In a peculiar incident, a witch was found flying into a pole yesterday evening. Eyewitnesses claim that the witch was soaring gracefully in the dark sky when suddenly, she lost control and crashed right into a telephone pole. The incident took place in a quiet suburban neighborhood, where residents were going about their usual business. Some were startled by the eerie cackling in the distance and looked up to see the witch flying high above their houses. The witch, dressed in a black cloak and pointed hat, was an unusual sight for the residents. Many rushed out of their houses to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
Only a few months before “The Magic Olympics” appeared in Harper’s, Adam Gopnik’s thoughtful profile of the magician and polemicist Jamy Ian Swiss, published in the New Yorker, observed that the difference between magic and art is that people can see or hear the talent of artists, whereas the skill in magic is hidden. “There is an imbalance between the spectator’s experience and the performer’s,” Gopnik writes, comparing a great piece of sleight of hand to a great Vladimir Horowitz piano concerto. This is the kind of distinction that Stone never makes. He fails to give the reader a close-up of the close-up.
Only a few months before The Magic Olympics appeared in Harper s , Adam Gopnik s thoughtful profile of the magician and polemicist Jamy Ian Swiss, published in the New Yorker , observed that the difference between magic and art is that people can see or hear the talent of artists, whereas the skill in magic is hidden. But then came a moment when I began to wonder whether magic was a good subject for me I was sitting with a magician white and middle-aged, like so many are in a coffee shop on the Upper East Side.
Many rushed out of their houses to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. Some even took out their cameras, hoping to capture the extraordinary moment. As the witch continued her flight, her broomstick seemed to malfunction, causing her to wobble in the air.
Fooling Houdini: Alex Stone on How Magic Works
This Thursday at 11:30 a.m on Oct. 31, in the Great Hall, there couldn’t have been a more fitting guest speaker for this Halloween. Author and magician Alex Stone spent the hour explaining how and why magic works. He also entertained the audience with magic tricks.
Stone graduated from Harvard and earned a master’s degree in physics from Columbia University. The author addressed several questions such as: “How does magic fool us?” and “How much of what we actually perceive is real?”
The magician explained that his love for magic came at a young age. His father was interested in magic, and he liked fooling his dad. “He was a scientist, and I found it interesting that he never wanted to know how the tricks were done. That was interesting to me as a man that pursued truth for a career,” he said.
But who does want to know how the trick works? It literally takes the magic out of it. It was fascinating to know how magic worked, but it was sad to listen to him explaining that magic, well, isn’t real.
“Magic is a kind of applied psychology,” Stone said. He explained that the tricks are in the mind of the spectator, not in the hands of the magician. Basically, magic relies on your brain being slower than what it is perceiving.
One of the reasons that magic works is because of “inattentional blindness.” This results when an “individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus in plain sight.” Basically, the brain is focusing on something else and misses what is right in front of it.
Because of this, Stone explained that he feels it’s harder to fool children than adults. Children are accused of not being able to focus, but in reality, it’s that they can focus on many things at once and can’t give their full attention to one thing. For adults, they’re good at focusing on one thing and ignoring the rest.
Hopefully this didn’t take away the fun in magic. Although Stone was up there explaining how and why we were getting tricked, the bottom line is that we all still fell for it. Looking to still believe in magic? Halloween is just the night for that.
The next A.P.E.X event will be held Nov. 7 at 11:30. Chuck Aaron, an Aerobatic Helicopter Pilot with be in attendance.
Story by: Elizabeth Armstrong
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Photos by: Elizabeth Armstrong
But who does want to know how the trick works? It literally takes the magic out of it. It was fascinating to know how magic worked, but it was sad to listen to him explaining that magic, well, isn’t real.
Witnesses describe the scene as comical, with the witch flailing her arms and legs in an attempt to regain control. And then, to their surprise, she collided with the pole. The impact of the crash caused sparks to fly, illuminating the area momentarily. The witch was seen dangling from her broomstick, looking slightly disoriented. In an instant, several concerned neighbors rushed to her aid, making sure she was not injured. As the witch recovered from the crash, it became apparent that she was not a malevolent sorceress but a young girl dressed up for Halloween. She had been participating in the local costume parade and had taken her role a little too seriously. Apologies were soon exchanged, and the girl's parents were grateful for the support of the community. The incident served as a reminder that Halloween can bring unexpected surprises, even in the most ordinary of places. As for the witch, she left the scene with a bruised ego but no serious injuries. Although her flying skills left something to be desired, her bravery in participating in the parade was applauded by those who witnessed the mishap. This incident will undoubtedly become a neighborhood legend, providing amusement and laughter for years to come. It serves as a reminder that sometimes even imaginary beings like witches can face unexpected challenges that land them in awkward situations..
Reviews for "Spellbinding Struggles: Witch's Troubles with a Pole While Flying"
- John - 1 star
I found "Witch flying into pole" to be incredibly disappointing. The plot was confusing and nonsensical, and the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The jokes felt forced and fell flat, and the whole film seemed to rely on cheap special effects rather than genuine creativity. Overall, I would not recommend this film to anyone.
- Sarah - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to "Witch flying into pole" after hearing some positive buzz, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype for me. The pacing was all over the place, and the story felt disjointed. The acting was subpar, with many of the characters delivering their lines in a wooden and unconvincing manner. Additionally, I found some of the humor to be juvenile and lacking in wit. While the visuals were impressive, they couldn't save the film from its overall lackluster execution.
- Mark - 1 star
I regretted spending my time watching "Witch flying into pole". The whole movie felt like a wasted opportunity with its weak script and unremarkable performances. The plot was predictable and lacked any depth or originality. The jokes were cringe-worthy and failed to elicit even a chuckle. Overall, it was a forgettable and uninspiring film that I wouldn't recommend to anyone looking for quality entertainment.
- Emily - 2 stars
Despite the intriguing concept, "Witch flying into pole" failed to captivate me. The characters were poorly developed, and their motivations were unclear. The dialogue was dull and cliché, leaving little room for connection or engagement. The CGI was impressive, but it couldn't compensate for a weak storyline. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied by this film.