domingo, 14 de junio de 2009

The Ups and Downs of Yo-Yos

Being the second oldest toy in history, the yo-yo (from the Tagalog "come come" or "come back") is an incredibly simple toy; it's really nothing but two pieces of wood, plastic or metal (called spool) attached to a piece of string. But in the right hands, it can be something extraordinary: A professional yo-yoist can send the yo-yo flying out in all directions, make it hover in mid air, then snap it back into his or her palm.

The ancient Greeks were playing with them more than 2,500 years ago, and there's some evidence that the Chinese had developed similar toys before that. There have been several variations on the yo-yo design through the years. In the original design, which was still popular until the early 20th century, the string was tied securely to the axle. This design achieved huge popularity in Europe in the 18th and 19th century, where it had a number of names, including
bandelore, quiz and L'emigrette.

The yo-yo has had many different functions throughout history: as a weapon by the Philippines, a fashionable toy for the French nobility, and as a "sport" tried out on competitions.
And, although the yo-yo has gone through periods of hibernation in its journey through the ages, its popularity, just like the toy itself, always comes back.

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