Tag Archives: Facts

Pokémon

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Pokémon

Gotta Catch ’em All – the Pokémon slogan.

  • Pokémon is a major video gaming franchise published by Nintendo and produced by Game Freak, of which the main series has been and is released on Nintendo’s handheld consoles; and the game developers, Game Freak, nearly became bankrupt due to the lengthy production of the first games.
  • Pokémon follows a role-playing game format were the player is depicted as a human, named a ‘trainer’, that travels the land to find, capture, battle, train, evolve, and trade the fictional creatures named “Pokémon”.
  • The term “Pokémon” is a contraction, derived from the Japanese name “Poketto Monsutā”, meaning “Pocket Monsters”, and during early development the game was known as “Capsule Monsters”.
  • The idea for Pokémon was created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri, from Japan, however he was unsuccessful in marketing it to Nintendo for development, until Shigeru Miyamoto, also a Japanese video game designer, identified its potential and initiated its development around 1990.
  • Pokémon was inspired by the hobby of insect collecting and the aspiration for the creator to introduce the new generation to an equally pleasurable hobby involving creatures, in a quickly industrialising Japan.

Pokemon, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Franchise, Video Game, Original, Logo, RPG, Nintendo, Pocket Monsters, Pikachu

Pokémon Logo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
  • Pokémon has been adapted from the handheld games into multiple spin-off versions, including a unique and anticipated massive multiplayer location-based game, and it has been adapted into film, anime, manga, trading cards, figurines and more.
  • The first Pokémon game was released in early 1996, exclusive to Japan as a Red version and Green version for the Game Boy handheld device, and it originally experienced average sales until the Japanese magazine CoroCoro began a competition allowing a small number of people to obtain a previously unknown bonus character, which subsequently boosted sales and general popularity.
  • The general aesthetics of the first Pokémon versions were below average, however these aesthetics were pleasingly enhanced in the similar Blue version, which had a limited release in 1996, and in the sequels Gold and Silver, both released commercially in 1999 in Japan.
  • Pokémon risked changes to its visuals on its importation to America to better cater for its audience, but it was eventually released faithful to the originals under the Red and Blue versions in 1998.
  • As of the end of 2015, the Pokémon franchise consisted of 721 known individual Pokémon species across six generations, and a total of twenty-four main-series games.
Bibliography:
20 Years of Pokémon, 2016, Nintendo/Creatures Inc., http://www.pokemon20.com/lite/timeline.html
History of Pokémon, 2016, Bulbapedia, http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/History_of_Pok%C3%A9mon
Pokémon, 2016, Bulbapedia, http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon
Pokémon, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon

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Geiranger Fjord

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Geiranger Fjord

Geiranger Fjord may be twisty, but the sightseeing is still superb.

  • Geiranger Fjord is a fjord, or sea inlet surrounded by cliffs, located in the county of Møre og Romsdal in Norway, Europe, that was created by a glacier.
  • ‘Geiranger Fjord’ is also known as ‘Geirangerfjord’, and is called ‘Geirangerfjorden’ in Norwegian.
  • In 2005, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention listed Geiranger Fjord as a World Heritage Site, along with Nærøyfjord, as part of the West Norwegian Fjords listing.
  • Geiranger Fjord is part of the western sector of Norway’s Storfjorden, which features some of the largest and longest fjords on earth.
  • The Geiranger Fjord has a length of 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) and has a rough width of 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles).
Geiranger Fjord, Facts, Trivia, Random Ten, River, Place, Norway, Water, Carve
Part of Geiranger Fjord
Image courtesy of Tobias Van Der Elst/Flickr
  • Of all Norwegian sites, Geiranger Fjord is one of the most popularly visited, commonly by cruise ships, and there is also opportunity for cycling, hiking, kayaking, rafting and fishing in the area.
  • Two main waterfalls sit opposite each other in Geiranger Fjord, while another of the falls forms the illusion of a veil.
  • Åkerneset, a neighbouring mountain of Geiranger Fjord, has the potential to devastate the area by causing an inland tsunami, due to significant cracks in the mountain rock, that may cause a landslide.
  • From around May to October each year, visitors to Geiranger Fjord can use the scenic Trollstigen road to view the impressive scenery, and there are designated lookout areas for people to stop at and enjoy the view.
  • Geiranger Fjord’s banks contain a few farms, most of which have been deserted, although some have since been restored.
Bibliography:
The Geirangerfjord, 2016, Travel Norway, http://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/fjord-norway/the-geirangerfjord/
Geirangerfjord, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geirangerfjord
West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, 2016, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1195

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Candle Heath

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Candle Heath

The light of a candle heath is a bit odd – it is simply its beauty.

  • Candle heaths are a species of shrub, native to the states of Victoria and southern New South Wales, in Australia.
  • The scientific name of a candle heath is Richea continentis and it is from the family Ericaceae, the family of heaths.
  • Candle heaths are plants that can reach heights of 0.5 to 1.0 metre (1.6 to 3.3 feet), and they have a similar or slightly larger diameter.
  • Candle heaths are typically found in marshy and moist habitats, in mountainous regions.
  • Brian Burtt, an English botanist, was the first to scientifically classify the candle heath, doing so in 1942.

Candle Heath, Trivia, Plant, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Vegetation, Greenery, Australia

  • The leaves of candle heaths are usually 1 to 4 centimetres (0.4 to 1.6 inches) in length, and they are often a triangular shape.
  • The small, white, cream or greenish coloured flowers of candle heaths bloom in December to February.
  • Candle heaths can be used to deter animals in gardens, due to their prickly leaves.
  • Candle heath flowers emit a pleasant odour, and they grow in groups on long stalks, that sit above the plant.
  • Candle heath plants grow best in partially shady or sunny areas, in cool climates, and as such they are not affected by snow or frost.

 

Bibliography:
Richea continentis, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richea_continentis
Richea continentis, n.d, Yarra Ranges Shire Council, http://fe.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Residents/Trees_Vegetation/Yarra_Ranges_Plant_Directory/Yarra_Ranges_Local_Plant_Directory/Lower_Storey/Shrubs_to_2m/Richea_continentis
Richea continentis B.L.Burtt, n.d, PlantNET, http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Richea~continentis

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Laced Moray

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Laced Moray

One could say laced morays are indeed prettier than their relatives.

  • Laced morays are a species of eel, native to the waters of the Indian Ocean and the west Pacific Ocean.
  • ‘Laced morays’ are also known as ‘tessellate morays’, ‘leopard morays’, ‘giraffe eels’, and ‘honeycomb morays’.
  • The scientific name of a laced moray is Gymnothorax favagineus and it is from the family Muraenidae, the family of moray eels.
  • The skin of a laced moray has a base colour of white or cream, spotted with irregular black shapes that vary, depending on its habitat as well as its age, and the spots are usually smaller in older eels.
  • Laced morays can reach a length of 1.8 metres (6 feet), although some claim specimens reaching 3 metres (9.8 feet) exist.

Laced Moray, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Eel, Fish, Animal, Honeycomb, Tessellated, Coral, SEALIFE, Melbourne, Australia, Aquarium

  • Laced morays typically live in tropical reef areas, and if the surrounding waters are of an increased clarity, they will generally feature lighter coloured spots.
  • Laced morays are active during night hours, and they generally rest in cavities and crevices during daylight.
  • The diet of laced morays consists primarily of small fish, crabs, squid-like molluscs and shrimp.
  • Laced morays have a habit of moving with their mouths open, which allows the gills to retrieve water necessary for breathing.
  • Although they rarely attacks humans, laced morays can produce a strong bite due to their teeth that are sharp.
Bibliography:
Gymnothorax favagineus  Bloch & Schneider, 1801, n.d, FishBase, http://www.fishbase.org/summary/5391
Honeycomb Moray, n.d, Melbourne Sealife Aquarium, https://www.melbourneaquarium.com.au/explore/coral-atoll/honeycomb-moray/
Laced Moray, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laced_moray

Blackberry

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Blackberry

Remember those days when you could skip out to the woods and pick some blackberries?

  • Blackberries are a fruit often considered a berry, even though technically speaking they aren’t, and various species originated in parts of America, Asia, Europe and northern Africa.
  • Blackberries grow on a variety of plant species from the Rubus genus, that comes from the family Rosaceae, the family of roses.
  • Blackberries’ are also known as ‘bramble berries’, ‘brambles’, and ‘black-caps’, although this name is technically reserved for referring to a raspberry variety coloured black.
  • Although similar to a raspberry, a blackberry can be distinguished by its stem’s habit to break at the branch when ripe, unlike its cousin, which breaks at the fruit.
  • Wild varieties of blackberry plants will typically contain sharp prickles that have have the ability to rip through thick fabric, although many commercially grown varieties have been cultivated to not feature any.
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Blackberry
Image courtesy of threelayercake/Flickr
  • Usually blackberries will contain nutritious seeds and they form in small druplets that make up the fruit.
  • In 2005, the United States was the largest producer of blackberries in the world, producing approximately 31,840 tonnes (35,100 tons).
  • Blackberries are commonly eaten raw or cooked, often in desserts, and they can be made into jam, or used to flavour wine and jelly.
  • Blackberry fruits are typically a purple or black colour, and they are usually a red colour when they are not yet ripe.
  • Blackberries are very high in vitamin K, vitamin C and manganese, as well as fibre, and they are contain many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Blackberry, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackberry
Blackberries, n.d, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, http://www.almanac.com/plant/blackberries
Worldwide Production of Blackberries, n.d, Berry Grape, http://berrygrape.org/files/newsletters/blackberryworldwide.pdf

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Fountain

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Fountain

You can watch fountains for simply ages.

  • Fountains are structures that generally pour or spurt water, often upwards, and then typically collects in a reservoir.
  • Fountains are commonly used for ornamental purposes, although they can be used as drinkable water sources or to bathe.
  • The earliest known fountains were created by Ancient Greeks in the 500s BC, and they utilised gravity to pull water from aqueducts that were situated at a higher level, to make drinking water available to residents of the cities.
  • Fountains can have water that sprays, bubbles, or overflows, and they are usually found out of doors, however the may be installed inside buildings.
  • Large public drinking water fountains were mostly discontinued by the 1900s, however small variants emerged, typically able to be activated by the user, and modern ones are commonly found in parks, schools and sports centres.

Fountain, Water, Spray, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Architecture, Contemporary, Melbourne Australia

  • In 2015, ‘King Fahd’s Fountain’, which spurts salt water in the air to heights of 260 metres (853 feet) or more, was the highest, permanent, constant fountain in the world, and it is located in the Red Sea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East, and started operating in 1985.
  • Fountains are often ornately sculptural or artistic in form, and can be stylised and decorated, however more contemporary pieces are generally sleeker and plainer.
  • Some fountains are engineered to coincide with music, and also lights, using a computer-based program for spectacular displays.
  • Some fountains are used as a method for humans to cool down during hotter days, with people being able to move under the sprays of water.
  • Modern fountains usually utilise pumps, typically powered by electricity, often to spray water in an upward direction, and those used for ornamental purposes typically reuse the same water by recirculating it.
Bibliography:
Fountain, Wikipedia, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain
Moffat C, Fountains: Sculpture of Water, Bronze & Stone, 2010, Fountains in Art History, http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/sculpture/Fountains.html

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