Pete Hindle

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10179130&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1

Above: the retro/Victoriana/steampunk video for “Flush”. I like the giga-Victoria.

I’ve been learning to juggle five balls recently. Four balls is pretty boring; essentially, it’s throwing two balls in one hand simultaneously – something that’s hard, but not impossible. Throwing five balls is something other entirely, requiring a serious amount of practice and training. Thankfully, I’ve got the internet to help out.

• http://www.jugglingarchives.com/ is a website devoted to uncovering the history of juggling in Newcastle and area. I didn’t know their was one, but it’s fascinating to browse.
• Boppo’s Number Juggling Notes are an interesting insight into what it takes to juggle more than three balls.
• This is a page of general juggling advice on five balls, from various people. Many paths to the same route, but with a goal like juggling five it’s best to find out as much as possible.
• Juggling goes back a way on the internet, but it’s original usenet group is best accessed via this page on jugglingdb.com. It’s pretty web 1.0, but that’s ok.
• One of the better jugglers dealing with web 2.0 stuff is Luke Barrage, who in addition to being a professional entertainer, also runs a sci-fi book review podcast, and a now-moribund juggling podcast (rss link).

I don’t read all this stuff a lot, because it’s maddening to think about it at the same time as trying to do it. There’s a certain about of mindful meditation, but after a while I’ve just been listening to music. When not throwing balls into the air, I’ve been catching up with my reading or watching movies. It’s not all work work work, y’know.