Magic 8-ball

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Image:Magic 8 ball.jpg The Magic 8-Ball, manufactured by Tyco, is a toy used for fortune-telling. Invented by Abe Bookman in 1946 of the Alabe Toy Company, it is a hollow, plastic sphere resembling an oversized, black and white 8-ball. The fortunes are given by a white plastic die in the shape of an icosahedron, floating in a blue liquid, with answers to yes-no questions in raised letters on its 20 triangular faces. There is a transparent window on the bottom of the 8-ball, and when the ball is held so that the window faces up, the die floats to the top randomly exposing one of its faces in the window. As the raised white letters press against the window, they drive the dark blue liquid to the sides, away from the raised letters, so that the letters appear as white print on a still-dark-blue background (where a thin layer of fluid remains between the raised letters).

To use the ball, hold it with the window down. Ask a yes-no question, then turn the ball so that the window faces up. In the window, one face of the die will be visible, revealing the response to your question. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to shake or jostle the ball before turning it, which can consequently create air bubbles that often visually distort the "answer".

Ten of the possible answers are variations of "yes", five are ambiguous, and five are variations of "no".

The 20 standard answers on a Magic 8-Ball are:

  • Signs point to yes.
  • Yes.
  • Reply hazy, try again.
  • Without a doubt.
  • My sources say no.
  • As I see it, yes.
  • You may rely on it.
  • Concentrate and ask again.
  • Outlook not so good.
  • It is decidedly so.
  • Better not tell you now.
  • Very doubtful.
  • Yes - definitely.
  • It is certain.
  • Cannot predict now.
  • Most likely.
  • Ask again later.
  • My reply is no.
  • Outlook good.
  • Don't count on it.

Variations on the standard Magic Eight Ball have appeared throughout the years including the "Affirmation Ball"; this is a yellow ball with a smiley face on it that gives twenty randomly-chosen affirmations to the user such as "You look marvelous." or "Your breath is so minty." [1]

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Magic 8-ball™ in television/film

The main character Neal Oliver, uses a magic 8-ball to find his route during his journey through the nonexistent Interstate 60.

During a father-son road trip, the son Andy frequently asks his magic 8-ball important questions, and it always gives him an uncertain answer. Eventually he becomes fed up with its vagueness and hurls it out of the car, inadvertently saving them from some predicament when it hits a police cruiser.

When Woody hears Andy's mother tell Andy that he can bring only one toy to Pizza Planet with him, Woody, who is certain that Andy will pick Buzz to take, picks up a magic 8-ball and asks it if Andy will pick Woody to go with him. Upon seeing its response of "Don't count on it", Woody throws the ball aside in disgust.

In the episode "The Reverse Peephole", David Puddy gets a magic 8-ball jacket, which Elaine hates. When asked if he plans on wearing it all the time, he replies, "All signs point to yes!"

In the episode Emily calls Ross and tells him that she will only stay married if he promises he will never see Rachel again. Ross uses the 8 ball to make that decision. Finally, Ross agrees, but Emily continues to make unreasonable demands and they get divorced.

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References

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External links

it:Magica palla 8

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