I've been at the extreme fringe of magic--and not the mascara-wearing and body mod end either--for about 40 years. I have no skill, no repertoire of tricks that I can use to entertain, but I do have a couple of things to say.
This brief article from the Smithsonian Magazine contains everything you need to know about how magic works. Leave it to Teller to say a lot without having to say very much.
