If you’ve been exploring the world of AI or language models like ChatGPT, you might’ve come across terms like “few-shot prompt”, “zero-shot learning”, or “prompt engineering.” These phrases may sound technical, but don’t worry—they’re easier to understand than you think!
Continue reading “What Is a “Few-Shot Prompt”? (And Why It Matters for AI)”The Color Coincidence Card Trick
This is based on the Gilbreath Principle. Here’s the complete routine from beginning to end:
Continue reading “The Color Coincidence Card Trick”Card Divination
Performance and Patter
Setup: Ask the spectator to shuffle a deck of cards and remove any 10 cards.
Begin: “Today I’m going to demonstrate a little piece of card magic that works with the power of numbers. Before we begin, I want you to look at these 10 cards you’ve selected and think of any number between 1 and 10. Don’t tell me what it is.”
Continue reading “Card Divination”Jon Racherbaumer’s Freebies
Jon Racherbaumer has passed and his website is no longer live (at this time). I used the wayback machine to find the tricks he published as “Freebies” on his web site.
Continue reading “Jon Racherbaumer’s Freebies”Yet another overhand stack
I was playing around with some of my favorite overhand stacks. I realized that I can do an easy stack. It started with two aces on the bottom of the deck and two aces on the top.
Continue reading “Yet another overhand stack”The Illusion of Understanding: How LLMs Solve Problems and What It Means for AI Intelligence
An article written by Claude.ai on how LLMs solve problems.
When asked how I solved the equation 32 + 112 = 144, I provided a neat, step-by-step mathematical explanation:
- Line up the numbers by place value
- Add the digits in the ones place: 2 + 2 = 4
- Add the digits in the tens place: 3 + 1 = 4
- Add the digits in the hundreds place: 0 + 1 = 1
- Therefore, x = 144
It looked like I was demonstrating mathematical understanding. But was I being truthful about my process? Not exactly.
Continue reading “The Illusion of Understanding: How LLMs Solve Problems and What It Means for AI Intelligence”Predicting the Reversed Cards
Effect:
The performer makes a prediction and writes a number on a piece of paper, which is given to an audience member for safekeeping. A deck of cards is shuffled, and a volunteer assists in the experiment. After some seemingly random card reversals, the number of reversed cards in the deck matches the prediction exactly. This is a Bob Hummer effect and is self working.
Continue reading “Predicting the Reversed Cards”Magnetic cards
Nick Trost’s Subtle Card Creations Vol. 2 has a trick called the Magnetic Cards. It basically is a four ace trick that is similar to the Gemini Twins. His description of the effect: The performer and a spectator each hold a shuffled half-deck. The spectator follows the performer’s actions. They each remove a card from their half-deck. They rub it on their sleeve to “magnetize” it. Then, they replace it face up into their respective half’-decks. Each half-deck is spread to show that each “magnetic” card has attracted two aces.
Continue reading “Magnetic cards”The Vital Role of Skepticism in Scientific Progress
I recently saw a photo of a group of protesters holding signs that said “Trust the Science.” I found that was, in my opinion, a very incorrect position to take. Science is based upon being skeptical of the claims and always seeking better and better proof. So with the help of AI I wrote a page on the topic: The Vital Role of Skepticism in Scientific Progress
Midsomer: A Fine Place to Die
I am a fan of British Television. One of my favorite series is the crime drama Midsomer Murders. I got to wondering about all of the crime there.
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