Rip Van Winkle Would Be Proud

By Tom Interval

The Magic and the Mind blog has been quite lonely for the last few years, but, we’re back!

It’s not that Iris and I have been in Rip Van Winkle-like sleep mode. Life happens, and circumstances have led to a rather lengthy hiatus.

I’m not going to get too specific now, but we’re in the planning stages of a Magic and the Mind virtual reboot and will let you know the details soon.

In the mean time, all the best to you and your family.

See you soon!

New Magic and the Mind Website Launched

By Tom Interval

The new Magic and the Mind website (www.magicandthemind.org) is now live. At the moment, the new site includes only the most important content, such as information about programs, the teachers, news, videos, resources, and more. However, as the program gains momentum, we plan to add more content, so please stop back every now and then to see what surprises we have in store. In the mean time, stay on top of all the latest updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter. And, as usual, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Website Update

By Tom Interval

The new Magic and the Mind website—www.magicandthemind.org—should be up and running within the next few days. As of this moment, there is a temporary page that includes only the most important content, such as the registration link to our summer children’s camp at UCSD Extension on Aug. 11-15  as well as more information about the program itself.

The new site will include several sections, including Programs, Teachers, Calendar, News, Videos, Resources, and more. Since Magic and the Mind is so new, the site does not have tons of content yet. However, as the program gains momentum, more related content will appear (no pun intended).

Technically speaking, the site will be clean, easy to navigate, and conform to the latest website-development standards. That means easy browsing for you no matter what computer or other electronic device you’re on. While the site will go live this week, we’ll be optimizing it for those other devices (i.e., smartphones, iPads, Kindles, etc.) over the next week.

Please check www.magicandthemind.org from time to time to see what surprises we have in store. For example, in the near future, we’re probably going to add some interactive content so you can test your mind and have fun at the same time! Okay, so that part’s no longer a surprise, but we’ll be busy thinking of other cool stuff that will both entertain and educate!

 

 

Magic and the Mind Featured on XETV San Diego 6 “Wake Up San Diego”

By Tom Interval

Today XETV San Diego 6 featured Magic and the Mind on its morning show, “Wake Up San Diego,” over two segments. News anchors Susana Franco and Chase Cain were fantastic hosts, reacting favorably to the material we presented.

During the first segment, from about 8:50 to 8:54 a.m., Iris gave an overview of the program before Tom performed the Magic and the Mind card trick (formally known as “Unshuffled” in magic circles). Iris closed the segment by talking about assumptions, probability, and randomness and how those things relate to magicians deceiving their audiences.

The second segment, which ran from about 9:50 to 9:52 a.m. was just enough time for Tom to perform another trick (the Vernon wand spin) and for Iris to explain a bit of the neuroscience behind it without actually revealing its secret.

You can watch our San Diego 6 interview in the embedded video below, on the Videos section of our website, or on our YouTube channel. To learn more about our upcoming children’s camp from Aug. 11–15 at UCSD Extension, please go to www.magicandthemind.org.

Welcome to the Magic and the Mind Blog

By Tom Interval

Magic and the Mind is an enrichment program using magicians’ techniques to teach students about the psychology and neuroscience of deception, helping them to understand how their minds work while having fun at the same time.

Designed by cognitive scientist Dr. Iris Oved and me, a professional magician, the first San Diego-based program will be a summer camp for children between 12 and 18, held at  the University of California (UCSD) Extension.

Iris and I welcome you to this blog and encourage you to leave comments and feedback. While the blog is new as of today, we intend to fill it with thought-provoking content in the weeks and months that follow, so please stop back as Magic and the Mind continues to gain momentum.

To learn more about the program, please visit the Magic and the Mind website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to send us an email.