The term “juggling” gets “thrown” around a lot (no pun intended). A simple Google search of the word nets results ranging from the world of politics (Obama’s juggling act in the Middle East), sports (The Yankees are juggling their lineup) and romance (Juggling family, work and love). As a concept, juggling has essentially been reduced to an ill-fitting metaphor describing someone who multi tasks.
The concept of juggling has been so overused as a metaphor this day in age that it has basically been rendered meaningless. Recently, a friend told me that he was juggling two different women. I told him that he wasn’t actually juggling, as you need at least three for it to qualify. He told me to lighten up, it’s just an expression. We’re no longer friends.
Enough is enough. We as jugglers must stand up and speak with a common voice: No to inappropriate juggling metaphors. They dilute us as a people, denigrate our art form and threaten the fiber of our very existence.
Last week, Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report went in depth, exposing the hidden dangers of unicyclists. The segment revealed some startling facts about the one-wheeled menace:
-A 180-pound unicyclist moving at 10 miles per hour can cause more damage than a linebacker in the NFL.
-Unicycles are capable of creating a “domino effect” of pedestrians, leading to mass casualties.
-These one-wheeled death traps ARE coming to run over your babies.
-The law is powerless to stop them.
Below, you can watch the segment. Because of graphic unicycle-on-pedestrian violence, viewer discretion is advised.
We all know that Justin Bieber can (sort of) juggle and that Donald Rumsfeld used to ride a unicycle, but it’s been a while since a bonafide celebrity came forward with some serious circus skills. Enter Ellen Page. Yes, the Canadian-born Juno star has some pretty decent chops it seems, and isn’t afraid to show them off!
It’s happened to all of us. If you’re reading this blog, then at one point, someone has called you a clown. Maybe it’s because of your habit of juggling during your lunch break. Maybe it’s because you ride your unicycle to work. Maybe it’s because your ringtone is “Entry of the Gladiators”. Someone has called you a clown, maybe even today.
Many accept it with a shrug. Others take it as a compliment. Some of us take serious offense. Alex on Facebook writes:
I’m terrified of clowns and therefore juggle in a tux. I cringe when people say I should go to the circus…
New York Juggler Paris (no last name), had the following to say:
As a juggler I respect clowns. We just want to be recognized for all our hard work. Police officers and firefighters have mutual respect but I imagine that a cop would be annoyed if you confuse him with a firefighter.
Keith Nelson, however, has a different perspective. Keith works as a clown and a juggler (among many other things), and was kind enough to share his point of view:
Just because someone can juggle does not mean they are a clown. Clowning takes years of pain and suffering in order to understand the inner workings of human nature, where as a juggler simply has to throw stuff in the air for fun, pleasure, and possibly a living.
Juggling takes practice, clowning takes living and suffering.
We want your opinion on the issue. Leave a comment below!
Juggling magnate and high-profile man about town Brian Dubé was spotted with Jersey Shore starlet Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi at Jay Z’s 40/40 Club in Chelsea. Witnesses say the pair got a little bit frisky on the dance floor, enjoying Long Island Iced Teas and fist pumping the night away. When approached about the alleged encounter, Brian was not coy.
“She’s a wonderful girl,” the juggling kingpin said. “We’ve got a lot in common and she has a lot of interesting things to say.”
A spokesperson for Polizzi declined comment. The news of their relationship comes just weeks after fellow juggling prop maker Todd Smith was sighted attending a high-profile gala at Los Angeles’ Viper Room with Jenni “JWoww” Farley.
