EFFECT : In this laugh filled family show routine , a kid from the audience stares a block of wood and it falls over , then they stare at a fork and it bends . Here ’ s Louie performing the routine :

https :// youtu . be / LNrJUuvYpW8

“ That was amazing ... amazingly lame !

Let ’ s try it with something harder like this block . This wood is a solid block of maple syrup and weighs 453 graham crackers . In the book Matilda pretends there are invisible arms that come out of her eyeballs that move things . Stare at the block , imagine you are in line behind a cow and go MOOO-ve . pretend like you live in that block and you lease is up so you move . Pretend that eyeballs come out of your arms ... what , that ’ s gross . Let ’ s play some mind power music .”

As you say the above lines , you place the Telekinetic Timber on the table . Wait for the block to fall over and react .

NEEDED : You will need a hand full of confetti , a cheap fork , and Bob Koch ’ s Telekinetic Timber .

To make the helmet , I took a colander and attached a hair dryer to the top . I put a silver funnel over the end of the hairdryer , and I also lengthened the cord of the hair dryer and added a foot switch to it so I can turn it off and on by stepping on the foot switch .

ROUTINE : “ One of my daughter ’ s favorite books is about a girl that has super powers . Have any read the book Matilda ? What can Matilda do ?

She can move things with her mind . I ’ m going to teach you to move things with your mind . Let ’ s start with something easy , like confetti . If you don ’ t know what confetti is , it ’ s little bits of paper you throw at parties , parades and at penguins ... but only on their birthday .”

Hold handful of confetti on your palm .

“ Now let ’ s try it with something really hard ... grab one , that ’ s the dirty one . Do you know what this is ? Nope , it ’ s a Mohawk comb . Make sure it ’ s made of metal , not out of plastic , rubber or asparagus . Stare at it …”

Take out the fork and hold it in your hand . Then you ’ ll use your thumb to flick it at yourself .

WARNING : Be very careful you don ’ t hit yourself in the eye , or anywhere that could hurt you . Practice this with safety goggles / equipment or just leave this bit out . You are doing it at your own risk .

“ Did you throw it at my face ? It flies into my eye , my eye pops out , blood starts shooting on this kid and this kid ’ s like , AWESOME .”

While you are saying the above line , bend one tine of the fork . “ Now stare at the fork .” Reveal the tine bent and react to it .

“ Stare at it and try to make it move with your mind .” Nothing happens .

“ Have you ever done this before ? No ... okay , we need our brain power training wheels . You look like someone that works underground in a mine digging up spaghetti . Try to make the confetti move with your mind .”

Step on the foot switch to turn on the hairdryer to make the confetti blow off your hand .

20 VANISH Magazine www . VanishMagazine . com