​Every card trick has at least two participants, the person performing the trick and the person who is the subject of the trick. Some tricks can have multiple performers and most tricks will still work with multiple subjects, but you need at least one of both.

The first trick that is explained here is based mainly on charisma and the second is simple mathematics.

The False Choice
This success of this card trick relies on the ability of the performer to be able to subtly guide the subject through a series of selection and elimination to arrive at a seemingly randomly chosen card.

Setup
Before starting the performance of the trick, you need to set up some things first:

• List all four suits (diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades) on the piece of paper.
• List all the cards in one suit, ace through two

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You’ll use this list to keep track of the your progress as you are guiding the subject to select a card that you have chosen.

Performance
Make a show of shuffling the deck a few times and then handing it to the subject and asking them to shuffle it to their heart’s content. The first step in the performance is to covertly observe and remember the card at the bottom of the deck when they hand it back to you after shuffling it. A good way to get a look at the bottom of the deck if you don’t get a glimpse when they pass it back is to tap the deck on it’s edge to align the cards and glance down. However you manage it, you must see and remember the bottom card! This is the ‘random’ card that you will guide the subject to select so you have to remember it.

This guiding process is accomplished by having the subject pick suits and cards at random and then filtering  those selections in or out based on whether or not the bottom card is included in the subject’s selection. Circle or cross out the subject’s selections to help keep things on track. While it’s not critical to hide the paper, an observant subject can determine your technique if you show too much of what you’re doing by keeping track of their selections. If you can do this by memory, it makes the trick that much better.

Below is an example of the interaction between the performer and the subject after the performer has successfully observed the bottom card which we’ll say is the 4 of clubs:

• Performer - “Ok, pick two suits.”
• Subject - “Hearts and diamonds.”
• Cross out hearts and diamonds and have the subject choose between clubs and spades
• P - “Ok, that leaves clubs and spades. Choose one.”
• S - “Clubs.”
• Bingo, circle clubs and move on to selecting the card.
• P - “Alright, your suit is clubs. Now pick any five cards.”
• S - “Ace, king, queen, jack, 10.”
• The 4 isn’t in this list so you need to filter them all out.
• P - “Ok, that leaves nine through two. Pick four cards.”
• S - “Two, three, four, five.”
• Great, the four was picked. You need to keep that selection and have them narrow down that list.
• P - “Ok, between two, three, four, and five, pick two.”
• S - “Four and five.”
• The four is still in the selection so have the subject pick between the four and the five.
• P - “Now pick one.”
• S - “The five.”
• P - “Ok, that leaves the four so your card is the four of clubs.”

Note how when the subject selects a set that doesn’t include the four of clubs, the performer says, “Ok, that leaves …” Using this kind of language makes it seem like it’s natural to filter those selections out and continue with the remaining options. Similarly, when the subject makes a selection that includes the four of clubs, the performer makes a smooth transition to selecting from within that set. Whether you work with the selected set or filter it out, each time you have the person pick a set, you want to cut the options about in half.

Now that the subject has “randomly” selected the 4 of clubs, it’s time to make a show of it again. With whatever drama and mystery you can muster and the deck of cards face down in your open palm, ask the subject to predict the number of cards you’ll have to draw before you draw the 4 of clubs. If they give a big number, say 20 or more, you can tease them about how long that will take to draw that many cards, though it will have no effect on the success or failure of the trick. Usually the subject will pick somewhere between 3 and 10 cards. For the sake of this example, let’s say they choose seven cards.

Now, crank up the drama and use big showy arm movements as you draw and flip over the cards from the top of the deck. These big movements will help distract the subject when it’s time to draw their card. When you’re drawing and flipping the first six cards you should hold the deck in one hand so that your drawing hand is palm down over the deck when you draw. Doing this will hide your thumb from the subject’s view so that you can slip it under the bottom of the deck to draw the 4 of clubs on the seventh draw.

21-to-1
This trick uses simple mathematics to allow the performer to pick the card randomly chosen by the subject. Very little, if any, charisma is required to successfully execute this trick though some drama always makes a card trick that much more fun.

Setup
Shuffle the deck and ask the subject to do so as well. Have the subject pick 21 cards from the deck and set aside the other half of the deck as those cards aren’t used in this trick. The subject should then select one of the remaining cards to be their card. Have them memorize this card and then shuffle the 21 remaining cards and hand them back to you.

Performance
Lay out the cards face up into three columns of seven cards each. It’s important that you lay the cards out row by row. This means you start by laying out three cards in the first row. Then lay out three more cards to form the second row. Continue laying out cards row by row until you’ve laid out all 21 cards so that each card’s suit and number is visible.

Ask the subject to point at the column that contains their card, but do not identify the card specifically. Collect the columns so that the column containing their card is in the middle. For example, if they identified column three as the column containing their card, collect the columns so that column one is on top, column three is in the middle, and column two is on the bottom.

Repeat this process two more times and, if done correctly, their card will be the 11th card from the top of the deck when held face down. You can simply turn over the 11th card and show them their card, or you can maneuver the 11th card to the bottom of the deck and then ask them to predict the number of cards that you’ll have to draw before drawing their card as described in the False Choice above.

​The global positioning system (GPS) is a wonderful invention that has saved a great deal of time and effort. It’s simple to use on our phones and helps us avoid traffic and find the best route from A to B. The simplicity of the GPS also reveals the risk of using it, however. Should you find yourself in a location without cell phone service or if your battery runs out, do you know how to read a map to find where you are, where you want to be, and the best way to get there?

Never Eat Soggy Waffles
The first thing you need to do before you even look at the map is to be able to tell which way is North. There are many ways to do this, but the simplest ways are usually the best.

Use a Compass
Simplest and most accurate method for determining north is to use a compass. To use a compass to find North, hold it in flat and level in front of you. While keeping your arm still, turn your whole body until the ‘North’ symbol points in the same direction that you are facing. You are now facing North. To your right is East, to your left is West, and directly behind you is south.

Map Orientation
Once you’ve determined which way is North, it’s time to look at the map. Open it up and determine which way is North on the map. Most maps are made so that North is at the top. Look around to find the compass rose or “North arrow” on the map just to be sure.

Now that you know which way is North in the real world and on the map, you should make the two line up so that North on the map points the direction you’ve determined to be North. Orienting the map direction to the real world will make everything else much easier. As you study the map, you can use the terrain features and landmarks to figure out where you are and where you want to go.

You Are Here
With map North oriented to the real world North, you should start trying to identify landmarks and terrain features to start making connections between the map and the real world. Examples of terrain features and landmarks are hills, ridges, mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, major road intersections, high-power lines, railroad tracks, and towns.

Look around you and try to spot as many of these major features as you can and make a note of which direction they are from you. Then look at the map and try to find those features on the map. For example, if you’re on a ridge and you spot a lake to your North and a hill to your East, try to find those on the map. When you do, draw a line South from the lake and West from the hill. The ridge on the map where those two lines meet is approximately your location.

If you can’t spot any landmarks or terrain features from your current position, try climbing a hill or tree so that you can get a better view of the area. Don’t forget that your current location may be a great terrain feature.

Roll Out
Great, now you know how to find your current position on the map. Now it’s time to pick a direction to travel and plot a route. In most cases, you just want to get back to a town with people in it so look on the map for any sign of towns or homes. Once you’ve selected where you want to go, look at the map to determine the best path to get there. If there’s a river between you and where you want to go, you may want to select a different destination. Similarly, if there’s a steep cliff or canyon, you also might want to pick a different goal.

If, however, there are no major obstacles between you and your destination, pick out some major landmarks and terrain features to use as checkpoints for your trip. Make a list of the various checkpoints that you need to hit or pass by in order to ensure that you’re still on track. It’s also helpful to make a list of landmarks that indicate that you’re travelling in the wrong direction.

​The purpose of a shelter is to create a microclimate around yourself so that you stay as warm and dry as possible. The specific design of your shelter isn’t important. Staying warm and dry is.

Site Selection
The most important part of building a shelter is site selection. In many cases, you can find a place that is already well insulated from the wind and covered from the rain without having to build anything. However, in the event that such a site is unavailable, it’s up to you to make one.

Take the High Ground
You should look for a spot on the ground that is relatively higher than the ground around it. If you pick a low spot to build your shelter, you’ll likely end up in a puddle if it starts raining. Be sure to avoid going too high, though. If you end up on a ridge, you may end up being too exposed to the wind.

Look for Cover
In most cases, you’ll be able to find existing natural cover to help you stay warm and dry. Look for trees with thick branches or bushes with lots of leaves. Using these natural sources of cover, you can get a leg up on building your shelter.

Face the Wind
Wind chill can drop temperature by 20 degrees or more. When you’re selecting a site, pay close attention to which way the wind is coming from and set up so that you can block as much wind as possible.

Construction
Once you’ve found the site that you want to set up on, it’s time to get building. Remember, the goal is to stay warm and dry for the eight or so hours that you’re going to be resting. You’re not building a palace, just a temporary shelter.

Materials
To build a solid shelter, you’re going to need:

• Two 6-foot branches
• One 12-foot branch
• Other branches of varying length
• A big tarp, not gigantic
• At least 6 feet of rope

Frame It
To build the frame of the shelter:

• Use the rope to tie the two 6-foot branches together tightly in a bundle. The rope should be about 6-12 inches from either end. Be sure to leave several feet of rope dangling free.
• Spread the ends of the bundle apart so that the tied end forms an “X” shape.
• Lay one end of the 12-foot branch on the top of the “X” you just created so that the end of the 12-foot branch that is on the ground is pointing into the wind. 
• Use the rope to secure the 12-foot branch to the “X” of the 6-foot branches and try to leave a couple feet of rope free so that you can secure the tarp later.
• You should now have a frame in the shape of a lopsided pyramid.

The space between the two 6-foot branches is going to be the door. Crawl inside the frame to make sure that you will fit. If you don’t fit, try adjusting the frame to maximize the space inside or find larger branches.

Cover It
With the frame built, it’s time to cover it up. Look around for branches of varying length that you can lean up against the long branch to form the side walls of the shelter. You can use branches or knots on the long branch to help position the side-wall branches.

Once you’ve put the ribs on the shelter to build the side walls, throw the tarp over the whole thing to make it waterproof. Make sure that one of the grommets of the tarp is at the peak of the frame so that you can tie it down to secure it to the frame. Also, be careful not to rip or tear the tarp with sharp branches.

You’ll likely have excess tarp material on the ground that you’ll need to secure as well. Use rocks, dirt, and branches to cover the tarp and keep the wind from blowing in under it. If you can, try to arrange the tarp so that you can cover the door with one corner of the tarp for additional warmth. If you can, layer on more branches or other soft material to help insulate the shelter, but make sure to avoid puncturing the tarp.

Make It Cozy
This step is entirely optional, but it can serve to raise your morale. If you’re able, look around for soft, dry material that you can use to make the inside of the shelter a bit more comfortable. You can use things like leaves or grass, but try to avoid fresh mosses as they tend to retain a lot of water and you’ll squeeze it out when you lay down on it.

​There’s no substitute for taking your car to a trained mechanic for regular maintenance. However, you can and should regularly perform your own operator-level maintenance to ensure that your car stays in good working order between visits to the garage.