This article is classified "Real"
If you were to ask someone today, "do you believe in magic?" chances are
that they would immediately reply, "don't be stupid!!"
Magic is not so much a matter of believing: it exists! And it's really
quite simple.
Magic is just making use of the first degree approximation of Murphy's
Law. This method is not infallible, because the full extent of Murphy's
law keeps harassing you.
Example: Take a cola-vending machine. If you put in your money and
nothing comes out (and you've made all the right moves... insert money,
push button of choice, feel in dispensing slot, push button, push, push,
feel, kick, kick, kick, kick...) you just need someone to come along and
state: "it's out of order." Promptly the drink of your desire will come
out. Be sure that you are not the one to state it, because it's always
the other one who gets the goodies... unless, of course, Murphy's Law
comes spoiling all the fun. In that case you have probably relied too much
on Murphy's Law. It is in the nature of Murphy's law to spoil its own
effects [1].
The thing now is to act very natural, that is, to positively not believe
that simple words will do the trick. Now I have to restate what I said
before.
Magic is a matter of believing: Magic exists as long as you don't
believe (in) it.
[1] If it doesn't pop out immediately, it could also be that the stress of
Murphy's Law is now on the last bit: "If something can go wrong, it
will... eventually." Thus a lot of waiting can be involved. Maybe
even that approximately infinite amount of time it takes for a
mechanic to show up.