Psychic motor

This is a classic "gag" by Martin Gardner, who is very fond of debunking psychic claims. Take a piece of typing paper, 7 by 3 inches (178mm by 76mm) long, and paste and roll to form a tube. The overlap should be about 5/16 inches (18mm). Cut two vertical slits at opposite sides of the top of the tube, each 1/8 inch (3mm) from the top and 3/8 inch (9mm) long. It may be easier to measure and cut this before assembling the tube. Pass through the slits another piece of typing paper 3 inches (76mm) long by 3/8 inch (9mm) wide. Thread a needle (poke-under-poke-over) through the exact center of the 3" (76mm) piece. The needle should stick out below the paper. Balance the whole assembly on top of a capped bottle. The heat from your hand is sufficient to make it turn, but your more gullible "victims" won't know that.


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