Before I continue I should point out that I am Sparticus! Sorry, I mean I am James Merlin! It is my stage name where I perform magic and mind-reading with a paid audience, either around the tables at a restaurant, or on stage.
You can read more of my escapades on the official James Merlin site.
Intellectual Property in magic
Earlier this year I, as James Merlin, presented a lecture on the role (or lack thereof) of IP in magic, at the Bacon conference. You can watch it here:
The Magic Code
Magic is a secretive art. And one I'm slowly becoming more practised in. As a little light relief one day, I created "The Magic Code". It works in a similar vein to the geek code, as symbols let you describe your magical persuasions in a simple, succinct, form.
The XMission Magic Challenges - Seemingly impossible magic challenges, proposed and solved by the community. Some appear to be tipping methods of commercial effects, but still some clever thinking in places.
Finger excersies - For prestigitators, and those trying to stave off arthitis.
Playing card images - Copyright free, LGPL-licensed, images for making your own playing cards. I used them in my Compumental effect
TaroTutor - This page displays a simple, randomly-generated, three-card tarot spread, in conjunction with a brief description of a querent (the person for whom a reading is conducted) and a topic of interest.
Sleight of Mind
Of the area in magic where a computer is actually an asset is probably in the area of memory. Here, therefore, are a few useful resources in that field.
While I enjoy talking with the assistants in bricks-and-morter establishments, I don't often get the chance. The benefits of selecting the right effect for my abilities, the camaradie, and the joy it involves is often outweighed by the travel to get there, the kids looking for secrets, the prices (yes, sorry, but it's true!), and occasional lack of willingness to discuss things openly make it a road less travelled. So for reference to myself, and an aid to agorophonics everywhere, here are the places I've used (at least once) in the past. They all have their good and bad points, so no endoresment or otherwise should be inferred.
No one has paid me to say anything about any of these shops. If you'd like to however...
Magic Box - The favourite of Bunnies everywhere ;)
Cards4Magic - As the name suggests, lots of funky card gaffs.
Marquis de Geek