* If you're interested in the manipulation of string, join the International String Figure Association. It publishes an annual120-page Bulletin for members, which includes scholarly articles about creation of cats cradles around the world. Send $25 for a year's membership to ISFA; Pasadena CA.

 

* The fledgling Christian Jugglers Association is recruiting members who have an interest in ministering through their art. President and founder Michael Koehler has published two issues of a newsletter already, and plans four a year. The mission statement of the organization is to encourage Christian jugglers in their faith and help them to better serve and worship God through their talents. Send $6 (U.$.) or $7 (Canadian) for a one­year membership (make check out to Michael Koehler) Bramalea, ON; Canada.

 

* Bob Whitcomb appeared on ABC TV's America's Funniest Home Videos tossing toys into a stocking suspended from the tip of a giant candy cane balanced on his head.

 

* E.O. Hill, The Fun Man from Advance, N.C., included Stoney The Wonder Pony and his little amigo, Mr. Bugger the dog, in the amateur dog and pony show that he presented to area youngsters. Though Stoney knew several tricks, Mr. Bugger offered little more to the act than a statuesque pose on the horse's back. III health claimed Mr. Bugger's life last Christmas, and Hill says he can never be replaced.

 

* Your list of celebrity jugglers should include George Karl, coach of the Seattle Supersonics NBA basketball team. During halftime of a game in April, he was shown juggling three balls in the locker room. He did fine with a cascade, but the pattern fell apart when he tried a behind-the-back throw.

 

* Walt Hudson performs solo in Turbo Tom's Freak Show Extravaganza, now appearing in night clubs across America. He juggles torches and machetes during the course of the adult­oriented show. Most people attend, however, to see the body piercing, eyeball gouging, contortion and other disgustingly compelling stunts that Hudson performs. He leavens the evening's fare with clever patter and humorous commentary:

 

* Congratulations to Dale Jones, featured in the Spring issue of Jugglers World, and his wife, Janet, on the recent birth of their first child. Daughter Katie-Lee was born on February 20. Dale was featured motivational speaker and performer at the annual Blue CHOICE Anti-Drug Anti-Alcohol Scholarship Awards Dinner in April.

 

* And congratulations to IJA director Steve Salberg and his wife, Jennifer, whose first child, Alexander Paul Salberg, was born May 1. The Salbergs were married in a multiple-ring ceremony at the IJA festival in Fargo, N.D., in 1993.

 

* The members of The Fairfax Jugglers entertained again this year during the Alexandria Hospital Festival of Health in the Springfield Mall in Fairfax, Va. More than 75,000 people attended the festival, and the Fairfax jugglers collectively volunteered more than 20 hours to the event. Entertainers included Fiddle Sticks (Barry Sperling and Randy Latimer), Devon Sperling, Dave Fritts, Bridget Kelley, Robert and Jacinda Clemenzi, Otto the Great Forbes, Ray Bowers and Pete Walker.

 

* Kevin OKeefe, director of Circus Minimus, instructs children in several juggling routines that they use in production of the circus finale of their seminars. These include Under the Sea, a big musical number to a Disney song that has underwater scarf jugglers, plate fishermen and ring jugglers with big fish eyes. Singing in the Rain includes about 30 kids with streamers and six ball passing patterns that look like rain. There is also a Cavalcade of Comedic Cascaders that features a series of solo, duo and performing trios. The brother/sister duo of Cecil and Firefly (Pete & Melina Rodrigo) do a classic routine trying to top each other with serious juggling skills. They do devil sticks, five balls, slapstick and torches.

 

* The OJ Simpson trial jury got another juggling break in early May when judge Lance Ito invited The Raspyni Brothers, Dan Holzman and Barry Friedman, to perform. Since it was the jurors 100th day in sequestration, the Raspynis opened with a Happy Birthday duet, with Barry on guitar and Dan spitting ping­pong balls onto a xylophone. The first standing ovation came when it took Barry eight tries to catch six shaker cups. "They were so happy I got it they all stood to clap," he reported. Barry also spit a ping pong ball into the ceiling and it came down with a hair. He suggested that maybe it was one of the missing hairs in the case. They threw machetes around a deputy sheriff who was wearing a gun and did some comedy about gun vs. machete. They also joked that if they killed the deputy, at least the jury was watching and it would certainly cut down on the legal fees. Dan did his golf routine and Barry played caddy.

 

They got one of the jurors to try the cups also, and reported that the other jurors rooted him on by calling out, "Go on number 19, give it to 'em 19!"  Barry was stunned. "Yes, they actually called each other by number in our presence," he said. Though they performed for free, the Raspynis got fair dividends from the gig. They received a personal thank-you letter from Judge Ito for their scrapbook, and print reports appeared on the Associated Press wire and in the National Inquirer. They also chalked up broadcast reports on Entertainment Tonight and CBS radio. It paid off immediately when administrators of the California Criminology Association heard the radio report and called to book them for the organization's annual convention. And they played the long-term publicity card by giving each juror a Raspyni Brothers t-shirt in hopes that the next time they show unity, it will be in Raspyni shirts!