November 22, 2013

"Get the f**k out of my house!" Watch Closely But It Won't Do You Any Good

Posted by gerardvanderleun at November 22, 2013 11:34 AM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Sometimes I think that some of these magicians have made a pact with the devil.

Posted by: RobertM at November 22, 2013 1:23 PM

Grassy knoll.

Posted by: Dan Patterson at November 22, 2013 3:32 PM

Wow, I know that really happened. I saw it on the internet.

Posted by: jpm at November 22, 2013 6:39 PM

Magic holds no charm or mystery to me. I grew up on the carnival circuit. I saw every trick, every scam, every cheat. The one thing I learned for sure is don't waste your time trying to figure out how it was done or getting emotionally or economically involved. Just accept the fact that they cheat/trick you and walk away. Once you invest yourself in the trick and trying to figure it out they got you. If you walk away at the first sign that you are being "had" they got nothing and have to look for another mark.

Posted by: GoneWithTheWind at November 22, 2013 8:44 PM

All GWTW said is true, but I still like it. I like the transcendence. I like the skill and silliness, and I got to see it tonight at my convenience.

My world is filled with petty bullshit, but at least this is pretty bullshit that cares enough about me to try and fool me for my amusement and I got to forget the too-real bullshit for just a moment. That, dear man, is real magic.

Posted by: Gray at November 22, 2013 10:04 PM

I like to watch a pro at work.

Sometimes, watching from a safe distance just adds to the warm fuzzy feeling.

Blaine is very, very good.

Posted by: TmjUtah at November 22, 2013 10:08 PM

So it's a trick. So what. What matters is that it's a really, really good trick.

That's entertainment.

Posted by: pdwalker at November 23, 2013 12:42 AM

So, GWTW, how is it done?

Posted by: ed at November 23, 2013 7:04 AM

Wow.
Harry's looking more like one of my (late) uncles every day.
Love the kitchen.

And the card trick's cool, too.

Posted by: Fausta at November 23, 2013 7:43 AM

I don't know. That's the point. If it intrigues you and pulls you in then the magician (in this case or the scammer in many cases) has you in his trap. I don't care. And that is my point. Obviously it requires someone to have come in and set it up and then slipping the mark the correct card and palming the card and not putting in the deck. What does it matter? Unless you actually believe in "real" magic or witchcraft you know it is a total phony "trick". Sure it's entertainment. No problem, watch magic shows or whatever you want for entertainment but don't get pulled into the drama. My advice is when someone is trying to "sell" you something, the latest greatest shamwow or whatever is keep moving and the only acknowledgement you ever make is a slight smile and a slight shake of the head but keep putting distance between the scammer and yourself. And yes I know this is a magic trick by a genuine show performer but it is your willingness to be intrigued by this guy that will get you in trouble with the scammers.
I once encountered a man in New Orleans who promised he would shine my shoes for free. He became quite adamant that he should do that and why wouldn't I since it was free. His buddy came over after a minute and kinda hung out near us. I don't know what, exactly, his scam was. Doesn't matter. Could have been strong arm robbery or demanding payment or just a nut. But I don't have to participate to find out.

Posted by: GoneWithTheWind at November 23, 2013 8:06 AM

Wow, that was great. Harrison Ford should be an actor of some sort.

Posted by: Potsie at November 23, 2013 8:32 AM

Amazing that a coated playing card could be rolled up, that is the true trick.

Posted by: Potsie at November 23, 2013 12:30 PM

I would not even trust Indiana Jones.

During the Winter of '73-74 I was in Lebanon and attended the Casino du Liban, magnificently situated overlooking the Mediterranean North of Beirut, with my wife and a handful of friends. We had dinner and then watched a Magic Show where the Magician was a Frenchman who spoke beautiful English. At some point, very unobtrusively, a gentleman came to our table before the show started and asked if I could come with him as someone wanted to talk to me. It was done smoothly and not even my wife objected.

I accompanied the man and was ushered down to the dressing rooms in the bowels of the casino passing all of the blond, tall, scantly dressed show girls who were coming and going. I was ushered into the private room of the Magician who was a charming, cultured person. He laid it on the line that he needed confederates to pull off tricks as there is no real Magic only Deception. He assured me it was all in fun. He taught me my part in two tricks and asked me to keep it a secret.

During the show I was "picked" at "random" and went on stage with five other individuals. The two tricks went off perfectly, the audience was delighted, my wife was astounded and I have happy memories of the whole episode. Of course it was all fake but what fun.

Dan Kurt

Posted by: Dan Kurt at November 23, 2013 6:19 PM

Let Harrison Ford cut the fruit himself. Whoops, no card!

I still don't know how he knew it was the nine of hearts, though.

Posted by: B Lewis at November 23, 2013 8:36 PM

B Lewis, I know what you mean about the nine of hearts. It should have been the five of diamonds, it's ALWAYS the five of diamonds.

Posted by: Big Mo at November 23, 2013 9:43 PM

Any fool knows that any fruit, when cut open, will contain the card thought of by its owner. Try it yourself. If you get no card or the wrong card, it simply means that you are not, as premised at the start, any fool.

Posted by: Famously Unknown at November 24, 2013 8:06 AM