In just a couple days Americans everywhere will be celebrating Thanksgiving. A day filled with family, friends, and of course - food. Those are all very good things to be thankful for and it never hurts to appreciate the great things in our lives. We live in a bountiful country and it’s easy to take that for granted.

If you’re reading this, you have reason to be thankful - period.

As luck would have it, the list below is filled with REALLY great items and I know we’re all thankful for that! All kidding aside, this month’s Picks are exceptionally good so get that clicking finger warmed up...

• Rattled: I have no idea why it took so long to add this to Paul’s Picks. For some reason, even though it seemed that EVERYONE was talking about this, I just never included it. I’m happy to finally add my voice to the chorus and say it is an excellent item. There are lots of reasons to like this - the props are clever and well made, they look very congruent with the environment, and the magic is very strong. Not a bad combination. The vanish of the coin from under the spectator’s hands is pretty remarkable but there are lots of other great ideas on the DVD as well. Highly recommended!
• Noted: I’ve had a lot of fun with this. It’s a natural for anyone who does restaurant work but it fits well in almost any strolling environment. Don’t be bothered by the video demo which for some reason adds a video effect at the moment of the change. Not sure why they choose to do that but in the real world it looks great. I’ve toyed around with a few handlings and I prefer to simply make the change happen with one hand. I just hold the unit in my palm up left hand. Then, while turning the hand palm down, I close the gimmick and gesture towards my watch saying, “This trick takes only a second.” When my hand turns back up the notepad has become a deck of cards and I’m ready to go. Obviously best suited as an opener.
• Chill: This is strong stuff! Tom Wright has created a great version of the classic Haunted Deck that takes place in the SPECTATOR’S hand. Yes it uses I.T. but the setup is very practical and can be used over and over again with no need to reset. He covers every angle and aspect of the routine in great detail. Not just the basics – hand position, audience management, angles, EVERYTHING. I think this is will be making its way into the repertoires of many working pros.
• Timeless: Please don’t buy this. Are you still here? Seriously, don’t buy this. I really would like to be the only one doing it. I love this routine! It’s bold, strong, and powerful – not mention you’re clean as a whistle when you finish. If you haven’t seen the video demo, just click here to see the effect for yourself. I’ve been using this for a while and keeping it pretty close to the vest, it plays very strong and I’m a little sad to see it go into wide release. You, however, should be happy. Very happy.
• Red Button: It’s hard to believe this is not getting more attention. YES, there is a somewhat involved set-up. But it’s a one time deal and then you’ll be all set forever. When you’re done, you’ll have a VERY cool effect that no one appears to be doing. What you see on the video demo is exactly what happens in real world performance. This is strong visual magic, with a fun and offbeat plot. Trust me when I say it’s well worth the effort.
• Dave Powell’s Knife Through Coat: I’ve always been a fan of this effect. It plays huge and yet can be carried in a close up case. It can be performed in almost any setting and any coat can be used. It’s a naturally comical effect with lots of space for personality. Dave’s approach is simple and highly practical (and as someone who has looked at a lot of Knife Through Coat routines), I think it’s easily among the best. The knife is real and can be examined...no funny removable blades to worry about. All in all, I think this is a steal for the low price.