Information that i post up is all that i know currently. I was reading Genii Feb issue and stumble upon this. So being nice, I just want to let you guys know of this information. Anyway, with some goggling, i came up with some other reviews of the 2 products.
The New Jinx
The Jinx Magazine on CD Rom produced by Houdini's Magic USA. Every variety and type of magic is here. Ball Tricks, Bill Tricks, Billet Reading, Book Tests, Brain Tests, Cards and some of the most creative effects and miracles. Cigarettes, Coins, Silks, Matches, Slates, Spirit, Thimbles, Ropes and Ribbons are also included. Houdini Picture Corporation is proud to present, for the first time, the complete three volume set on CD ROM! Search through over 800 pages with the interactive index or keyword search. Just type in the word or phrase you're looking for and the interactive Jinx will take you there.
Usable on both PC and MAC computers! Bonus: 5 Supplemental Jinx Programs! These are completely routined, 30 minute acts from beginning to end!
from
http://www.magicity.com/product_info.php?products_id=680I assume the the book is similar to the CD. As mention, it is a book on mentalism. Anyway, only 1000 issues are being reproduce.
TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL
Until now my reviews have been somewhat limited to websites and music. So here is to my second review of a book, this time about magic. “Totally Out Of Control” is a book about close-up magic, written by the magician Chris Kenner. On the very first page, there is an introduction by the famous magician David Copperfield. The entire book is filled up with 30 close-up effects, mainly cards and coins effects. The book has a cool layout, with detailed drawings. The content is written in an easy way and is packed with jokes and funny comments. Every single effect is well thought through, and will be very useful in most close-up acts. The main reason why I bought the book was an effect called “The 5 Faces of Sybil”. A friend showed me this trick some years ago, and this is by far one of the best tricks I have ever seen. Sybil itself is not a trick but more something like a complex cut, or as Chris states it: a quick cut flourish to demonstrate skill and dexterity. When this cut is done correctly it looks amazing, and it will definitely make people aware of your slight-of-hands skills. However, this is not something which is mastered over night. Anyway, Sybil (the trick) is much more than just a cool flourish. Chris describes the effect like this:
A deck is shuffled and four cards, prediction cards, are removed from the pack, their identity unknown to the audience. A card is selected, for example the ten of hearts, and returned. A number from ten to twenty is announced by a member of the gallery. Let’s say the number is seventeen. One swift multiple cut (five faces of Sybil) produces a small packet, it is found that is contains exactly seventeen cards. A murmur emanates from the gallery. The small packet is turned face up, revealing the ten of hearts on the face. The crowd begins to applaud. Magic Man quickly gestures for silence. The four prediction cards are revealed. Their numerical values are added and the resultant sum is exactly seventeen.
The effect looks exactly as described above. This amazing effect mixed with the just as cool looking cut makes this one of my very favorite tricks. In my opinion, this effect is well worth the price of the entire book. However, the rest of book is packed with a lot of other great tricks as well. One thing worth mentioning is that this book is not for the newbies in close-up magic. There is no explanation on basic slights, so if you are new in this field, you will have a difficult time getting through the book. Even with experience, these effects still require a lot of practice. But once you get it right, you will have an entire book full of amazing and powerful effects. Check out ITricks for more reviews. If you have no idea what magic is all about, you should go and read this post: 10 Steps To Become a Magician
from
http://www.jakobdk.com/totally-out-of-control-chris-kenner/Adrian