Comments on: Apollo Robbins: profile of a pickpocket http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 19:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1619454 Jonathan Roberts Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1619454 What's in your hand? Back at me. I have it. They're your watches. Back again. Your watches are now diamonds. I'm on a horse. What’s in your hand? Back at me. I have it. They’re your watches. Back again. Your watches are now diamonds. I’m on a horse.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1619003 Boundegar Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1619003 I'm sure that would work out well.  The TSA agents would probably have a nice guffaw. I’m sure that would work out well.  The TSA agents would probably have a nice guffaw.

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618844 Jonathan Roberts Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618844 He stole almost a week of my life! He stole almost a week of my life!

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618840 Dlo Burns Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618840 If I could do that I'd get in line for airport security, steal the badges off TSA agents, and then be like 'oh how did those get in my pants?' if the metal detector/pornoscanner went off. If I could do that I’d get in line for airport security, steal the badges off TSA agents, and then be like ‘oh how did those get in my pants?’ if the metal detector/pornoscanner went off.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618839 Dlo Burns Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618839 90% of anything is crap 90% of anything is crap

]]> By: agrovista http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618803 agrovista Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618803 The video adds nothing to the post. It shows nothing other than he has been On "wonderfull" shows like Montell Williams et al the video really seems like unpaid advertising unless Corey is taking a vig ;) The video adds nothing to the post. It shows nothing other than he has been On “wonderfull” shows like Montell Williams et al
the video really seems like unpaid advertising unless Corey is taking a vig ;)

]]> By: Bruce Arthurs http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618797 Bruce Arthurs Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618797 Leverage has been cancelled?  Bastards! Leverage has been cancelled?  Bastards!

]]> By: Incipient Madness http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618798 Incipient Madness Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618798 OK, so he's got a high score at Pick Pockets. What are his skills at Hide in Shadows, Climb Walls, and Listen at Doors?  OK, so he’s got a high score at Pick Pockets. What are his skills at Hide in Shadows, Climb Walls, and Listen at Doors? 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618785 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 02 Jan 2013 04:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618785 <blockquote>Lesson: get away from touchy-feely strangers!</blockquote>I've had that one covered since I was about two years old. If you don't live in a place where it's normal for people to touch each other all the time, doing it is a red flag.

Lesson: get away from touchy-feely strangers!

I’ve had that one covered since I was about two years old. If you don’t live in a place where it’s normal for people to touch each other all the time, doing it is a red flag.

]]> By: theprofessor http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618780 theprofessor Wed, 02 Jan 2013 04:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618780 according to the New Yorker article Robbins was born as an underpriviledged invalid and wore leg braces in his early years.  He has transformed into a master showman and entertainer.  From the little bit I've read about him I'm impressed. according to the New Yorker article Robbins was born as an underpriviledged invalid and wore leg braces in his early years.  He has transformed into a master showman and entertainer.  From the little bit I’ve read about him I’m impressed.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618761 noah django Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618761 Robbins may be the best at manipulating objects, but the journalist can manipulate time! Robbins may be the best at manipulating objects, but the journalist can manipulate time!

]]> By: salsaman http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618755 salsaman Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618755 Lesson: get away from touchy-feely strangers! Maybe it's a living-in-a-big-city thing, but when strangers start touching you and getting in your space, you KNOW you're getting robbed! Lesson: get away from touchy-feely strangers!

Maybe it’s a living-in-a-big-city thing, but when strangers start touching you and getting in your space, you KNOW you’re getting robbed!

]]> By: Keith Tyler http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618730 Keith Tyler Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618730 Is there nothing we can do to save good TV shows anymore? Seems the best shows get cancelled, and the crappiest fomulaic crap gets renewed again and again. Did we really need to reanimate Larry Hagman for a Dallas reboot, for example? Is there really any merit to yet another whos-fucking-who-literally-or-otherwise show? Don't they have about a dozen of those that run every weekday already? Is there nothing we can do to save good TV shows anymore? Seems the best shows get cancelled, and the crappiest fomulaic crap gets renewed again and again. Did we really need to reanimate Larry Hagman for a Dallas reboot, for example? Is there really any merit to yet another whos-fucking-who-literally-or-otherwise show? Don’t they have about a dozen of those that run every weekday already?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618729 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618729 He stole a minute and twelve seconds of your time by the power of misdirection. He stole a minute and twelve seconds of your time by the power of misdirection.

]]> By: Spocko http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618727 Spocko Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618727 I'm interested in the way the mind works when it comes to the techniques. One thing I watched for was a technique I had read about that involved removing someones watch. You will notice that before he does anything he touches her in multiple ways. He grabs here by the wrist, he touches her shoulder, he puts his arm under her arm. He asks here to squeeze tight. All of these are cues to the body to then notice (or ignore) another cue. In the article I read they talked about how the body "forgets" the pressure of the watch since it is constant. But if it changes suddenly you notice. So in the video he grabs her BY THE WATCH first so that she we feel the presence of the hand and know what it means. he does the first trick and the watch is still there. He then does two other tricks by the third time he had distracted the woman and fooled the body so he can remove the watch. All because of how he both prepped the body and the mind to ignore it.  When I used to do improv we played something called, The Hat Game which involved taking the hat off of someones head while they tried to take your hat off. All the while you were supposed to also be doing a scene. and talking to each other. One of the tricks we learned was to ask a question that required them to remember something or do some calculation. "So how many weeks until your birthday?" They will lose focus and you could steal the hat. The hand needed to be fast, but fooling the mind was what allowed it to happen. I’m interested in the way the mind works when it comes to the techniques. One thing I watched for was a technique I had read about that involved removing someones watch. You will notice that before he does anything he touches her in multiple ways. He grabs here by the wrist, he touches her shoulder, he puts his arm under her arm. He asks here to squeeze tight. All of these are cues to the body to then notice (or ignore) another cue. In the article I read they talked about how the body “forgets” the pressure of the watch since it is constant. But if it changes suddenly you notice. So in the video he grabs her BY THE WATCH first so that she we feel the presence of the hand and know what it means. he does the first trick and the watch is still there. He then does two other tricks by the third time he had distracted the woman and fooled the body so he can remove the watch. All because of how he both prepped the body and the mind to ignore it. 

When I used to do improv we played something called, The Hat Game which involved taking the hat off of someones head while they tried to take your hat off. All the while you were supposed to also be doing a scene. and talking to each other. One of the tricks we learned was to ask a question that required them to remember something or do some calculation. “So how many weeks until your birthday?” They will lose focus and you could steal the hat. The hand needed to be fast, but fooling the mind was what allowed it to happen.

]]> By: Ian Fay http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618725 Ian Fay Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618725 Robbins also appeared on the show (the episode featured an eeeeevil version of the team and he was the evil thief). Robbins also appeared on the show (the episode featured an eeeeevil version of the team and he was the evil thief).

]]> By: BarBarSeven http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618718 BarBarSeven Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618718 I’m sure this guy is great—and the clips of him working are cool—but lordy does this beg to be parodied. I’m sure this guy is great—and the clips of him working are cool—but lordy does this beg to be parodied.

]]> By: Henry Pootel http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618710 Henry Pootel Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618710 Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIU1uZlH-o There's a great spot at about 3:05 where he takes the watch off a lady's wrist while doing a coin trick. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pIU1uZlH-o

There’s a great spot at about 3:05 where he takes the watch off a lady’s wrist while doing a coin trick.

]]> By: Henry Pootel http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618709 Henry Pootel Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618709 Just read that this morning, and indeed what a wonderfully intriguing article about a fascinating mutant! Just read that this morning, and indeed what a wonderfully intriguing article about a fascinating mutant!

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/apollo-robbins-profile-of-a-p.html#comment-1618707 nixiebunny Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203425#comment-1618707 I'd like to see his work, but the video you provided just shows a bunch of news twinkies saying that he's good. I’d like to see his work, but the video you provided just shows a bunch of news twinkies saying that he’s good.

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