An0n

05.01.2006

Mon, 01 May 2006 16:30:13 +0000

Today was awesome...I got sick, and stayed home from school....that's not the awesome part, because it sucked because my throat hurts like a mother. However, I did go to the doctor's office, and there were some people sitting in the waiting room. I had a deck of cards with me, (as always) and was shuffling them around. The gentlemen to my right said something about it, and how he "saw a guy do a trick called the three card monte". He asked me if I'd ever heard of it, and I said, "actually, I do a trick similar to that with two cards...fools 'em every time..." The perfect setup. I went ahead with two-card monte, and absolutely floored him and his wife. It was awesome, he had a great reaction. I asked him, "So, do you think I'd actually be good enough to switch those cards?" (with kind of a sarcasm to my voice, implying that I wasn't...) to which he replied, "No, I don't think so, not at all." And I said, "Go ahead and turn your hand over..." He just flipped out. Started laughing histerically, and said, "I woulda just lost a hundred bucks! I woulda bet a hundred bucks those damn cards weren't switched! How'd you do that? I was watching you the whole time!" It was awesome. I love it so much...just another example of how powerful magic can be. You all have the power to affect someone's emotions in a phenomenal way. Use it.

04.28.06

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:31:22 +0000

Well, I haven't posted in a while, so I figured today would be a great day to do so...

Today was amazing...it was a "free-day" during classes today, and all the students were allowed to roam around and do whatever we wanted. Different rooms sponsored different activities...one had coffee and donuts, one had music, one had gaming, etc; However, I chose to spend the majority of my free day in the upper-lobby of the commons, doing magic for random people. It just so happened that there was a ping-pong tournament going on at the same time. Well, I was standing around, talking to someone, when all of the sudden, I head "You're the guy who does magic tricks! SHOW ME THE TRICK WITH THE ARM THINGY!!!!!" I turned around, to see someone I've never met in my life shouting at me to show him magic tricks. Directly behind him, I see a friend of mine, who apparently told him about stigmata. So, I proceeded to show him several different tricks. I started off with two card monte, which he went nuts over. At this point there were about 5 or 10 people around me. After this, I showed him a few ambitious card tricks, and the crowd slowly began to grow, to about 15 people...then I moved on to Stigmata. The guy went absolutely NUTS. He ran around, screaming, jumping up and down saying, "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!!!" It was GREAT. The absolute best reaction I've ever had to a trick, ever. After that, there was a full circle of people around me, for about another 20 minutes...Probably 30 people, watching me do magic, when they could be doing anything else. I kept hearing mutters like, "This guy is a freak!" or "He's amazing..." or, my least favorite..."I think Jesus has come back!" To which, I frowned and told him that I was most certainly NOT jesus, and that I only worked to glorify christ, no ..

04.20.2006

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 06:29:15 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly present to you

The Journeymen

The Journeymen - 19.04.2006

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 23:03:14 +0000

Hey guys, how's it going? I just wanted to make a short update, and give you all a heads up on my newest video which should come out later today, The Journeymen. As I am on my "Journey" to become a great card manipulator, I thought it best to show the "Journeyman" in action. So, I have tried my hand at street magic. Coming Soon...

04.18.2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:57:11 +0000

Well, I feel as though it is time to try to show how I have improved over the last couple of months. Here are a few of my pics from back when I first started, trying to do simple thumb fans:

^^ Notice how the cards are very scattered, the fan is not round or smooth, and the spread is not even. Here is another example:

^^ This one is even worse, if that's even possible. Haha...now, here is what my fans look like when I do them today:

*Click on "Ghostfan4.jpg" at bottom (See Attachments...)*

*Click on "Ghostfan5.jpg" at bottom (See Attachments...)*

^^This is probably my best fan that I've made.

*Click on "Ghostfan6.jpg" at bottom (See Attachments...)*

These are probably some of the best fans I've ever made. Just goes to show what hours of practice can do. I am getting to where I practice almost 7 to 8 hours a day, which includes in-school practice time. Not to mention time that I actually perform for random people or family and friends. This is what I do now, and I love it. I'm really starting to consider a career in entertainment. Maybe using my music somehow and incorporating magic into it. I don't know. But I wish I had started about 10 years ago.

Most recently, I have been working on two-han ..

The Journey Change - 04.18.2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 07:06:52 +0000

Well, for those of you who haven't read my post in the forums, I have created another new trick, called The Journey Change. The trick is very visual, and very fast. Here's the effect:

A spectator chooses a card, and after showing the bottom card, the magician quickly makes the card change into the chosen card with a flick of the wrist.

This is only one of many effects that you can do. If you wish, you can simply continue changing the cards over and over again! You don't have to worry about double lifts to hide the "vanished" card, like with the rub vanish. Watch the video to see for yourself. The change is very quick, with little cleanup at the end. Think Axis change with no cleanup.

I hope you all enjoy this new colour change, and I will see you in the forums!

04.14.2006

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 22:35:43 +0000

Well, it's Good Friday (for my religious affiliations, at least) and I've started a fast. I'm not sure how long I'll go, but my goal is to slowly get away from my desires, and be able, through control of my own will power, to let go of my wants for unnecessary things (i.e. junk food, et cetera). I am a wholehearted believer that if you cannot control your own mind, you will have no ability to influence those around you. How can I affect people with my magic if I cannot even gain control over my own emotions? I plan on going no less than three days without food, drinking only water, and I'm not sure how long I might go after that. I've gone for about 30 hours so far without food. This is a religious, as well as a scientific fast, to test the whether or not one has the ability to overcome his or her own will power. In concordance with the religious aspect of the fast, it will help me to center my thoughts and emotions, so that I may better focus my time. I believe that as my savior suffered for me during these three days leading up for easter, I may too suffer, in honor of his sacrifice. I just wanted to clear up my intentions for a fast for anyone who may have questioned my reasoning. I'm not trying to be like Blaine or anything, trust me. I'm not that much of an egoist. LoL...With that in mind, I'll continue to today's post.

Today was cool. For some reason, most classes were free days, so I spent most of my time compiling a list of all colour changes, flourishes, and card tricks that I know. This way, I can start routine-building for my presentation. But the coolest thing was going back and, to refresh my memory, re-learning and practicing all my older tricks, from when I first started.

I got a chance to sit next to a foreign exchange student in French class, so I s ..

04.13.2006

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:56:32 +0000

Well, if you guys haven't checked the "Card Tricks - Magic and Flourishes" forum lately, you will not have noticed that I have finished Part I and Part II of the first episode of A Beginner's Journey, and upon the completion of the movies, I uploaded them to Youtube. You can view the videos by clicking the following links:

A Beginner's Journey: Part I

A Beginner's Journey: Part II

So, check out the new series, and tell me what you think. I'm judging my upcoming training based on feedback and criticism, so beat me down! In order to find the solution to the problem, we must first identify the problem. So, watch the movies and take notes, over every little pause or hesitation. I'll be updating again soon with new videos, including a D2F tutorial for you guys.

Thanks,

An0n

04.10.2006

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 15:09:41 +0000

Ok, first and foremost, thank you so much to 21Ace! Today I recieved a gift from Eric, the site owner, with thanks for keeping up with my weblog. Ironically enough, it's been almost another two weeks since my last post. I just got my internet back last night, after the tornadoes knocked out WKY Rural Telephone/Electric. I was incredibly thrilled to recieve something from 21Ace, and am so appreciative of the gesture. Thanks again Eric and 21Ace, for supporting this weblog and this project of mine, and for helping me to make me a better card manipulator. In the short few months that I have been working with you guys, I have found a group of gentlemen that has an intense passion for the artform that they love. On top of it all, I discovered that magic was just that - an art. In my research, I have learned so much about the history of this absolutely infinite lifestyle - that of the magician. And I have discovered more: that I, too, want to indulge in that very lifestyle. Without you guys here at 21Ace, I would be sitting on my couch, sad and lonely, and wondering how David Blaine bit that quarter in half. But instead, I get to sit in my computer chair at my desk - proud, excited, and enthralled by the breathtaking performances of young men that share common interests with me. So again, thank you for bringing to life in me the same passion that I see you all so brilliantly shining to the world in all that you say and do. You make this project, this hobby, and this art come to life.

And with that, I'd like to make an update.

Ok...last week was amazing for my practice, because we were on spring break, and I went absolutely no where, except on Tuesday, when I was at Georgetown college for a choir performance. Even then, I had two decks of c ..

03.29.2006

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:03:50 +0000

Well hey, not much going on back here at the castle, I'm just laying low until my stuff arrives. I've been waiting two weeks for my David Blaine Split Spades deck from E, and about a week for my merchandise from MagicDepot. Also, I've got a Hummer Card and a Raven coming from Marpenothi, a member here at 21Ace. You all know him. He's a great guy. Props to Marp, he's very reliable and great to work with! Thanks Marp!

Anyway, I might have some exciting news! Upon my acceptance and scholarship into Georgetown Christian College in Lexington, (I got a little over $16,000 dollars for Vocal Music and Drama) my father has offered to buy me a new laptop. In addition, I'm looking at new vehicles for the move up to Lexington, and I might be getting a nice digital camcorder, through his insurance firm. He is the CEO of his corporation, and they are wanting to shoot a new management video for new and upcoming team members, sort of as an instructional DVD. I recommended some really nice cameras, and he was very intrigued last night. He told me that I would be free to use it any time if he bought it, so I'll be making some vids if so. But until my new stuff comes in, I'm just practicing my rear end off and waiting. Until then...