TIDDLYWINKS

TAKE UP TIDDLYWINKS!

The obscure, oft-ridiculed "parlor game" of tiddlywinks may be just thing to meet the diverse needs of today's diffident dabblers, destiny-driven doodlers and die-hard dare-devils.

An affordable yet amicable sport (whose equipment fits easily into a pocket, packsack or purse, unlike the cerebral game of chess), it's easy to see why young and old alike enjoy this genteel game of skill, strategy, and digital dexterity, (as opposed to test cricket which requires only a bad attitude and a willingness to reward blinkly bad behavior).

AN INTRODUCTION TO TIDDLYWINKS

Just in case you're an avid tracker of trivia tidbits, there are more than 152,000 pages devoted to the topic of "tiddlywinks" on the Internet!

If you're bored with bowling, miserable at marbles, sapped of strength playing snooker, or a tad crotchety at the thought of another afternoon of croquet on the back nine, then tiddlywinks may be just be up your alley!

For those who want a bit of a mental floss workout, the companionship of fellow winkers, with a little physical skill thrown in (consisting of flipping some plastic discs into a wee pot), tiddlywinks is definitely the game for you!

Tiddley-Winks began as a popular Victorian English game for children, and in the mid-50's gained a new following among young adults in universities (particularly Cambridge and Harvard).

Besides oodles of jumping about and just-in-time jiggling of all sorts, tiddlywinks has its own set of rules, strategy and even titillating terminology including: Blitz, Bomb, Boondock, Cracker, Crud, Good Shot, Gromp, John Lennon Memorial Shot, Lunch, Penhaligon, Scrunge, Squider, Squop, and Wink among others.

"What do you do for exercise? she said...he responded with a gleam in his eye...'tiddlywinks'!"

TIDDLYWINK TIMES POLL

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TIDDLYWINK TIMES

Well here's a little list of lovely things you always wanted to know about tiddlywinks, what else!

TIDDLYWINK TREASURY: Here's a site, sponsored by the North American Tiddlywinks Association that will introduce you to the history, rules and and strategy for the game of tiddlywinks.
WIKIPEDIA ON WINKS: All you ever wanted to know about tiddlywinks but didn't dare to ask!
HARVARD HOPEFULS: Yes, Harvard University has a championship tiddlywink team!
CAMBRIDGE CRUNCHERS: Besides pub crawls, cribbage and croquet, these British brainiacs do love their tiddlywink tournaments.
TIDDLYWINK TOWN: According to the wise man from World Wide Words site, there is an obscure hamlet known as called "Tiddlywink" in Wiltshire, England.
TIDDLYWINKS & SCALLYWAGS: Who knew that "Tiddlywinks" would become the name of british clothing designer for kids.
IS TIDDLYWINKS A SERIOUS GAME?: If you have to ask this question, then maybe you should visit this site!
NOT ANOTHER TIDDLYWINKS FOR TOTS!: Yabba dabba do ... it's another togs for tots shop named "Tiddlywinks + Ben's" (for boys and girls only).
A TOYPOST TRADITION: Here's the spot to pick up your tiddlywinks if you're ever visiting the "olde country"...England!
HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM TIDDLYWINKS: Okay, so you can't earn big bucks as a professional baseball, basketball or football player, let alone a golfer. Frankly, set your sights a little lower...find out how to make moolah as a tiddlywink tournament player!
ENGLISH TIDDLYWINK ASSOCIATION: Where they invented tiddlywinks in the first place!
TEST CRICKET IS NOT TIDDLYWINKS!: Professional linguists and Aussie sports-lovers have something in common. They both agree that while both games start with the letter "T", this does not imply that "test cricket" is synonymous with "tough tiddlywinks"!

TIDDLYWINK TIDBITS

"Tiddlywink Tidbits" provides all manner of interesting things to consider when musing or mulling over whether to play a game that most people couldn't give two hoots about in the great scheme of things.

1. Since "curling" is now an officially recognized sport in the Olympic Games, why have they granted "tiddlywinks" the status of at least a "demonstration sport"?

2. What sort of togs are best suited for a game of "tiddlwinks"? Sweatpants and t-shirts, a spandex body suit, or a skimpy pair of shorts and a tank-top?

3. Why isn't there an official Oddball Sports League (OSL) that welcomes weird sports enthusiasts such as broomball players, paintball enthusiasts, lawn mower racers, log-rollers and "tiddlywinkers"?

TIDDLYWINKS -- STAGING A CHRISTMAS COMEBACK!

While hi-tech toys and grand gizmos may be making the rounds this holiday season, the humble game of "Tiddlywinks" is staging nothing short of a comeback!

Among other things, it's an affordable stocking stuffer that doesn't require batteries to operate, nor is it hard to break. And if that doesn't convince you...it's easy on the ears!

While it was a popular game to play in the Victorian era, needing only the ability to flip counters into a receptacle, it was patented by British inventor and publisher, Joseph Fincher of London in 1889 as "Tiddledy Winks".

TIDDLYWINKS & TREASURES SHOPPE

Channel Craft TTW Tiddly Winks in a Classic Toy Tin

Everything you need to get started...Wonder Winker!

Amazon Price: $7.79 (as of 08/29/2008)

The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board & Table Games

by Margaret Hofer

A popular pub and parlour game, tiddlywinks makes its mark.

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 08/29/2008)

TIRED OF TIDDLYWINKS...THEN TUNE INTO THE FOLLOWING!

ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUIPPING QUEEN: So, who is this quirky "Quipping Queen" anyway?
DROLL DICTIONARIES: If you adore trolling through trivia, you'll love this lens!
BEST BOOKS NEVER WRITTEN: Those who are bored with books will love this lens...books that don't exist!
GREAT BIG GIGGLE GUIDE: Where you can tickle yourself pink...instead of playing tiddlywinks!
BS & BALDERDASH: The perfect place to go when you're feeling betwixt and between or just plain blue!
THE LEPRECHAUN: For those who prefer toadstools and tinker bells to tiddlywinks thank you.
FUNNY PLACE NAMES: You mean there really is a place called "Twatt" and "Tiddleywink" in England?
LITTLE LOO LIBRARY: Where else would you read a breathtaking book about tiddlywink trivia for pete's sake?
ODD JOB CLUB: Do you have an opening for a tiddlywink tournament organizer perchance?
YEAR OF THE PIG - 2007: So you hate tiddlywinks...wanna try mud-wrestling or how about singing 'This little piggy went to market..."?
CHURCH OF CHORTLE: So, if you don't worship at the Temple of Tiddlywinks...you must be a modest member of the meek shall inherit the earth brigade or a sometime visitor to the Church of 80% Sincerity?
MORE MISSIVES FROM THE MONARCH MAVEN: Tired of twiddling your thumbs, then let your fingers do the walking over to this bodacious blog!
TOP 10 TOYS OF YESTERYEAR: Yup, "tiddlywinks" is in the top ten games played by people at the turn of the twentieth century.