny that you have produced the correct card, that is a fault of your presentati...
by Cugel
April 2nd, 2009, 4:26 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: To Peek or Spread
Replies: 11
Views: 2936

Re: To Peek or Spread

Since Leipzig invented it, and he performed it on stage yet still saw it fitting to let the spectator push open the deck, are you suggesting (with a great deal of hubris) that you know more than Leipzig about how to use the Spectator Peek? Are you suggesting (with a great deal of hubris) that no on...
by Cugel
April 2nd, 2009, 5:56 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: To Peek or Spread
Replies: 11
Views: 2936

Re: To Peek or Spread

People use a Peek because it seems impossible for you to have seen or control the card. It's important to let the spectator push open the deck, otherwise don't bother. Not necessarily. If you turn your head away throughout and immediately hand them the cards to shuffle, then it's still a miracle. S...
by Cugel
March 30th, 2009, 4:45 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Best Quote
Replies: 184
Views: 58090

Re: Best Quote

Good Lord, man. Get over it.
by Cugel
March 29th, 2009, 4:52 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Best Quote
Replies: 184
Views: 58090

Re: Best Quote

From the foreword of Bro John Hamman's book. "Magic is in the mind of the spectator-not in your fingers". I posted this on Conjure Nation's website and damn did I get flamed from the a- holes on that site. Guess all on CN know more about card magic than Bro. John Hamman. NOT! Peace to all...
by Cugel
March 29th, 2009, 3:14 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

David Alexander wrote:Here's Kenner doing his version of Slop Shuffle Triumph. Looks just fine to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgGOWK8- ... re=related


Sure it does. It looks fine for a simple, easy version of the effect. Not too taxing, sleight-wise, and very practical for walk around.
by Cugel
March 28th, 2009, 10:46 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Brad's interest in the washing idea I think is also well founded for the same reason. As an aside, I would say that Kimlat's allowing the spectator to "wash" the cards creates the strongest conviction of all. But the methodology that follows to achieve the Triumph effect is one of the wea...
by Cugel
March 28th, 2009, 10:22 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Sorry, Cugel, but you'll lose with that argument, since using a Slop Shuffle not only convinces the audience that the selection is lost in the deck, but also that the cards are mixed face up and face down. But Richard, if one method is as convincing/good as another, why ever did you publish all of ...
by Cugel
March 28th, 2009, 5:26 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

You keep talking about which shuffle is the best randomizer, but in Triumph, the point of the shuffle is not to randomize the cards but merely to mix them face up and face down. So the location of the selected card is not important? Hardly. In the plot of Triumph the deck is randomised in a way tha...
by Cugel
March 28th, 2009, 5:22 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

At an essential level, the only thing that matters is: 1) The spectators [color:#FF0000]believe[/color] the chosen card is really lost in the deck. 2) The deck is [color:#FF0000]genuinely[/color] mixed face up and face down. 3) The cards are all facing the same way at the end except the chosen card...
by Cugel
March 28th, 2009, 5:15 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

I'm wondering if there hasn't been a tad bit of over analysis about what is, by anyone's definition, a card trick. The earlier posts in this thread reminds me of Henry Kissinger's observation that "academic fights are so vicious because the stakes are so small." Thank God it wasn't a disc...
by Cugel
March 28th, 2009, 2:04 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

You do have a point. A riffle shuffle is good, however, that doesn't make the alternatives bad. Right, but equally it doesn't make them better . Best depends on what level of conviction you desire, balanced against the practicalities and your level of skill. But at the end of the day, all other con...
by Cugel
March 27th, 2009, 5:04 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Brad Henderson wrote: In my mind, the clarity of the riffle works best with the essence of the highest possible incarnation of the triumph effect - it is the most impossible condition.


Bingo.
by Cugel
March 26th, 2009, 7:36 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

El Mystico wrote:
Of course, I've never seen anyone in an audience do a slop shuffle either, but that brings me on to the last point; the patter. Which, to me, is far more important than whether you do a slop shuffle or a riffle.


So method is irrelevant? I think not.
by Cugel
March 26th, 2009, 2:34 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Brad Henderson wrote:So, perhaps, I think Cugel's analogy goes further than even he intended.


You assume too much.

But nonetheless, I am glad I was able to provide you with some guidance.
by Cugel
March 25th, 2009, 3:56 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

While I refuse to say anything about what shuffle is superior (it's a silly point of contention anyway) Being somewhat oblique, can I ask another question? What's more convincing to the uninformed viewer - Wile E. Coyote ending up covered in ash when the TNT goes off, or CNN footage of a roadside b...
by Cugel
March 25th, 2009, 7:26 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

[censored] back. The slop shuffle is one of the best versions for real world work. Dustin mentioned the good points, but to a real person the effect is exactly the same - a card is selected, the cards are mixed face up and face down, and then they all right except the selection. Now, if you are doi...
by Cugel
March 25th, 2009, 7:19 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Triumph
Replies: 308
Views: 82245

Re: Triumph

Hay thar. You tak care yo'self, mister. Hoik Ptui.

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