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Tom — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:19:15 GMT

Spoiler Alert?

I think the deck starts out with a red 5 of clubs (5C) and then blue 5C on the bottom (red above blue). He maintains this order, sets the 8D beneath the blue 5C (thru the shuffling-off-the-top trick), then gets the blue card on top of the deck (now the red 5C should be on the bottom). He flips over the blue card and the 8D simultaneously, then he sets the blue card off to the side, shuffles off the top again to end up showing a red 5C, which was the next-to-the-bottom card, and then shows that the blue card is also a 5C. Still very cool!

Queen of the clickstream

kevin, boston — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:02:47 GMT

The card trick is easy to decipher.

The bottom card is always a blue 5s. When he fans the deck at the beginning, he makes sure not to reveal the blue card (very imporant to do this fan correctly.)

The blue card is now the marker, and is always on the bottom and is always the 5s. The type of shuffle is vital; he top shuffles to keep the blue 5s always on bottom. When the "mark" says stop, the magician places the card the mark chose (8d) into the pile, and places the blue 5s on top of it.

Now for a bit of slight of hand; watch closely as he reveals the allegedly blue-backed 8d; in fact, he's turning over 2 cards, both the blue 5s and the 8d under it. This reveals the 8d under, but not the 5s, and NOT the blue back of the 8d (because it's never blue, it's always red).

He then turns both cards back over. This is the illusion: When he shows you the 8d, he makes sure you never ever get to see its back (because the back of the 8d is always red).

Now, he places what you THINK is the 8d (but in reality was always the 5s) aside and does the trick again (allegedly). This part of the trick is just a feint. There's no sleight of hand at this point, as the blue 5s is already sitting out there, waiting for the magician to turn it over and amaze you.

Cheers,
The Amazing Kevin

Queen of the clickstream

keego, KY — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:28:49 GMT

The card trick is simple. During all shuffles he never upsets the bottom of the deck. On the bottom is the blue 5 of spades. Right on top of that is the red 5 of spades. A card is picked, placed in the deck right below the blue 5 of spades. When he puts the blue card on top, the chosen card is right under it, and he flips over both cards to reveal the chosen card. He then removes the blue card from the deck, shows the bottom card, the red 5 of spades, spreads the deck out and aha, no blue card. He then reveals the ommitted blue card which has not so very magically turned into the blue 5 of spades.

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Dwayne, Shanghai, China — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 10:36:32 GMT

The pictures of the LHC are mind-blowing, but the link discussing the risks of it creating micro black holes is fascinating, too. I don't know much about black holes, but I am pretty sure we don't want even little ones collecting at the center of the earth!

http://www.risk-evaluation-forum.org/anon1.htm

Queen of the clickstream

Phil, Chicago, IL — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:12:46 GMT

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Best-Card-Trick-in-the-World

Queen of the clickstream

Linda Robinett, Ridgecrest, CA — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:59:49 GMT

In the case of Wright preaching one or more of the talking heads on TV Sunday said "look at the congregation". Yep, they look bored. The commentator was essentially saying that this stuff is old fashioned and old hat.