Rebuilding A Mystery

Review: Omnilope

My review of Jay Sankey's Omnilope is at

My Lovely Assistant. One thing I didn't mention in the review is the distinctive Canadian way that Sankey pronounces the product name. Sort of like "ahmalowp." Go figure.

Theory 11 on Piracy

Personally, I'd find the thread Help Us Stop Piracy a lot more interesting if it didn't seem that their main objection to "exposure" is that it cuts into their sales.

Appearing in Magic Chicago - Postponed

My Nov 4th performance at Magic Chicago has been postponed due to injury. (I sprained my ankle this morning.) I'm sorry and disappointed, stay tuned for rescheduling.

Magic Chicago in the Chicago Tribune

A nice article about Magic Chicago gives some background on the ongoing show and highlights upcoming Hallowe'en performances by Eugene Burger. I am an advisory board member and occasional performer in the show. Voila! Magic Chicago.

Magic Map: Almost updated incorrectly

In a story about a purportedly haunted theatre in my area, The Congress Theatre, I almost discovered a new fact for the the Map of Chicago Magic.. The story says that Houdini performed at The Congress in the 1930s.

Unfortunately, that can't be, because Houdini died in 1926. Nice fact checking, Chicago Sun-Times, you should be embarrassed. But I suspect you're not.

Handwriting on the wall

The Society for Technical Communication, which is a group for technical writers, made a membership change that caught my eye. It also makes me wonder what's next for the S.A.M. and I.B.M.

Now it's a bit of stretch to compare the STC with magic clubs, since the former is a professional development organization, and the IBM and SAM are only social fraternities. But bear with me.

Membership in the STC begins at $215 a year, and can be as much as $395 depending on the benefits you select. A higher cost of membership is consistent with a professional society. Student membership is $75. The STC has about 14,000 members, some portion of which are obviously only paying at the student level, or perhaps the "retired" level, which is $150.

The IBM has 12,000 members. Membership after the first year is $50, or $35 for youth members.

So clearly the STC is larger, and more affluent than the IBM, organizationally.

(The SAM doesn't reveal current membership on their website.)

The change that that STC recently made is that their monthly newsletter and bi-monthly journal are only available in printed form if you pay extra. If you want the printed publications, you pay an extra $95 a year for both, or $30/$75 each. Otherwise, you receive them electronically. (Presumably in PDF.)

Now the IBM has a little-known option to be a member and not get the The Linking Ring. This knocks $20 off your membership fee, but it means that you don't get the magazine at all, as far as I know. That is, you don't have access to the PDF copy unless you also get the paper version.

Given that the STC publications, when considered together, are roughly the equivalent of The Linking Ring, yet are valued at $95 in printed form, how much longer can the IBM continue its $20 a year printed journal?

I'm thinking not much longer at all.

Deceptive iPhone magic

Finally, there's a way to do truly entertaining and mysterious iPhone magic. Check out these playing cards that look like an iPhone, from Meninos .

Review: - Routines Matter

The book Routines Matter chronicles Trevor Lewis' contributions to the art. Read my review for what else it provides.

Review: The Essential Stewart James

The Essential Stewart James Review is a worthy addition to your magic library. Go ahead, click the link, and find out why.

Magic Map: Moderne Magic Studio

Added the location of Don Lonergan & Ollie Thomas' "Moderne Magic Studio." 159 N State, #1130, per their (undated, alas) catalog.

Visit the Map of Chicago Magic.

Magic Map: Roterberg's 1910

The location of Roterberg's, at 151 W Ontario, is confirmed in their 1910 catalog.

Visit the Map of Chicago Magic.

Magic Map: Berg circa 1931

Added additional detail to the location of Joe Berg's shop at 192 N. Clark, circa 1931. He was in the Ogden Building, Room 818. (Per a Berg catalog.)

Visit the Map of Chicago Magic.

Magic Map: Chicago Magic Company

I've added the 1914 address of the Chicago Magic Company, found in their catalog. (72 W Adams.) Also added a note to the Read & Covert location that the business became the Chicago Magic Magic Co. (Again, per the 1914 catalog.)

Visit the Map of Chicago Magic.

Magic Map: Caesar Magic

Added the location of Frank Caesar's home, from which he ran "Ceasar's Magic" as identified in a product list/catalog. This location may not be correct, as the product list is undated and 1310 Roosevelt may refer to a forgotten street. Visit the Map of Chicago Magic.

Review: Routines Matter

My review of the Trevor Lewis book, Routines Matter, is posted at My Lovely Assistant.