As I sit here, I’m trying to think of anything lower than “performing magic” on an Iphone.  Ok, in all fairness I can think of a few.  It can be mildly entertaining but it’s a bit like rolling up to some babes at a stop light and blasting the Star Trek theme.

Years ago people made attempts to sell magic type effects that install on computers.  Usually they were items such as the old magic squares in primitive software packages.  In the magic world these thing were a huge flop, for reasons I think everyone can grasp.

Years passed and people STILL tried to sell magic applications to more modern computers that could now play video such as MPEG, MPEG2, AVI and the like.  Of course even with these more modern features magic software was a flop.  Has anything become a modern classic using computers yet?  Even remotely something that we all wanted to buy and perform?  Noda.

Enter the most trendy unit in the land in 2007.  The Iphone.  For some reason when something becomes popular and hip minds seem to change.  Even Chris Kenner is going to release something in the near future, though in my opinion he has been pretty sketchy on what he markets since his return to the scene and T11.  In 2 years there have been countless releases of supposed “Iphone magic” being sold for laymen by laymen.

So should we get the brilliant minds of magic together and make something that really rocks for the Iphone?  Though it’s an opinion of who are the best names in magic, the ones most admired when asked if they would work on something would probably peer at us like we were wearing a pink dildo strapped to our heads.

Strong magic has it’s power in using objects that are physical by nature.  When we write a prediction on a simple piece of paper and a pen the objects are accepted as 2 items that put something “in stone”.  If we were enter a prediction into a computer everyone will accept it as something can easily be edited and changed because laymen do the same on a daily basis.

In performing we only have a short time to confirm to our spectators that we are good magicians, they hopefully will remember for a long time.  We should want our spectators to remember ourselves perhaps more than what we actually did.  In thinking of the person the magical effects will follow in memory.  As to say if someone tells a joke someone may say “He told a funny joke”.  On the other hand a true comedian wants the ends to be “He was a very funny man!”.  In using such routining with such devices the best you’ll get is “He had an application on his phone that did X”.  Of course when adding psychical objects with the phone some distance is gained but by a small margin.  The Iphone will always be cursed as something that can me manipulated on screen to near anything the operator wishes. Again though entertaining laymen and magicians won’t find anything magical about such things as reaching into a TV and pulling out some flowers.  Somehow people keep doing it because there is indeed that small amount of entertainment in doing such.  Marco Tempest uses these things for nearly everything he does….but it’s kind of hard to even state he’s a magician at all.  If he is, so is Yoda because he can make an X Wing float out of a swamp.  Or Houdini disappearing on screen in one frame.

IPhone magic is just bad.  As magicians we need to understand what makes a routine magical and thoroughly impossible.  This crap is mostly for people that just don’t understand what they are doing in the first place and so “creators” can make a few quick bucks in the trend department.  Personally I just don’t get it.  I ponder how others even accept a device like that as a tool for magic at all.

This is the strongest Iphone trick I could find.  It’s still really bad….not magical at all.  In the category of laymen tricks you might find at a county fair at best.  What makes ID word is the fact again it’s using a psychical deck.  When doing the same on a phone you mise well just announce any card can be chosen and it turns out the same.  Give laymen some credit.  They know better.

The other day a friend and I were chatting how much we admire Chad Long, yet I had never seen these videos he sent link to from YT.   Great stuff.  Just click on the YT blocks twice being the poster didn’t want them embedded.

There was a very interesting book I loved as a child called “Bet You Can!” by Vicki Cobb. She also released another book called “Bet You Can’t” on the opposite spectrum. The basis is depending on the volume, was a quick write up of something you’ll read about and say “Are you kidding, of course I can’t do that!”. They are all based on science so it’s a given indeed you can do it. Of course the other book revolves around items you think are very easy but scientifically impossible.

Sleights such as the pass and seconds (dealing a two), somewhat are those perplexing items that seem easy in theory but are hard to truly master. I admit humbly that for lack of a better term, my “normal” seconds blow. I’m usually standing up when I perform, and seconds are something I practice for fun but don’t spend too much time on for that reason.

Ok ok! Get on with it!. The other day I talked about the best utility move one can have. The pinky count. When a pinky count is mastered it’s very easy to push off with the left thumb, on the upper left corner area for X cards. The rest is easy as pie. In Vernon’s Further Inner Secrets Of Cards Magic page 52 is “The New Theory” second deal. A small write up that can be fruitful for a lifetime. The illusion is more perfect in my opinion than a regular second deal even if performed correctly. It’s meant to be “fast and snappy”. Thus, the only downfall of the NTD is it wouldn’t be wise to deal more than one card at a time. Also the card obviously will need to be stud style turned over as the other possible downfall depending. Still! Think of all the books that call for minimal seconds that may have been passed in books because the mere thought of a decent second seemed out of order.

I know it’s not rocket science here, but a pinky count, block, NTD is within the range of everyone and you can get back to those routines the require a second or two with head held high. It has many uses and has done me well, being I mostly like to stand.

Two other great resources just in case you really want to put in the time on seconds are Marlo’s Revolutionary Card Technique, and the sleights area in the back of Walton Vol. 1.  Erdnase’s second method is also worth anyone’s time to check out.  Lastly Dingle’s uh boy…..New Theory on Vernon’s New Theory Second Deal The One-Hand Deal etc.  in Complete Derek Dingle comes to mind…just don’t try to say it 5 times fast.  Also in Dingle’s book you’ll find ways to NOT have to use a stud type turn over.

At least some food for thought.  Happy dealing!  Pinky counts kick serious ass!  (YOU can do it.  Promise)

First place is first place.  Doesn’t matter if it’s a scale of 1-5 or a scale of 1-,1000, or that you need 80 points etc.  He just thinks it’s using the same song as an excuse.  He still misses the point.  If we for instance took Runaround Sue and did an act it would essentially make you a jerk at FISM.  Yet we call Shawn a jerk for doing the same thing and “that’s different”.  The balls on this guy.  Wish he mentioned the fact that so many people are more interested in how the hell the act itself got first, music, theatrics etc etc aside.

The most important part I feel is when Dodd asks “What do you look for as a judge?”.  Now compare that to Shawn’s act.  Ellis blames the cameras as to the act looking poor.  No sir.  As stated the get readys are pitiful, and the Vernon Depth Illusion is horrid.  In essence the whole routine is based on only those 2 moves done very amaturish.  Camera angles.  For shame.  I think you could see those areas as a card person from the 3rd story of a building.  I’m having flashes of Nixon in my head.

We only pick on Ellis because ‘it’s a fun game”.  Like ringing a doorbell and running.  Christ did he really say that again.  It’s not an ugly side of the internet and magic, it’s the fact people have a voice which is fantastic.  Unlike Ellis we enjoy being here and stating our opinions, and things we feel are wrong, things we have found on our travels to improve, recommend books…the sky is the limit.  It’s not ugly at all.  What is ugly is a world where people can’t express themselves as they truly feel as legit.  People should speak up because it’s their right.  No one is making threats like Clark does and Ellis supports.  We are just being our own voices as we see fit.  Roland wasn’t trying to just be a jerk.  He was stating a point that is valid in his opinion and others also.  At the end of the night everyone has the right to their opinions whether people agree or not.

I think Roland mostly said everything as best anyone could in one fail swoop.  He may want to join the Olympic commentators in future years.

In stating the following I in no way am acting or pretending like I’m some kind of guru that everyone should listen to.  On the other hand I think the subtle advice following will be accepted by everyone.

Shawn’s performance shows the importance of why proper get readys are the most basic and important part of card magic.  I have indeed tutored many folks in person and online.  The first thing I teach them to do is something it seems even life long magicians may never learn.  Pinky count.  It’s one of those items that when you first try it your innards go “ow ow ow ow ow” near all the way through to your torso.  The good news is we have the muscle already there it’s just not used to having that much pressure in that manner.  More good news!  In people I’ve taught the pinky count to, most have no pain and do a fairly decent one after only about a week or so.  How?  I play Mr Miyagi for the most part to anyone beginning by showing them a simple thing.  I show the proper form for mechanics grip, then teach them how it’s easy to bevel the deck to the left a little.  Then I tell them to slide thier pinky down the lower right corner…over and over and over.  An exercise is all I give for a week.  This grip may feel tight for a little while but with practice it becomes a very “soft” and painless move.  Also begin to really watch what your left thumb is doing.  It may hook too much, roll or “wiggle”.  It will get better if you pay attention.  I’ve been doing the pinky count for as long as I can remember and never ONCE have been called on it.  On the other hand as Roland pointed out you can even see exactly how many cards Shawn in getting ready very very openly.  I think any laymen could also pick this out easily….just not the FISM judges of course.  Magician fooler takes on a whole new meaning.

Secondly the routine in essence is just get readys and Tilt.  The best source for really getting your head around Vernon Depth Illusion (yes I’m proper…it is not Marlo Tilt…sorry Marlo…yeah yeah it’s easier to say Tilt though) is “Books Of Wonder”.  It’s even better learning the pinky count with VDI because then it just POP, does what you need and your rolling.  You shouldn’t be able to park a Mac Truck in the break.  You’ll notice when in Tilt[sic lol]  Shawn usually has the top card bowing.  You mise well just let everyone know what your really doing and save the time.  At the very least some kind of convincer would have suited that routine better, such as the simple Daryl convincer or something there of.

It’s not about HATE like people keep saying around Blogs.  This is the first year, for the most part blogs have really caught on.  It may seem like forever but they really began to take form not so long ago in 2004.  The mass media of the magic community no longer have the only say in these events anymore.  Be thankful for people that get aggrivated and feel things are unjust.  It’s the spice of life because more people have a say in what they think.  His routine was based on 2 basic noob moves.  Both done very poorly.  Amazing what a song as a gimmick can hide.  Practice your Vernon Depth Illusion and Pinky counts.  Hell, you may even win FISM with just those 2 moves.

Or, as I would call it “Something of what FISM judges should have been thinking in their minds, but obviously didn’t care or pay proper attention”.  Well done.  The points I think are very valid.  FISM #1?  Buh

It seems Ellis has to decided to walk away from his blog, and not surprisingly needed to blame and point fingers to anyone that smited thee.  He’s done this constantly and was my point of saying he should man up.  The way I see it a nerve was struck he himself can’t quite calculate through what in essence is a denial.  The distortions have been plentiful as to the true nature of our sometimes brief conversations over a longer course of time than he may realize.  A quick for instance is in Itricks he stated that I should make a web site dedicated to just bashing Ellis.  These childish comments simply equated to myself obligeing.  I don’t care if 3 people say anything there or 3 million.  It’s really just a showing of his immaturity and lack of debate skills when faced with an item he should respond to and morphing into an adolescent.

I’ve stated my case in the past here but since I get a fair enough amount of hits here per day I should perhaps rewind the clock and openly state my opinion on the piracy subject and why Ellis obviously would be pointed out through out.

Imagine 2 parallel lines a fair distance from each other, then move them together until they both meet in the middle, that is my stance on piracy.  Symbolic of my stance if you will.  Unfortunately that pretty much puts one on the “dark side” just the same as the mass pirate that doesn’t give a shit in most eyes it seems.   Some may even claim that in such I’m just confused and/or lazy etc.  I’ve found through life that extremism in near anything is actually the lazy and or confused clan.  Ellis has stated many times would call anything not to the side of waving the white knight hero banner  to be “excuses”.

With the same parallel line analogy we can also make those lines moral vs. immoral or lack of a better term.  J.K. Hartman kicks serious ass on the upper line and everyone should buy his books, because he’s not a marketing whore and never brought phony attention to himself.  The thought of some numb nut using a bunch of his routines and not buying the actual book, but only using some other media form mostly pisses me off!  I’m just a private citizen with a blog that yaps a few times a day.  I’ll put no energy in telling people what they should do, simply what I hope they will do as per my opinions on certain morals.  The more rules you make the more outlaws you create.

Tim Ellis- I have to concede I am wrong to think education will change the behaviour of the majority of the population. The threat of punishment is the only thing that will stop piracy.

In making those rules the parallel lines I mentioned have too much space in between.  Sony has stated that if you buy a CD and copy it to your Ipod in mp3 format you are pirating.  Ellis loves the RIAA, MPAA etc I’m sure!  Clark couldn’t even think up his own logo so he STOLE the image and edited to his own.  It does indeed have a copyright notice in the corner.  MagicPiracy.Org is really that stupid they stole a MPAA banner.

The other day he copy/pasted from my blog to his own.  He likes to say that people use the excuse “I didn’t know”.  You all may notice that at the bottom of my page is a notice “This blog copyright Dead Magicians Society; 2009 . All Rights Reserved.”  It was there the whole time and yet Tim felt that he could take my words to his own site.  What if those words I spoke were in a PDF file?  Would that make it different?  The respected magician that first did “Card Rapping” isn’t going to go charge at Ellis for selling something he did before, he’s got better things to do.  Tim though will let it be known to all that someone stole HIS Card Rap idea.  In making rules for punishments anarchy obviously would come into play, because SHIT GETS RETARDED.

So my friends.  Do what you know is right in your hearts.  If your the kind of person that thinks it’s all right to preview a video because you don’t know what’s on it, have every intention going in, that if you perform even one routine you have the money ready to support your brothers at arms.  If you go to FISM and someone used a song and your act uses some of the same theatrics, have the courtesy to let the other guy know.  If your some kind of nutty extremist that thinks everything you’ve ever done is gold, the truth is most everyone breaks laws everyday without knowing it.  Do the right thing.  It’s a simple matter of common sense.  No one needs a wanna be hero to represent anything.  These people always come out hypocrites sooner or later because the issue is too broad.  Guys like Ellis and Clark are in the same category as PETA, SeaShepard, RIAA, MPAA, Etc.  Groups that look like logical good, but in reality are corrupt and mostly insane to the point of being bat shit crazy.  Piracy isn’t killing magic as Sue Ann will scream.  Nothing is going to kill magic.  Just do the right thing out of respect.  Plan ahead for “Jennings Takes It Easy” and put some money aside to support people that deserve.  Was that so hard?

Full of hate like Ellis says?  No, extreme dislike would be better termed.  I don’t support invasions of privacy and punishment unless it is justified fully and well thought out.  A simple point to ponder.  The supporters of MagicPiracy.org would have surely given Jonathan Pendragon access to home adresses.  Enough said.  My dislike of these folks is very justified.

He will be back.  He just wants attention the same way Justin Miller did a few years back.  The guy screams of being the type that will cross his arms and put on a pout face and wait for everyone to offer him candy.

Me?  I just perform 100 percent of what I do from my books and buy cards.  I’m the keep it simple stupid type I guess.

Picture Deleted Due To Ellis' DMCA Threat

Some may think I “pick” on Ellis too much.  At the surface it could appear somewhat psycho I’ll admit.  We need to realize though that Tim Ellis wanted and became a certain type of political figure long ago.  The way I rag on Ellis is basically the same way others do about the president.  He wanted the handle of Theft Avenger Emperor and got it, by his own design.

Really if I had my way we’d just all gather ’round and talk card magic here openly.  Of course by our arts nature this can not really be so.  Sometimes I write about things that inspire me, things that make me angry, disappointment etc.  That’s the point of a personal blog vs. a news blog.

Ellis really has been caught with his dick in his hands in public this time.  You’d almost think he’d man up and publically apologize that his actions were hypocritical.  Problem is he can’t swallow his pride and be a man.  I made a simple mistake a couple of weeks ago and apologized immensely and corrected it.  To err is human, but I really don’t think Ellis quite understands fully he should apologize officially to the public rather than try and make excuses.  The judges made a poor choice this round….so be it.   Life goes on.  Problem is a theatrical piece that was done earlier by another was awarded a grand prize.  He fucked up and now should be a hypocrite to everyone.  Peggy Sue, with Buddy Glasses and a cups and balls routine is indeed in the same realm as what Russ is pointing at.  Yet for some odd reason some will defend Shawn’s act.

I pretty much stated the same at Itricks not long ago and got this request:

-Please start another (web site)  specifically for attacking me, okay?

Thus an immature response deserves my immature creation.  Have fun everyone!

Tim Ellis Sux Post Board