Pages from precursor no 94 39107

mflGflzine OF innovmion XCIV

PRECURSOR

XCIV

This is PRECURSOR XCIV and is published in January 2005. PRECURSOR is edited by William P. Miesel and is published by unikorn magik. The editorial offices are at 2215 Myrtle Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16502-2643 (phone 1-814-454-8802). unikorn magik can be reached through Ed Eckl. "Clutter Cottage," 3 Gregg Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915-2913 (phone 1-978^927-9388). PRECURSOR will be published more than three times a year, and it will be sold for $21.00 (U.S.) for three issues. Outside the United States, Canada, and Mexico, three issues are sent Air Mail for $25.00 (U.S.).

"Astro-Logical" by Marty Kane is a very commercial routine that was developed from Jim Steinmeyer's "Remote Control" which was originally published in the New Invocation #43 and later in Magic Vol. 2 #9.

Cushing Strout's "Kangaroo Coins" is an amusing Ace Assembly with the Aces jumpin around like kangaroos.

Like Reinhard Miiller I always thought that Trevor Lewis' "Monte Plus Twist" was a terrific move. After playing around with Reinhard's "Five Card Plus Twist," I am now sure that this is a great principle.

Tom Batchelor offers us "The Charlier Cut Force," which he has used in stand-up situations for a long time. It is very similar to a Riffle Force, but if you think about it a bit, you will realize that the procedure is actually the direct opposite. "Let's Cut for a Million Dollars" is one of Tom's effects that uses the force.

Bob King gives us a recent favorite of his, "The Challenge Cards to Pocket." It is interesting because it is not necessary to get to the four different pockets before producing the signed selections and yet there is only one occasion to palm, and it is very early into the routine.

Cushing Strout really liked Al Thatcher's "Bicycle," which appeared in Precursor XCL the Al Thatcher One-Man Issue, and combined it with Harry Lorayne's "Any-Deck Tally-Ho Extended" to create an effect titled, "Bicycle - Poker."

"Pendulum Power" is a mental routine that was developed about forty years ago. It is a collaboration between Chris Kosuta and myself. This was the period that I was heavy into mentalism - I got back into cards but Chris is still a mentalist.

When I read Myles Sinclairs's "The Flying Signatures" in Abra #305L it reminded me of a transposition of two cards that I came up with and recorded in my notebook in 1961. I discarded it shortly after that when I was getting ideas leading to transpositions that didn't require the use of duplicate cards. It has to be mentioned that Ed Mario had several methods of performing "Signature Transpositions" and subconsciously, I probably borrowed from one or more of these.

William P. Miesel

ASTRO-LOGICAL Say, "Throughout the ages, the Zodiac and Playing Cards have been mysteriously linked. It may not sound logical but actually it's astro-logical. In a moment, we 'II see what happens when you form this linkage. Please fan through the deck and remove a card that will represent you.

Because it will represent you, it 'II also represent your birthday. In fact, we 'II call this card your 'Birthday Card. ' Table it face down. " "Great, now please deal a row of five face-down cards onto the table. Now, deal another row of five cards on top of the first row of cards. Discard the rest of the deck. Place your card on top of any pile. Place any other pile on top of the pile containing your selection. Place that double pile onto any pile. Place the remaining two piles onto the large pile. " The Birthday Card will always be in the seventh position from the top of the face-down elevencard packet.

Bring out a card that you've prepared which reads as follows:

ZODIAC SIGN

SYMBOL

Aries Taurus

Ram Bull Twins Crab Lion Virgin Balance Scorpion Archer Goat Waterbearer Fish

Gemini

Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpius Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces

SEASON

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

MONTHS

March, April April, May May, June June, July July, August August, September September, October October, November November, December December, January January, February February, March

"Please, pick up the packet. Now, spell aloud the word, 'SIGN. ' As you spell, S - I - G - N, deal one card down for each letter forming a pile on the table. Good job! Now, drop the left over cards onto the pile. Nicely done. Please pick up the pile again. When I turn my back, spell and deal cards into a pile corresponding to the appropriate Sign of your birthday; but this time, spell silently so I won 7 know what you 're spelling. Drop the leftover cards, if there are any, onto the pile when you 're done. 111 turn away for this. Notify' me when you 're done. " When notified, say, "Please, pick up the pile. Spell aloud the word, S - Y - M - B - O - L while dealing cards into a single pile. When you 're done, drop the leftover cards, if there are any, onto the pile. Then pick up the pile and silently spell and deal cards into a new pile corresponding to the Symbol of your birthday; or, if you wish, you can try to fool the Zodiac by spelling a Symbol that is adjacent to yours. Again, when you 're done with that spelling, drop the leftover cards, if there are any, onto the pile and notify me that you 're done. "