In my biased and opinionated thinking - yes, much better!

But then, I'm an old guy, what do old guys know???

Hey, speak for yourself. I like to believe that THIS "old guy" knows SOMETHING!

Harry - one of my favourite signs that I had in my office before I retired read:

"We have not succeeded in answering all of your questions. The answers we have found only serve to raise a whole set of new questions. In some ways we feel we are as confused as ever, but we believe we are confused on a higher level and about more important things."

So, like you, I too am full of information. Some even useful!

True. Like that quote.

Be prepared to take it really really really slow. I spent probably about a month just on my DL before I moved on to a different move. And I still suck at it.

I learn by learning tricks, this then gives learning the moves a purpose. I may not show all of them to an audience but it gives me motivation to continue.

I begun like 10 years ago with Roberoto Giobbi s Card College. It is in 4 books plus 1 with a lot of effects. There are all the techniques that you need and at the end of the chapters there are a few effect so you can immediately apply what you learned.
Just by buying the first one you will have a lot of material to learn and you will be ready after some work to make miracles with a normal deck of cards.
One of my favorite cards effects are in this book!
Just buy the first one and see if it's good for you, I think you will like it.

Roberto Giobbi's Card College is a verygood place to start. I bought them last year and I'm still refering to them on a regular basis. It is well written...Buy them right now.

Have fun

Boy, the knowledge here (and the advice) is incredible!!

A few thoughts:

Aldo Colombini's "What's Up Deck"
Peter Duffie's "Effortless Card Magic", available in ebook form.

Joshua Jay's Amazing Book of Cards is very nice for beginners. Teaches you Tricks, Shuffles, Stunts & Hustle. It throws in a little history and fun facts along the way! Another book I would recommend (this is also the very first magic book I ever owned) is Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, it has a sturdy section on card magic, but just in case you find your self performing other magic such as cups and balls, sponge ball magic, stage, etc ect you can always rely on this book. Never do I not open this book up and find something amazing and new. Last but not least Encyclopedia of Card Tricks 416 pages of just pure card tricks! Hope this helped.

Ascanio said that it takes not months, but years to really perfect a move or a routine.

Years man, years.

Jim

Care to elaborate?

No. You'll just have to put your own "interpretation" to it.

I already have, and it's not very charitable (not that there is much to interpret). I thought I would double check. Your reply was quite revealing enough, thank you.

If there's not much to interpret, why'd you ask? Just keep up with your great advice. To repeat, the knowledge and advice here are incredible.

For an answer, see the very post you are referring to.

How do you know exactly which post I'm referring to? I'm no longer sure myself. Still not sure as to why you're asking when you seem to know it all. You'll have to explain it to this feeble mind.

This is a pointless "conversation", and I am bowing out. Please continue gracing this thread with your wisdom, Mr. Lorayne, and don't let me distract you from your it.

It sure is pointless, starting with your coming in asking for elaboration. No way you can "distract" me, my friend, and I sure will continue to respond to your wisdom with my "wisdom" when you come in with silly "elaboration" questions.