How to do 'Magic Eye'

It was recently brought to my attention (again) that my housemate Irene is unable to “do” magic eye puzzles. She has been so damaged by her previous failures in this area, that she has since adopted avoidance strategies to prevent being confronted (albeit, rarely) with future magic eye-related challenges. This feeling of inadequacy is understandable, given that she is usually successful in all areas of life (except making *truly* excellent tea / walking around the house at normal volumes / recycling everything - yes, even the "sa...cla! SACLA!" pesto jar, which is still in the wrong bin). Future posts may cover such topics.

It is therefore my wish to try and guide her into success, in the hope that in the privacy of her own room, away from perceived or actual ridicule / embarrassment / frustration, that she might "do an Aaliyah" and try again. 

So, despite what some have been told, magic eye success is not found by staring at the picture for 20 minutes solid without blinking. It is a very simple eye movement (which is not much different to adjusting to contact lenses when you put them on your eye...but she doesn't wear them, so...)

Preparation

1. Hold up your index fingers and point them at one another (so your index finger tips are 1cm apart), one SHATTER PROOF RULER'S distance from your face.

2. Look into the distance behind your fingers (do not look directly at your fingers). It should now look like there is a floating sausage inbetween your finger tips (note: it will feel a little bit like your eyes have slightly crossed at this point).

3. This is the key step to mastering magic eye. You need to slowly move your gaze from the distance, to focus on the sausage (although, if you try and focus on your fingers directly, you should find that the sausage illusion disappears). 

The same 'eye feelings' apply to the magic eye...

Challenge

1. Look at the picture (the more of your vision it takes up, the easier it will be - sit closer to the screen if necessary). 

2. Remember to look into the distance of the picture, allowing your eyes to adjust (in the same way that you saw the finger sausage, they will ever so slightly cross, but more in an accidental way, than a "I MUST FORCE THEM TO CROSS" way). 

3. At this point, you might think you've seen it (then probably got too cocky and lost it). The key step again, is to slowly move your focus to the centre of the picture (it will feel a little bit as though you are uncrossing your eyes). The picture should slowly become 3D and you should be able to focus on the image.

Conk

If this STILL doesn't work then I will try and explain again. If it does work, and you can text me the image that you see, then I'll buy you some Haribo (but not Tangtastics, 'cause they sort of hurt my face).


Final thought: "Sausage Eyes" is something completely different and unrelated to this post.

The Argos catalogue

One would probably think that there’s not much to say on the Argos catalogue, least of all to blog about, but I’d argue that it’s a great nostalgic magazine for three pretty specific reasons.

1. Skateboarding potential

It’s a great skateboard on carpeted floors (surprisingly so too, given the thickness. You’d expect the spine to tilt on the 'push off'...but it doesn’t - unlike the Yellow Pages). Worthy competitors include: Freemans catalogue, special offer leaflets and Spinechiller magazines.

2. The “Argos Catalogue Game” (2 players)

Set-up: 1x Argos catalogue open in front of players, sat side-by-side. 

Aim: Pick the item you would want on each page before the other person potentially picks it
Rules: Turn the page. Quickly point to what you would choose (if you could have anything). Fastest finger wins. In the case of a dispute, oldest player wins. Loser must pick an alternative item. Continue game until the last page or, until dinner is ready. Resume post-dinner.  

3. Parental misuse

Perhaps my favourite memory: compiling my wish list to Father Christmas using the Argos catalogue, and getting Dad to check it.

“Dad, here’s my list. Can you spell check it please?”
“That’s great Liv. You need to make it a bit easier for Father Christmas though – he's got a lot of kids to get presents for. So, what you need to do [cue Dad reaching for the Argos catalogue], is write the page number, product code, and the price next to each item on your list. Okay?”
“Okay Dad, thanks”. 

Geography IS fun.

Dear Mr Berry,

Despite what you may recall, I can assure you, I definitely was listening when you were teaching us about rivers. In fact, on the rare occasions that I find myself walking alongside one, I still mentally label the different parts in my head (although it's your booming voice that I hear, rather than my own: "SOURCE", "MEANDER", "MOUTH").

In the lead up to you telling me to "pay attention and stop doodling", I was actually 'doing Geography' - reflecting how Ireland is often left out when people 'cartoon up' the UK map. It is clearly a bear in mid-jump. 

I drew this for you in the hope that you will see it too.

With fond memories of your scariness,

Olivia