Check out this vid that forum member Mr. Alex left for us. Maybe we’re old-fashioned, but our favorite moment happens at 1:06:

If you’re interested in winning a deck, then this contest may be your last chance for a while. Warning: It’s a hard contest. If you have a “Watch, watch, watch” presentational style, you don’t have a shot. But if you have what it takes to perform true magic, you have a chance.

HOWEVER, stay on the lookout TOMORROW to find out how you can get a Gold Arcane in your order for FREE. Or a lucite briefcase for your cards. Or an Arcane T-shirt.

It’s always rough getting back to the grind, but here’s a little somethin’-somethin’ to take the edge off: An NPR interview that demonstrates how the history of magic means that it will be strong in the future.

William Kalush, co-author of “The Secret Life of Harry Houdini” and founder of the Conjuring Arts Research Center, spoke with Scott Simon of Weekend Edition in this interview. In it, Kalush shows how far back some magic tricks go — we’re talking WAY before the days of Houdini. That leads him to point out the common thread between effects from ancient Egypt and the new stuff E will release in the future (it’s also the reason he argues magic will continue to be great despite all the new technology out there):

I think it’s actually opened the door even wider for us … A great performance of magic always involves the audience, whether they pick this card or whether they choose this or when it’s a mind-reading effect, what have I done with this and what am I think – these are all things that affect the outcome of the show. So the audience becomes integral.

And I think because of that factor, as long as magicians continue to use that, all of this technology, whether it’s in film, whether it’s the iPad – which looks like magic to me – I don’t think it’s going to affect the performer.

The interview is well worth the listen during your morning break. Enjoy — and thanks to Lee Asher for pointing it out to us.

Among magicians, it’s known as “Plan B.” It’s been called “the greatest trick in the world.” It’s such a strong effect that we adapted its principle for an iPhone app.

It’s the Invisible Deck, and it is a beloved, favorite trick among magicians for a number of reasons:

• It provides almost foolproof results with minimal practice.
• It lets magicians focus on presentation and storytelling.
• It makes an outstanding fallback, in case a pick-a-card routine gets blown for some reason.

For a short time, you can get a Tally-Ho Viper Invisible Deck completely free. All you have to do is order $75 worth of shippable merchandise before 11:59 p.m. Thursday (U.S. Eastern). One of these decks, valued at $17.50, will be thrown into your order. Check out all the details.

We don’t know how your weekend went, or what you did. But we do know that Rich Ferguson, the creator of Serial Biller and Tagged, spent his performing for Snoop Dogg, Ron Jeremy and other friends. It’s good to be Rich.

He said he met both icons during a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel Show in 1994.

“Ron and I had lunch before the concert and talked about the Man Show days and his place near the Magic Castle in Hollywood,” Ferguson said. “It always amazes me how people who should have seen it all completely lose their lunch over ambitious card routines and mind reading.”

Ferg didn’t get the “Eat your heart out, David Copperfield!” that Blaine received. But he did freak out the entire VIP section by lighting the cigarette of Snoop’s drummer Carlo — with a 5-foot flame shooting from his fingertips.

A 5-foot flame. Holy crap. We knew he was an icebreaker, but that’s ri-freakin-diculous.

Forum member Joe G. wins this month’s Seize the Moment award. He saw Paula Cole in concert in New York, and wanted her autograph. He didn’t have one of her CDs or shirts, though. All he had was a deck of cards, so he thought he’d get her to sign one. Then he realized he could do some magic for her at the same time.

Yeah, yeah, you all thought of the idea. But none of you DID it, didja? Joe did. That’s why he rocks.

He also sent us some vid. Further proof of his rocking.