The Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the runs scored by the batting team. A run is scored by the striking batsman hitting the ball with his bat, running to the opposite end of the pitch and touching the crease there without being dismissed. The teams switch between batting and fielding at the end of an innings.

In professional cricket the length of a game ranges from 20 overs of six bowling deliveries per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals

Early cricket was at some time or another described as "a club striking a ball (like) the ancient games of club-ball, stool-ball, trap-ball, stob-ball". Cricket can definitely be traced back to Tudor times in early 16th-century England. Written evidence exists of a game known as creag being played by Prince Edward, the son of Edward I Longshanks, at Newenden, Kent in 1301 and there has been speculation, but no evidence, that this was a form of cricket.

        A number of other words have been suggested as sources for the term "cricket". In the earliest definite reference to the sport in 1598, it is called creckett. Given the strong medieval trade connections between south-east England and the County of Flanders when the latter belonged to the Duchy of Burgundy, the name may have been derived from the Middle Dutch crick, meaning a stick crook; or the Old English cricc or cryce meaning a crutch or staff. In Old French, the word criquet seems to have meant a kind of club or stick. In Samuel Johnson's Dictionary, he derived cricket from "cryce, Saxon, a stick". Another possible source is the Middle Dutch word krickstoel, meaning a long low stool used for kneeling in church and which resembled the long low wicket with two stumps used in early cricket. According to Heiner Gillmeister, a European language expert of Bonn University, "cricket" derives from the Middle Dutch phrase for hockey, met de (krik ket)sen , "with the stick chase". Dr Gillmeister believes that not only the name but the sport itself is of Flemish origin.

The Sticky Balls

 Sticky Balls. This awkwardly named concoction has been labeled the “toy of the century” and rightfully so. After the Rubik’s Cube, this is perhaps the only toy in the 21st century that delivers hours of endless fun. A set of highly moldable, foldable and flexible magnetic balls, Sticky Balls is amazingly addictive and will appeal to children as well as adults.

When it comes to toys, simplicity is the key. For all the bells and whistles of modern toys, it is the simple designs that still capture our imagination. Think of classic toys like the Rubik’s Cube or plastic Army Men. Amazingly simple, without any complex moving parts or intricate designs, these became popular because anyone could play with them, regardless of age group.Sticky Balls fits perfectly into this category of toys. Its design is deceptively simple: just an array of small magnetic balls that cling on to each other with ease. With this basic premise, you can use these Sticky Balls to create myriad shapes: from hollow spheres to 3-D stars and Bucky balls.Sticky Balls are technically called “neodymium” or “rare earth” magnets. These are about 10 times more powerful than common refrigerator magnets. Only a few facilities around the world can manufacture these magnetic balls, such is the complexity of the technology involved. These are dual polarity magnets, so they will stick to each other, no matter the polarity. Additionally, because of their magnetic power, they tend to make solid, stable shapes. This, of course, lends them perfectly for use as Sticky Balls are the perfect way to put your creative powers to use. You can make any imaginable shape with these balls. Spheres, cylinders, 3-D sculptures, and even useful objects such as a pen stand or a box can be made within a few minutes. You can also invent games such as ‘Fridge Darts’ or use these balls as regular fridge magnets. 

The possibilities are truly endless.Sticky Balls are small and portable. Whether it is a plane, a bus, or a doctor’s waiting room, you can carry these magnetic balls around with you for endless fun. Children as well as adults love them for the open-ended gameplay they offer that challenges the imagination and provides a perfect outlet for creative energies.For $14.99, you get 108 magnetic balls + another set of 108 balls free. Along with that, you get a small carry bag, a ‘Mastery’ DVD that includes various tips and tricks, and a ‘Shape Maker’ to help you make more complex shapes. Sticky Balls also come with a 100% money back guarantee, so you can order these with complete peace of mindSticky Balls are indeed a revolutionary toy, one that will capture the imagination of adults and children alike. Portable, simple, without batteries or complex moving parts, this is an inexpensive toy with limitless possibilities.

The Jumpman

Jumpman is a platform game written by Randy Glover and released by Epyx in 1983. Originally developed for the Atari 400/800, versions were also released for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC.

  The object of the game is to defuse all bombs in a platform-filled screen. Jumpman defuses a bomb by touching it. According to the story, these are placed on Jupiter by terrorists. Jumpman can climb up and down ladders, and of course jump, and there are two kinds of rope each allowing a single direction of climbing only. Hazards include falling, "smart darts" small bullets that fly slowly across the screen, but when orthogonally lined up with Jumpman, greatly speed up and shoot straight in his direction and other hazards that are unique to a certain level.Points are awarded for each bomb defused, with bonus points available for completing a level quickly. Jumpman's game run-speed can be chosen by the player, with faster speeds being riskier but providing greater opportunity to earn bonus points."Jumpman" was also the original name used for Mario in the 1981 arcade game , which featured several elements such as the ladders and levels aspects that would appear in Jumpman. Randy Glover has stated that Donkey Kong was the original inspiration for Jumpman, although it is not clear that the naming commonality is anything but a The "jumpman logo is used by Nike to promote its Michael Jordan-related merchandise, including the famous and successful Air Jordan brand of basketball shoesThe Jumpman logo is a silhouette of a studio photograph of Jordan performing a ballet move, not an actual dunk as many believe.Beginning in 1985, the Jumpman photo or logo always accompanied "Jordan" branded products, even when the only word displayed on the product was "Jordan".The Air Jordan III, released in 1988, was the first Air Jordan shoe to feature the Jumpman logo, replacing the "Wings" logo, which had been a feature of the Air Jordans I and II. This model was one of the most popular ever. The Jumpman logo would retain a fairly consistent look throughout the Air Jordan line's history, except on the Air Jordan VIII, on which it was reminiscent of a peace sign. In 1993-94, Nike ran a series of Air Jordan commercials pairing Michael Jordan with Warner Brothers' own Bugs Bunny. As a tie-in, Nike created a line of merchandise which featured a spoof of the Jumpman using Bugs' silhouette, combined with a "Hare Jordan" caption. This led to the film Space Jam.coincidence.