Blogs such as i/m sit on the edges of the mainstream. If the Internet was a newspaper we would be one of those fillers used to complete a column. You know – the average summer temperature in Sioux Falls is 70 or we would be the sleezy massage parlor ads in the back of the sports section. Hopefully, on a good day, we’re the comics.

On the other hand, blogs like John LeBlanc’s Escamoteurettes are the editorial page – the leading articles. Hell, I can’t even pronounce it. John is a thoughtful, careful writer, generally with something to say. Even the header screams class.

In his most recent article (Click here) John takes a cut at the theoretical five foot shelf. The list shows his usual careful thinking and even gives some of the history behind this exercise.

Since I tend to collect magazine compilations, I was interested to note that his personal list was over 1/3 magazines by count and probably close to half by size. Personally, I would probably add Richard’s Almanac and the bound Phoenix volumes.

John’s article also reminded me that I must pick up Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber. I’ve heard a LOT of good things about it.

Anyway, hop over to John’s blog and add your thoughts. It’s an exercise worth repeating periodically.

Take care………
 

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Enjoy the kids, friends and family. This magic crap is so insignificant it isn’t even on the radar.

Remember the important things.

I believe it was a Genii reviewer that commented that after reading/viewing a Mike Close trick explanation he realized how woefully inadequate and superficial most other magic instruction is. From my perspective, nobody develops performance items better than Mike. The depth of thought is incredible and he only seems to publish what he performs. I never get the feeling that he publishes hypothetical crap. Admittedly, there’s nothing he does that is extremely simple and a lot of it is damn difficult.

To those that followed Mike through his years at Magic Magazine, you know there was a period when he became disillusioned and downright cranky. Maybe looking at all the crap that comes out month after month finally gets to you. He seems to be past that now and I, for one, am glad.

What brought this to mind, was my development of some new strolling routines and I, again, read and began working on his Pothole Trick and Dr. Strangetrick. The latter is the most inexplicable and refined version of Card Warp ever created and The Pothole Trick must be one of the top 10 close up tricks of all time.

His revised Workers series – available in ebook format – and his L&L DVDs are magical treasures. If they are not on your shelf – they should be.

Take care………

Things I’m Thankful for:

I’m thankful that I’m not downwind from Steve Brooks after his Thanksgiving meal
I’m thankful for holy men like Stephen F. Youell to monitor our morals
I’m thankful for Thomas Wayne so we can all feel better about the bastards in our personal lives
I’m thankful that Harry Lorayne has allowed we mere mortals to exist on the same planet
I’m thankful there are so many pricks in magic that there is always something to write about

and remember…….
I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.
- Neil Armstrong