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Today, it’s gloomy in New York. It’s been like this for days now, some queer stretch of the August blues, and there’s not much to say about it other than it’s only slightly worse than the human clambake that typically occurs on the streets this time of year. Days like these, staring out the window into the gray menace, one feels an acute desire for transcendence, for a reminder of what man is capable of at his best, when he’s not busy diddling his fiddle or drinking himself dumb. So I bring to you four individual acts of genius.
First stop: JUGGLING! That’s right, my panda bears! Juggling! Chickity-check this out:
Nuts, right? How does he do it?! Dance and juggle and occasionally lip-sync, all at once? That’s it, I’m pre-booking him for my unborn children’s Bar Mitzvahs.
Now, this one I’m not so sure about. It’s a Nike ad starring Brazilian soccer star (and world-class smiler) Ronaldhino. Watch it and let me know what you think: is it a hoax, sort of like LeBron James’ Powerade commercial where he makes all those shots from the opposite side of the court, or are his feet really possessed of laser-like precision? I’m feeling charitable today, so I’m going with the latter, but tell me if I’m being snowed. It’s happened before.
I find this one below particularly impressive because this kid is neither a superstar or a demigod, like the two above. (Yes, the juggler is a demigod. Watch it again and try to disagree with me. Try.) This kid is just a dork, like you and me, but mostly you — and he pulls off an extraordinary trick. Is it all by sense of touch? Can he see through his blindfold? Again, I’m left with more questions than answers.
And no list of human greatness would be complete without… a young Geraldo Rivera, baked out of his gourd. Note the ’stache.
Anyway, sorry to disappoint, but I’m going to be on a different continent next week and will be unable to post. I’m pretty sure there’ll be a substitute poster, so be sure to show him [editor’s note: or her, ahem] the same respect you do me. I’ll see you in two weeks. I love you.
About the juggling video, this video went around about 6 months ago and sparked some vicious (for jugglers) quarrels within the juggling community.
The issue was that many jugglers scoffed, calling the video was corny and amateurish. You see, the guy “only” juggles 3 balls, which is sooo simple, they said. In fact, one juggler, Jason Garfield, was so put off that he did a 5-ball juggling video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYUXaYCkv-A) is the link, I believe.
posted by Brianron on 8-29-2006 at 4:04 pm
I for one wish to believe the soccer video is real. This fella is the WORLD’S greatest playa (sic) and quite frankly should be capable of such incredible feats.
The rubix cube kid, however, I am skeptical of. His minute-long planning in the beginning seems a bit hammy and rehearsed. My theory is that he’s been working with this cube for months and already has all the necessary moves committed to memory. By carefully adding some straining, grunts and other theatrics, he expects us to believe he’s a real rubix savant, which we almost do because, well, he’s Asian.
posted by James on 8-29-2006 at 4:57 pm
The juggling was incredible. Sure, I’ve seen jugglers handle more dangerous items, or just more… but it was the way he was able to time everything to the music that was amazing.
posted by nrkii on 8-29-2006 at 7:54 pm
I agree with James on both accounts of the soccer player and the rubix cube kid. You can see he has a black mark on one of the squares…probably so he knows which side to put up. I think it’s just a neat trick, but give him a brand new rubix cube just out of it’s packaging and I bet he couldn’t do it. ;)
posted by Shanna on 8-30-2006 at 12:20 am
Err, as a Juggler in said community (who has been sent this link countless times “LOOK AT THIS AMAZING GUY,”) I’m really not a fan. I’m a rather mediocre juggler, and I feel that I can pull off a good deal of what he has done. However, I’ve seen many people who could do far better (Yes, even to music, thanks.) (Parentheticals rock.)
I don’t know much about football but what my Anglophile friend tells me, but having been forcibly stuck in front of the TV for it several times I can very much believe that Ronaldinho is seriously just that good.
Being an amateur Rubix cuber as well, I don’t really find the asian kid’s ability as difficult to believe as you guys do. I’ve only been playing with it for about a year (and I’m no genius,) but I already can finish a side or two without looking at it more than once or twice. He may have a “dot” at the top for bearings, but it’s still a decent challenge with or without it. I think his skill (if it’s real) is in memory rather than… whatever skill it is when you can solve a Rubik’s cube quickly.
And I have to call fake Geraldo. That moustache is obviously not the REAL Geraldo’s.
posted by Norm on 8-30-2006 at 7:55 am
The “dot” at the top isn’t for bearings at all; rather, all Rubik’s cubes (at least nowadays) come with a Rubik’s insignia on the white center piece. Many replacement sticker sets do the same. And yes, his skill is mostly memory. It looks like he solved the thing in his mind and then solved it with his hands. It’s still quite a feat, though, to know the position of all the small squares at one time.
posted by metsfan001 on 8-30-2006 at 8:26 am
I’m in a network where YouTube is blocked, so I can’t see exactly which juggling video you linked to, but it sounds from the comments like that Chris Bliss vid that circulated recently.
If this is true, you have been greatly decieved! Bliss is a total hack that couldn’t handle the tricks REAL jugglers are doing now. If you look closly, you’ll notice he’s doing the same four tricks OVER and OVER. Even “timing it to the music” is easy; ANY juggler doing ANY routine will look timed to the music, since juggling has a natual rythmn.
Look up Jason Garfield, Vova and Olga, Anthony Gatto, and the members of the World Juggling Federation and then tell me if you think Bliss is still so talented.
posted by Lucres on 8-30-2006 at 1:06 pm
Wait, I’ve got more:
The reason jugglers get so angry over that video isn’t because it’s a bad routine. It’s actually pretty well done, for what it is. The problem is that non-jugglers think Bliss is some sort of demigod (your word, not mine), when he’s only doing tricks most jugglers learn in their first years of pratice. Especially when they’ve put the time into learning REALLY difficult stuff, i.e., five clubs behind their back.
posted by Lucres on 8-30-2006 at 1:17 pm
Rubiks cube - I think that’s real. I know people who could do several moves in a row without looking, once they had planned them out (these were people having conversations or watching tv, not doing it as a stunt). It looks like this kid increased the challenge my planning out and memorizing all the steps.
Juggling - wow, the juggling community sure gets upset over this stuff; I watched the Chris Blass bit, and the Jason Garfield parody. Jason was doing tougher stuff, but I enjoyed watching Chris more. I’ve seen a lot of jugglers in the past, and I’m amazed by all of it, from the simple to the extreme. I don’t see why the juggling community thinks it’s a “problem” that non-jugglers admire what Chris Blass did. It’s like figure skating, you might admit that one skater is better technically and does harder jumps, etc, but you still might prefer watching the artistic expression of another skater. Anyway, isn’t there enough applause out there to be shared? Or does Chris Blass’s popularity take away from other jugglers somehow? It just seems petty to me, to be so mean-spirited in responding to our admiration for something you feel is “hack.”
posted by notajuggler on 8-30-2006 at 5:30 pm
The Rubik’s cube thing is believable. My friend’s cousin is Tyson (if anybody watched Beauty and the Geek 2), and I’ve seen my friend do some pretty amazing stuff with a Rubik’s cube. Have you ever tried a 5×5 cube? If it’s possible to do that with your eyes open, it’s possible to do the 3×3 with your eyes closed.
As for memorizing the moves, how do you think any Rubik’s cubers solve it so fast? There’s certain algorithms to move this square here and that square there. But he didn’t have to study it for months beforehand. Some peoples’ grasp of spatial relationships (and memory) are just really good. Besides, he’s wearing a Stanford EPGY shirt ;).
posted by Sammy on 8-31-2006 at 12:41 am
Could the Rubix cube be a backwards video? start with a solved puzzle, then spend a minute or two messing it up. Then reverse the video. Its done very well if it is this,
Either that or there are “Do” and “undo” moves you can perform and reverse. Before the video starts he does 50 “Do” moves, then starts the camera and does 50 opposive “undo” moves. All you have to do is count the number of moves to get back to the start.
posted by jd on 8-31-2006 at 6:35 am
Sorry if I sounded mean-spirited, notajuggler. I didn’t mean to put down people who liked the video, just to point out that there are much better jugglers out there. In an admittedly petty, mean-spirited way.
(cough)
Anyway, to answer your other points: No, there isn’t really enough applause to go around. Juggling is at the bottom of the entertainment heap these days, and very few people can make a living at it. So, with Bliss it’s like… well…
You know that one 20-year-old business major in your office? The one who knows absolutly nothing about your industry, but fakes it enough that he gets promoted WAY ahead of you? And all the stockholders think he’s the greatest thing ever? And you’ve been busting your back for ten freakin’ years in this place and you don’t even have your own parking space yet?
That’s how it feels.
posted by Lucres on 8-31-2006 at 12:46 pm