Juggling missionary tells African tales

 

Kaj Fjelstad, a fledgling five-club juggler from Northfield, Minn., was full of juggling tales from Africa.

 

Attending his second IJA convention, Fjelstad explained that his family lived in the Western African country of Liberia from Oct. '82-May '83.

 

Practicing juggling in front of his house, Fjelstad collected a big crowd, and started teaching people with green oranges. "It was cool," he said excitedly, "just like you'd imagine!"

 

He later performed with his younger brother at a security camp, where inmates made him a woven top hat he was learning to manipulate. Noting that the IJA has no African members, Fjelstad was glad to report that, thanks to his teaching, there's a least one person there who knows how to juggle clubs!

 

An economical alternative object and bright idea

 

The search for the perfect juggling sphere continues...

 

Because manufactured bean bags are virtually unavailable at less than $2.50 each, many jugglers look for alternatives. Important factors in any proposed implement, besides low cost, are availability, ease of manufacture, weight and size.

 

Ron Graham, a scientist at Bell Labs in New Jersey, passed along a gem of an idea at this year's convention. Graham suggested using a hypodermic syringe to fill a tennis ball with water!

 

I've tried it, and it works! The advantages are obvious: old tennis balls are virtually free as is water. Tennis balls are the right size, and filled with water (about 80 cubic centimeters does it) they weigh 4.8 ounces, about the same as a lacrosse ball.

 

The needle hole seals itself so they don't leak. Their main disadvantage to bean bags, however, is that they lack a bean bag's blessed propensity to lie still when dropped. Water-filled tennis balls roll vigorously when dropped, and even bounce (though not nearly so well as a hollow tennis ball).

 

I suggest using a 20 cc syringe, which cost me $3.75 at the local drug store, including two needles. Insert the needle slowly and carefully because a tennis ball hide is tougher than the job these needles were made for. Stick in another needle at the top of the sphere to allow air to escape as water is injected. Leave the needle in the ball and refill the syringe by pouring water into it. Using a 20 cc injector, it will take four refills. You'll know you're finished when water begins to squirt out the air-escape needle.

 

It's easy, quick and cheap. Try it!

                             - Bill Giduz