the Junx

– The Bullet Catch

– Walter Gibson Didn't Write This
– Reading Their Minds with Crazy Man's Handcuffs
– editlibel
– Plucking a Thought from a Volunteer

Issue One ----------- Oct 2006

BULLET CATCH
T. ANNEMONEY

Having received much publicity from this stunt, I can safely say that there is nothing like it for getting
press. Been pestered for the “real work” behind it for a long time now, and I think I'm ready to tip my
mitt. First, of course, wizard must down a quart of scotch. If no scotch available or if wizard is
teetotaler, then repeated beatings until wizard is barely conscious.

Shooter is instructed to aim directly at wizard's mouth. This is essential to keep wizard from
inadvertently shouting “I'VE BEEN SHOT!!” Once wizard has been shot, he is pulled beneath the
curtain by his identical twin, who then replaces him as the curtain opens. There, as the audience
supposes, stands the wizard with the bullet in his mouth, he having dug the bullet from his unfortunate
brother with a penknife. That is to say, he uses the penknife, not his deceased brother.

The only problem with this neat trick is that it may only be performed once, unless the wizard is
fortunate enough to have been born a triplet or even among quadruplets. Advances in the science of
cloning may make this routine a standard in the near future.

WALTER GIBSON DIDN'T WRITE THIS

Any time you are within shouting distance of a calendar, it will be possible to present an offhand feat to
upset good mathematicians. The assistant takes a monthly sheet; you turn your back. He is told to
mark off one day in each week. You now ask, “How many Sundays are checked?” “How many
Mondays?” etc. Immediately after this, you name a number. The calendar man adds up the dates he
has crossed and finds that you have correctly called the total.

By George, I'm still trying to figure out how you do that one!

1
 Plucking a Thought from a Volunteer
JEAN HUGHARLOW

Adding new use for the wizard's all-purpose tool, drill a small hole in the very tip of your thumb tip.
Remove the suction cup portion from the device eloquently euphemised as a “plumber's friend.” Force
this large cup through the small hole in the tip of your thumb tip (making certain the cup is facing
outward).

You now have a device which can surreptitiously be placed over a spectator's left ear. As to making
this an invisible move, the secret is the same as with the Classic Pass (see The Yellow Brick Road to
Card Magic): Do it when no one is looking! I have always found that shouting “Isn't that Wayne
Newton with his shorts on fire?!” produces all the misdirection I need.

While your audience turns to look (And remember – if you say it with authority, many of them will
later remember having seen Wayne with his shorts ablaze, thus enhancing your reputation somehow.)
push your thumb (wearing the gimmicked thumb tip) into your volunteer's left ear. It must be the left
ear, because after shouting “Isn't that Wayne Newton with his shorts on fire?!” his right ear is deaf, so
this is the only ear left.

This naturally causes the suction cup to pull out the volunteer's actual thought from their head. Wiping
the earwax from it, you'll see this thought is actually in the shape of a billet. (A 2x3 inch billet, folded
into thirds.) Keep it hidden behind your choice of finger(s), and read it behind your palm while your
audience (the fools!) stare blankly at your hand, never dreaming that you are actually boldly reading
this right in front of them. You are then ready to reveal your volunteer's secret thought in any manner
you choose, unless the secret is so juicy that you might make a buck or two from it.

READING THEIR MINDS WITH CRAZY

MAN'S HANDCUFFS
MICHAEL HAMMER

After performing the initial demonstration that the rubber bands cannot penetrate through each other, as
they are solid matter and solid matter cannot penetrate etc. etc., you stop and close one eye. Stare
fixedly at the closest audience member with the other eye. Glare at them, and let them know you are
offended by their skepticism. Nay, you are outraged! You take the rubber bands and begin flipping
them into the aforementioned audience member's eyes, nose, et al.

At this point, you stop dramatically, point theatrically at the man, and insist you now can read his
thoughts. “You are thinking 'THIS HURTS' are you not, sir?” If the spectator disagrees, begin flipping
him with the rubber bands again. This can proceed for a good twenty minutes and provide plenty
laughs for your audience, you bet.

2
 ~~~editlibel~~~
Jeff McGroom is recovering nicely after his accident. He removed one mask too many – one more
than what he was actually wearing. The plastic surgeon says Jeff will be up and performing within the
next month.

Fred Rothenburger's Rue Morgue effect is all the talk these days in the night clubs. Fred dresses up
like an orangutang and murders two random ladies in the audience. He's book through New Year's Eve
at the Denny's in New Orleans.

Magic stores are reporting excellent pre-Christmas sales of the new Tickle-Me Banachek.

Annabillet will open her second season on CBS with an effect from her Powwow sequel, Pow 2, in
which a spirit guide will suck her soul from her body. Crisp Anglo will expose this trick the following
night during his show on A&P.

Casting calls are open for anyone who can demonstrate looks of shock, surprise, and “I didn't see that
coming” as well as repeat, with a straight face, the line “I wouldn't have believed it if I saw it on TV,
but I was right here.” Send resumes and a photo to the aforementioned Crisp Anglo at “Mindweeb,
A&P Notwork, OutOfTouch, CA.”

Magic Week is the last week of October again, when we celebrate the fact that Houdini is still dead. At
last count, more than 7000 magicians will be insisting that “if Houdini were alive today, he'd be doing
what I'm doing.”

There is an ugly rumour going around that some of our fellow wizards are actually exposing magic's
secrets to an uncaring and unnoticing community. This writer remains outraged at this, especially since
he's not making a buck from it.

As we enter into the season of spook houses and trick-or-treating, let us remember how magic played
an important part in the “safe-making” of this holiday, despite innumerable Jason movies. We have
reports of many of our brother and sister magicians celebrating Halloween and Magic Week by
performing free shows for schools and day cares. Mrs Romper's Sweetness and Light Daycare will be
hosting Tony Shiels in his “back from the dead” appearance and his amusing and frolicing “Sacrifice of
a Small Child.”

And we hear of a fiesty group of mentalists who've formed a sanctum of sorts and are actually trying
something called “common courtesy” and “respect.” There are always radicals who will never fit into
the magic community.....

The Junx is an independent e-crudzine published on a monthly schedule, but don't bet on it, by Gran'pa
Chet at whatever address he happens to be. It can be obtained by asking politely or by hacking Chet's
hard drive. Single copies are $1,000,000 unless Chet likes you, in which case it's free. Copywrong
2006 by Diamond Publications, of which this is publication number 1061.