This new TED video of J.J Abrams from 2007 is inspiring to me. I completely subscribe to the concept: that what you don't see is just as important (if not more, in some cases) as the things that you do. Abrams shows a touching example in a scene from 'Jaws' (it's one you probably won't remember, but plays an essential role in character and story investment), and also demonstrates another concept that I agree with and practice in a scene from 'MI:3': sometimes 'low tech' is the best tech.

As I keep deepening my interest in magic, my eyes are opening wider and wider to how things are and can be accomplished. I can't think of a better parallel hobby to keep alongside my IT career, where thinking around problems and finding quick solutions is the order of the day.