The University of Florida is not only the home to the National Champions in Basketball and Football; it also boasts a magic team.

The ten magicians call themselves "The House of Flying Cards" and have recently performed as sideshow entertainment, house parties, and community gatherings. 

Their magic includes "edgy illusions."

Magician Arthur Antonio, the group's president, hoped the group would "unite the magic community at UF."

They describe their goals and talents as:

Each magician in the House of Flying Cards is a master of a unique style of magic. When united in performance, they combine their skills, characters and energy into a powerful entertainment force that re-defines the conventional image of magic and enhances every event in its path.

 

The mission of the House of Flying Cards is to create an exciting, versatile, and synergetic form of live entertainment designed to make special events significantly more memorable.

Each member of the group boasts unique magic skills and the troupe combines those talents in the same way a jazz band improvises and jams. 

John Luka's newest masterwork, Uncovered is a true magic book.

It feels and looks like a true magic book as well.  The hardback cover contains the art and title information -- just like the old days before publishers moved to the less-expensive dusk-jacket wrap around nondescript pressboard. 

The images in the book are plentiful, clear, instructive, and are perfect for reading with one hand while the other hand learns the moves depicted.

Mr. Luka's reliance on the images to teach his very special effects reminds one of Buckley's approaches to teaching card and coin magic in his Principles and Deceptions. 

Mr. Luka takes the teaching one step further, however.  The text, the descriptions, the annotations, and meticulous crediting, evidence Mr. Luka's devotion of time and energy. Uncovered is a finished product.

This is not an indictment of other magic authors, but recognition of the special care Mr. Luka devoted to Uncovered.

There are magic authors able to produce DVDs, books, lectures, and tricks constantly but their commitment to quality takes a backseat to their desire to stay in the dealer catalogs or on the lecture circuit.

There are seventeen effects in Uncovered and each of the effects are practical, commercial effects you will be able to use. 

Mr. Luka wanted Uncovered to be a collection of unique effects, worthy of inclusion in the working professional's act, and within the skill set of the amateur or semi-professional magician. 

The effects are less knuckle-busting and magician-fooling; and more proven, well-considered routines designed to showcase proven commercial magic.

Mr. Luka takes the reader into his confidence as he describes the effect and the method. 

The style is conversational, friendly, and at times self-effacing.

For instance, he admits he did not create the routines in a vacuum.  He confesses he sought help from the masters of our craft.  He did not want to present a series of tricks, but full routines and he enlisted the aid of magic legends. 

The Telegraph (UK) has an interesting article in today's edition finding a common link between Houdini, Michael Jackson, and Marlon Brando. 

We tried to guess but failed. 

Here are our top three guesses:

1.         All three were performers who appeared on camera.

2.         All three stuffed articles in their cheeks to aid in their performances.  Brando used cotton for his portrayal of the title character in The Godfather;  Houdini stored things for both magic tricks (think thread) and for escapes; and, Michael Jackson allegedly augmented his cheekbones.

3.         All three wore clothing from the 1920s.

Here are our bottom three guesses:

28.       All three liked aspects of Jack London's writing or life.

29.       All three had names in their family that rhymed with marlin.

30.       All three were raised in the Midwest - Houdini (Wisconsin); Brando (Nebraska); Jackson (Indiana).

We were stumped.

Then we read a little bit higher in the article (we always read from the bottom up).  We noticed the title, "Jackson and Brando's Hidden Patents Revealed." 

Aha!  We felt relieved.  We felt we did a disservice to Houdini with the "had a family member with a name rhyming with 'marlin'" link. 

It turns out, Brando developed and patented a method of adjusting a drumhead.  Houdini patented a diving suit from which a diver could escape in the event of an emergency.  Jackson registered the very impressive and useful patent a "method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion."

The Gloved-One's invention was "a modified pair of shoes which, through hooks in the floor, allow the wearer to lean forward at an angle of 45 degrees, seeming to defy gravity."

The article correctly gives glowing reviews of both the Spencer's show and their mission. 

The article traces Mr. Spencer's growth as a magician from his first magic set in the 1970s, throughout his recuperation from an automobile accident that threatened his ability to walk again – much less perform. 

The dynamic couple has a tour schedule that is the envy of professionals.  Why do they do it?  Because they love the job. 

"I feel so privileged to do this," said Mr. Spencer, who was interviewed by phone from Hong Kong, where he and his wife Cindy were performing their Theatre of Illusion magic show before heading to Taipei for three performances. "I take it very much as a big responsibility to stand on the stage every night and give the audience the best show that I can. I want them to walk out of there not just having had a good time but to know who we are, to have an idea of the kind of life we live, and to challenge them to not give up on their own personal dreams."

The paper describes the Spencers' performance as "more than a magic show."  It is "a thrilling roller--coaster ride." 

You can get the inside perspective on the shows from Kevin's weblog at their spectacular website here.  Mr. Spencer's entry for tonight (December 31) describes the show as well as the New Year's celebration following.  He reports they will have video and more pictures for fans soon.

The scholarly perspective is one we welcome -- the topic has worn out its questionable welcome.

We have all seen these articles touting the new popularity of magic -- they come about every seven years as magic goes though its wax and wane cycle. 

The Sun's article is a bit different from the standard piece by explaining magic's popularity although it still meets the basic requirements of any competent article on this or any subject.

First, what is the story's hook?  Why write about it now?

The popularity of two recent movies involving magic, The Prestige and The Illusionist, gives the hook with the fanfare of a Hollywood premiere.

The author had the hook but how about a local angle?

Editors and readers love a story to have a strong local angle.  We all agree there is a tremendous story  coming out of the World Hot Dog Eating Championship.  For the third year in a row, they same, very thin man won handily.  But unless your readers share the love for the sport (and it is a sport, at least to us); or live next to a hot dog processing plant required to add a shift to meet the demand of such contests, the article never makes it into the paper.

The chocolate covered Criss Angel had a midget on his back and a dominatrix in his face as he celebrated his birthday last month.

Andrew Mayne, publisher of the fantastic iTricks, has an iPod download hit on his hands as a result. His podcast of the event is now one of the top downloads from Apple's iTunes store.

Just three weeks into podcast production, Mr. Mayne's programs are among the very few Apple picks for their "new and noteworthy."

Mr. Mayne said in a press release, "Who knew this many people wanted to hear the inside story of Criss Angel getting spanked by a 200 pound dominatrix and a midget in a pool full of chocolate? Besides me, that is. Magic is big right now and podcasting is getting bigger too. It only makes sense to offer fans of magic a way to get news through this medium."

Mr. Mayne is not just a well-respected magician and consultant to folks like David Blaine, he has talent in the naescent field of internet radio.

In 1997 Mr. Mayne got The Amazing" Randi show on the internet. He launched his very popular Magic Radio Show and enjoyed a three-year run with fans around the world.

The combination of Criss Angel and iPods proved to be a greater success than any one could anticipate.