R.J. CANTU IS KEEPING THE MAGIC ALIVE

So here's the thing about magic:

When done well, a magician can take an audience to places they've never dreamed of. A well- presented routine touches memories no longer remembered, stimulates dreams hidden away in the mind, tucked back into secret places where quiet thoughts flow.

Nothing is sexier than a cool magician leading his audience into the unknown. I mean, it is THE BEST! And what I've noticed is that almost every magician working today doesn't get it, doesn't seem to understand even the basic elements of what they are doing- or rather, trying to do. Copperfield is the very best at what he does. Nobody does it like David. And this comes from a guy who would watch the show- twice-a- night, for weeks.

Too many ('most') of young magicians working today talk too much, and I mean WAY WAY too much. But then, just as I begin to lose hope, along comes a guy like R.J. CANTU.

Maybe it's because R.J. is a trained actor, with heartthrob appearances on shows like The Secret Life of the American Teenager, maybe that's why this guy understands the roaring power that flows from silence. Perhaps it takes an actor to understand that less is more.

Let's be clear- I am not against magicians who talk on stage. It is great, IF you are David Copperfield.

Now there is an INCREDIBLE young comic magician whose regular apperances on daytime talk shows have established him as THE NEXT BIG THING. This guy is the most likeable magician ever, a guy you'd be happy to have a beer with, even after he disappeared your wallet. If you are JUSTIN KREDIBLE, you can own the stage, your audience will hang on your every word.

So, to the 99% of magicians working today (and I am rounding down, so you'll know), I say:


SHUT UP!


And, while you're not talking, take a look at a brilliant young close-up magician, R.J. CANTU.

R.J. is KEEPING THE MAGIC ALIVE!

LEONARDO DICAPRIO

He grew up in and around Hollywood. The cute kid of the nice lady who worked for the law office. That's when we first met.

You first saw him stealing scenes- and breaking hearts, in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?'

The world fell in love with him as the likable guy in 'Titanic.'

And here's what you ought to know: LEO DICAPRIO is a GREAT man, a gentleman who cares-really cares- about the world we live in.

If you haven't done this yet-or haven't done it in a while, please go to YouTube and watch Leonardo DiCaprio's message on the enviornment.

WILLIE CRACKED CORN, AND I DO CARE!

I have new friends. They are a cute couple, hanging around Las Vegas this winter. They kinda adopted me. And I'm down with it.

My friends are ducks, and, after writing about them a week ago, I received several very nice comments and a few helpful hints.

I had been feeding my buddies bread, crackers and whatever crap I could find in my struggling kitchen. (Note to all single guys out there: WTF?)

Now, thanks to some recent feeding advice, I am sharing cracked corn with my duck buddies. Turns out that bread-ish stuff is really just junk food for ducks. Oh, they'll eat it, just as I'll slurp down some Ramen noodles if that's all there is. (And- if that's all there is, then let's keep dancing).

Ok, now, thanks to the ducks (and those who know of them) I feel a wee bit closer to that lame lyric about Jimmy and his stupid corn.

DUCK BUDDIES

So I met these two ducks...

They kind-of adopted me. You see, I live on a golf course, and, recently, this duck couple has been coming over in the morning. At first, they'd just kinda quack by, nod, and keep going.

Then, one morning, not diggin my English muffin, I tore and tossed it out to my new duck friends, who were all over the crumbs like duck on muffin (whatever the hell THAT means).

So then, the next morning, I'm working out and they pass by the sliding glass door, stop, side-by-side, and stare at me while I'm doing the StairMaster. At first, I thought it was cute. Maybe they were impressed that a guy in his 30's (play along!) had such stamina.

But no! Those little bastards were watching... and waiting. For food! Every few minutes, they'd look at each other, and then right away back at me, as if to say, "Come on, already- make with the muffins!" (I think they might be Jewish, by the way, based on that look, and the guilt).

So I, being the animal lover that I am (and I swear, I am. I have friends-close personal friends, who are dogs, lions, cougars and even a few house cats), I feed the ducks. I found some pita bread, tore it up and then watched my duck buddies tear it up.

Fade out...

...Fade in...

It is 10 pm and WINDY here in LV. The ducks (MY ducks) have taken up residence in my swimming pool, and, judging by the peacful, easy feelin', I'd say their happy as heck.

I step out onto the patio for some desert air, and I swear this to be true, the ducks SEE me, start splashing, flapping and quacking, and then immediately get out of the pool, and head, full (duck) speed towards me. I mean they are looking at me like I owe them money!

And I start to freak. "I am," I said, to no one there (not even a chair), "I am out of duck-ish food. WTF?" So I run inside, root-around the kitchen (man, single guys have, like, nothing), but I did find some Crumpets in the freezer! (Crumpets? I know, I know. I bought em at Trader Joe's. Oh, wait- I buy EVERYTHING at Traders). So I toss two into the microwave and, after 20 sec, I pull em out, turn, and guess whose coming for crumpets?

One duck is on the patio, the other (had to be the dude duck) was heading inside my place. And I mean swaggering in- that kind of walk a guy has who knows he's hung and ready to pull em down. Or something. Who knows these things?

So I tell him (that's right- I talk to the animals; just imagine it. And no, I didn't make any Peeking jokes (besides, it's Beijing now anyway).

"Come on, mate. Let's all go outside, K?"

And he followed.

And we broke bread. (Reasearch assignment: look up the meaning of the word 'companion.' It is to share bread, man.)

It is now 10:30 and I can see them back in the pool. They're having a ball.

And I just know they're wondering what's for breakfast tomorrow... I know I am.