Grab Bag Wednesday: Just Say Yo

Firstly, I'm going to recommend that you click the link an watch a video, if you wish to proceed further into the subject matter presented, come back and read further.

Go ahead.

I'll wait

http://youtu.be/2ps5BQnJrTc

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Welcome back.

Today, I will confess to a new facet of my geekdom.  We all now I like comic books, old movies, bad television shows, and poetry.  There is nothing new there,  what I mess confess is that I am a disciple of Yo.

Currently I am not in possession of a Yo-yo, and when I have one, I'm not particularly adept at using it, by I enjoy the art of the Yo-yo.  The simple satisfaction of finding the groove and becoming one with the object.  It is very relaxing, in a zen kind of way.

Watchtower this video for coo tricks and yo-yo philosophy.

http://youtu.be/WiDz2L9jMPY

The history of the yo-yo is interesting.  There are many theories to its origin, but I just stuck to the information that did not teach you how to bludgeon your enemies.

1920s AD - United States - Pedro Flores

In 1928 Pedro Flores immigrated from the Philippines to the USA and started selling yo-yos under the name "yo-yos", the name used in the Philippines. He called his business the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company which operated in Santa Barbara. Pedro trademarked the term 'yo-yo' and used the refined Philippine design of the yo-yo by looping the string around the axle instead of tying it as it was done previously^[2]. In doing this he introduced America to the fundamental yo-yo trick, the sleeper. Pedro Flores printed "patent applied" and "patent pending" on many of his yo-yos, despite him not possessing any patent on his products, presumably to discourage other toy manufacturers from producing yo-yos.

Due to the number of new possibilities for tricks Pedro also set up competitions to demonstrate the new tricks that could be done. However, his competitions were quite different from modern yo-yo competitions, as the competitions were more about endurance than trick complexity. The winner was the yo-yoer who could keep the yo-yo moving up and down without missing. This resulted in some competitions lasting a very long time with two experienced yo-yoers not giving up, resulting in the winner being selected by drawing straws. These competitions also featured contests of who could throw their yo-yo the furthest with it returning fully and who could do the greatest number of perfect spins during five minutes.

1930s AD - United States - Duncan

In about 1930 Donald F. Duncan bought out Flores and so obtained the rights to the trademark "yo-yo". The precise date is uncertain but the "Yo-Yo" trademark was transferred in 1932. Other yo-yo companies during this period had to use terms such as 'return tops', 'whirl-a-gigs' or 'twirlers'. Duncan quickly acquired the largest share of the yo-yo market, with 85% of all yo-yos sold in this period being produced by Duncan.

1960s - United States - Yo-yo term loses trademark

In 1965 Duncan got into a legal battle over the use of the term 'yo-yo' with Royal, resulting in the court ruling that the term had become generic and so could be not trademarked. As a result of the cost of fighting the lawsuit as well as an expensive investment in the means to produce plastic yo-yos, Duncan became bankrupt and its assets were sold, including its products and goodwill to Flambeau Plastics Companywhich now produces Duncan yo-yos^[3]. The Duncan equipment would go to Strombecker Toys which produced yo-yos under the Medalist name for a number of years.

http://yoyo.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

Currently, I am without the mystic yo-yo and its secrets of balance in a chaotic universe.  I suppose it's because I am particular.  Now, your thinking a yo-yo is just a yo-yo, but materials and shape are very important.

The shape of a yo-yo is of much debate between amateurs and professionals alike.  Most people are familiar with the Imperial style Yo-yo.  It is probably the style that requires the most skill.  The round shape and narrow gap make it difficult to do string tricks.  I don't do string tricks anyway.  I don't like it because it feels wrong in my hand.  More of a ball than a yo-yo, the shape throws my roll.

Some folks are fans of the Butterfly.  The Butterfly is good for tricks and easy access to string entanglements.  If I did tricks, I would probably use a butterfly.

But for me, a man looking for the yo-yo zen of things, I have always preferred, the modified.  I know that it seems like some bastard hybrid of the other two, but it cradles nicely in my hand, rolls nicely off my middle finger, gives me a sense of peace.

I also have the issue that I don't like plastic or wooden yo-yo's.  I love many things old and retro.  I often eat nostalgia for lunch, but in that overall sense of Zen.  The all encompassing search for balance.  I like the aluminum.  It's got the feel of being an old times gunfighter.  I don't want to be a gunfighter or own a gun, but sometimes you need the comfort of cold metal in your hand and it's just not appropriate to walk around with a beer in your hand.

And I know all of this may sound ridiculous, but I am not alone in my yo-yo obsession.  But even I would stop before I bought one of these.

The Anti-Yo Gouda 24 Karat Gold Plated Yo-Yo. Dude, we’re talking $314.99 worth of string floppin’, cat’s cradlin’, dog walkin’ funski right here. In the palm of your slightly sweaty hand. Unfortunately you, dear serf minion of the humble arts, will be unable to purchase one of these babies, because only 10 have been made and they are currently sold out. 

This is all I've got for today.  I'll see you tomorrow for some Retro-Crash TV nonsense, until then Just Say Yo.