Stockton’s Small Business of the Year 2003-2004

This ‘n’ That

trance hypnosis. Do you think I should buy it? he asked. It might be interesting and fun, I

replied, but if you actually expect to end up moving objects with your mind,, it’s not gonna

Tell you what, I said. I have a friend who does this sort of thing professionally. Would you

like to meet him? Riley did, so I set up the meeting.

James (who has appeared on the Chris Angel show),as well as being an accomplished

stage hypnotist, is a “mentalist.” He sat close to Riley and proceeded to bend a normal, everyday

spoon “with his mind.”

He then twisted its handle and he bent, one at a time, the tines on a fork. Riley was

excited. Do you think I did that with my mind?” James asked. Riley did. James then told

Riley, No, such a thing is impossible, and he explained (and showed) how these popular illusions

are enacted.

Riley, we then learned, didn’t really want to work with forks and spoons He wanted to

become invisible. He believed that psychokinesis might be a good starting point. (My guess is he

was going home to figure out how to buy that CD he had found on the web site.)

In addition to being an incredibly nice guy, James is fascinating to talk to. The prospect of

using hypnosis in a clinical setting to help people with problems is terrifying to him; yet he has

performed in front of thousands using hypnosis and other techniques to make them laugh (a

form of therapy in itself, true?)

I, having formally studied psychology (the hard science of human behavior) and informally

studied parapsychology (the soft science of psychic phenomena), asked James for his opinion of

TV programs that feature someone who “communicates with the dead.” I can’t repeat his

audience of a John Edwards (medium) TV performance. They taped for 5 hours, editing out 4½

You throw enough guesses out there till one sticks, James added, explaining how guessing can

become an acquired and refined skill. (For more about James, click on

www.mentalistjamesknight.com.)

I receive e-mails from both Democratic and Republican friends, passing on information

strengths. A wise voter will listen and look closely enough to make objective evaluations, and

not be driven by emotions (their own or someone else’s). Frank and I are avid followers of

politics. Of one thing we are convinced: This is going to be an interesting election!

We know who we’re voting for, but we believe in casting a positive light on the November

results, whatever they may be. If our favorites win, HURRAH! If the other side wins, well, then

we can blame everything that goes wrong on them! (And things are always going wrong…)

success in any area of life you choose: Personalized subliminal suggestions. Want to stop biting

your nails? Start sculpting again? Ask a certain someone for a date? Keep your desk neater?

You name it, and we’ll record carefully structured, specific suggestions just for you (at a very

low volume), then mix in music. No need to sit down, close your eyes, relax. Play the CD