Sir Terry Pratchett

For those who have not read any of the Discworld Novels this is how Terry Pratchett opened the first one, The Colour of Magic :

In a distant and second-hand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly, the curling star-mists waver and part ...

For those aficionados of the Discworld series (and I know that there is at least one amongst my Facebook Friends) this conversation with Terry Pratchett includes a reading from his next book, Snuff.

Although the books might be described as fantasy (a description that Pratchett rejects) the interview shows he has a great sense of the realities of this world.



For the first episode of the film version of The Colour of Magic follow this link.

Pop-up paper sculptures

The video below demonstrates the technique for making a pop-up sculpture:



You can download the template for the demonstration sculpture here .

The Seven Basic Principles of Magic

Penn and Teller are two American magicians.

One of the first tricks from their Las Vagas stage show is shown in the video below:



The video is part of a fascinating article in Wired Magazine .

The trick is called Looks Simple, and the point is that even a puff on a cigarette, closely examined, can disintegrate into smoke and mirrors. "People take reality for granted," Teller says shortly before stepping onstage. "Reality seems so simple. We just open our eyes and there it is. But that doesn't mean it is simple."

The basic magic principles are:

1. Palm - the lit cigarette
2. Ditch - cigarette in ear
3. Steal - pencil stub
4. Simulate - pull out "cigarette", really the pencil stub
5. Load - real cigarette from ear
6. Misdirect - with flashlight
7. Switch - pencil for cigarette

Here is another interesting video from the same article.

Attention, it turns out, is like a spotlight. When it's focused on something, we become oblivious to even obvious changes outside its narrow beam. What magicians do, essentially, is misdirect—pivot that spotlight toward the wrong place at the right time.

The article also contains a fairly long video of Penn and Teller performing and explaining the Cups and Balls trick.

The main point of the article is that magicians and other sleight of hand "artists" such as pickpockets, are working with scientists in the study of human perception.

Well worth a read.

Cosentino Threshold

Last night we went to a show called Cosentino Threshold.

We went with David and Glenda. The show was at Wyndham Cultural Centre, so we first tried out one of the local restaurants; this time Indian.

None of us had checked the details of the show and had expected it to be another drama, and were pleasantly surprised as the show unfolded. The photo at left is the publicity shot.

The Consentino website accurately describes the show:

Cosentino's brand new production 'Threshold' will take you into the mysterious depths of your imagination as you witness the art of illusion, dance and escapes. Utilizing controlled mentalism and by manipulating the mind, body and soul, Cosentino proves that even the human body can surpasss its limited threshold.

... dazzling magic and illusions blended with energetic dance, dangerous and nail-biting escapes, audience participation, humour and many surprising twists.

Here are some photos from the website which give an indication of the visual style of the show ...

... as does the YouTube video below ...


A great night out!