The History of the World ' s Favorite Plumber - Mario ' s Story

Throughout the history of video games there have been few characters absolutely as well known and loved as Mario, the receptive plumber that has starred in many games made by Nintendo. Since his creation in 1981, the Italian - American idol has appeared in over 200 titles and won over the hearts of both offspring and adults around the world. But the Mario that is first off recognizable today had very humble beginnings, and many of his texture that seem relied on to his character today may be less apprehending - out than one would think.

Mario made his debut in the Donkey Kong series, one of Nintendo ' s earliest games. Who we now know as the plumber Mario was first named Jumpman in the original Japanese version of Donkey Kong. At the time Nintendo of America was struggling and needed to make a smash American release to compete in the industry. For Donkey Kong ' s release stateside, Nintendo sought to localize the game and set out to rename the characters. As legend has it, Mario was named after the landlord of Nintendo of America ' s headquarters. During the naming process of the game, the building ' s owner came demanding his rent and Mario suddenly got his name.

Originally Nintendo cast Mario as a carpenter on a quest to save a damsel in distress from a giant ape. Later games that featured Mario cast him as a plumber. A landscape made of pipes put Mario and his brother Luigi in a sewer in the first Mario Bros. game, setting the theme of the many worlds Mario would later inhabit. Mario ' s games did not include the other characters from the Donkey Kong titles, but the themes were eventually revisited with the similar characters Bowser and Princess Peach. Throughout Mario ' s life he has traveled many different settings and interacted with many enemies and friends, but he has always held true to his pipe - traveling roots.

Many of Mario ' s trademark styles come not from his plumber background but his original role as a carpenter. Nintendo intended to make the hero be a common man that was easy to relate to. The denim overalls were part of his carpenter ' s wardrobe. His red undershirt was chosen because it contrasted well against the blue on the old arcade console screen. Mario wore a hat so that the animators would have to avoid the difficult task of portraying hair on the fuzzy screen. Many of his trademark characteristics were chosen in part due to the technology at the time, but have grown to become part of the attire of one of the most recognizable animations today.

Over the years Mario has transformed from the simple carpenter at a construction site to a jolly, fully animated plumber featured in vast immersive worlds. The many decisions that may have seemed trivial years ago have persisted even today, giving the world the icon that millions around the globe know and love today.

The History And Imagery Of Candles

There is a phrase, if I could be a fly on the wall. Well this writer wishes they could be a candle in the room of history. Candles have born witness to uncounted historic events. They helped to shed vivid on our founding fathers as the Finding of Independence and the Constitution were penned. They stood by and phosphorescent the path way of Paul Revere as he warned of the British were coming and they okay flashing the way for many of the most hot writings of John Lennon. Its trimmed rather comical to think that Thomas Edison bogus the modern shining bulb unbefitting the watchful perceiving of many a candle that gave their lives so electricity could be born. A picnic companion or aligned a onlooker of historical events but where would we be now if not for the glowing light of yesterdays candles?

If the real world history of candles hasnt moved you its likely the cinematic imagery of candles has played a significant part of your life. Who can forget the candle laden castles in the old Dracula movies? Candles served as the only light for unsuspecting victims in many a monster movie. What served as their only connection to the world usually gave them away to a grueling end. Candles helped to shape the golden era of monster movies!

They also helped to usher in the golden era of romance movies. All love movie addicts will melt of the thought of all of the scenes where their favorite Bo entranced their beauty over a candle lit romantic movie. You cried! Everyone has cried at one point or another. If you havent then you need to set up your own romantic candle lit dinner with your significant other.

As with our busy life styles candles have evolved over the last few hundred years. Theyve become a work horse for many by providing refreshing smells. For example, Village candles give off an aromatic smell that can bring back memories, freshen up small areas and give an overwhelming sense of calm to anyone in the room. Its proof of the continuously adaptive behavior of candles. We no longer need candles for their warm glow so now they are serving a different utilitarian purpose for those who just cant live without them.

Whats interesting is that the Village candle you use to freshen up your living area in your home can revert back to its previous incarnation as a light source at any given time. The ability to regress is not native to many items but a cancel can become that old time source of light when the Edisons electric light bulb fails to produce for you. Not only has the cancel evolved to remain a vital part of your daily routine, it can simply revert to meet all of your previous needs!

As you can most clearly see, candles have been overlooked as utilitarian tools that are just simply there to service a purpose. The next time you light up a candle for some mindless task take a few minutes to gaze into it and think about the history that candles have seen and youll likely develop a deeper appreciation for them

The Interesting History Of Swiss Army Knives

Swiss Army Knives are well avowed all over the world. With over 34, 000 of these pocket knives currently onset the Victorinox company each day where they are sent to over 100 contrasting countries, the tribute of these tools is stupendous. The initiation of this company is surprisingly humble in comparison to its modern - day recognition.

In 1891, the first host of Victorinox, Karl Elsener, create out that the Swiss army was supplied with knives made in Germany. He hoped to create high quality knives in Switzerland that could by the army instead in order to create more jobs in his home country. At the time, emigration for jobs out of Switzerland was common. Victorinox currently employs 950 people.

Through many years of determination, Elsener eventually developed an innovative spring mechanism which allowed him to implement twice as many features on each knife. With this invention, he added a corkscrew and an additional cutting blade. Eventually, the knives that Elsener created were given to every Swiss recruit as they entered the army.

The companys name, Victorinox, is a combination of two words. After Elseners mother, Victoria, died in 1909, he decided that he wanted to honor her by naming his company after her. It wasnt until 1921 that her name was combined with inox. At this time, the company began using stainless steel in each knife. The French term for stainless steel is acier inoxydable, or inox for short. In combination with Victoria, the company name became Victorinox.

Why are Victorinox knives better known as Swiss Army knives? According to Carl Elsener, the current head of Victorinox, when United States soldiers began using the companys knives, they found it too difficult to pronounce the Swiss term for these tools, Schweizer Offiziersmesser. Instead, they began calling them Swiss Army knives, a name that is known all over the world today.

In 2006, the Victorinox company began manufacturing a Swiss Army knife that included 87 tools and 141 different functions. They deemed this tool The Giant. The Guinness Book of Records awarded this tool the title of the worlds most multifunctional penknife. At the time, it sold for roughly GBP 550. Also recognized by the Guinness Book of Records is a knife inspired by Swiss Army knives that included 314 blades and weighed 11 pounds. While the practical application of Swiss Army knives is certainly a major draw, the intriguing multifaceted nature of these tools has also drawn countless people to them.

The History Of Quilling

Quilling is intensely immersed in world history, popularly believed to have come into being in China, adjoining the hearsay of papermaking. Members of spiritual communities were the first inventors and users of the quilling fashion. Gradually, this enjoyable art arrangement spread to other countries and eventually became an important part of the characteristic persons life.

Quillings main concept involves the use of a hatpin, rolling fingers, or quilling tools to roll paper into correct shapes. Composite shapes are rolled individually and for connected to one another to construct a final shape or master. Finishing touches are thence made to add to the shapeliness of the piece and to secure it in place. These finishing touches might hold using acerbic free matte board or shelter box framing.

Now that youre aware of the origin and some aspects of quilling, lets explore some details of quilling history.

Research has established that a form of quilling metals was performed as early as the mid - 4th and 5th centuries. Gold and silver wires were applied to pillars, vases and other objects and jewelry was also fashioned using this technique. By the 13th century this form of metal quilling had become well - known and was practiced world wide.

The conversion from metal to paper use probably occurred as materials became scarce, or were unavailable to the lay person wanting to create pieces. Metal quilling was commonly referred to as metal filigree, and as the technique incorporated the use of paper, was commonly referred to as paper filigree. Early use of paper filigree was primarily confined to religious groups promoting their beliefs and embellishing sacred messages. The shift to the common folk practicing this art brought the term quilling into regular use. Paper quilling implemented many techniques similar to jewelry styles, utilizing strips of paper, free rolls and edging. In the 17th and 18th centuries, quilling art expanded to tea caddies, coat of arms designs and photo frames.

There are few facts, but many stories, attributed to the origins of quilling. Some say it was developed in ancient times, not long after making paper was discovered. Others claim paper quilling was born in the 13th century when nuns were unable to purchase metal filigree due to its high cost. Still others believe that quilling began in the Americas. And yet, further evidence points to quilling being used in the Mediterranean region. With so many conflicting claims, no one can say for certain where quilling originated, but clearly it carries a truly international history.

Books of the Victorian Age and quilled pieces of that time indicate that proper young women practiced quilling to decorate furniture or purses and to create jewelry. Similar to the artwork of handicrafts, it has found difficultly surviving in present day times and its popularity has decreased. However, perhaps one day, it will regain its lost glory as an ancient art, practiced for centuries, since the technique can be used throughout the world for nearly limitless purposes.

The Ica Stones Controversy Evidence That Could Change World History

The Ica stones are a collection ofstones allegedly discovered in a pothole near Ica, Peru. These stones of sundry sizes have been etched with excellent scenes. The stones depict ajar - emotions surgery, brain transplants, cesarean sections, telescopes, ancient maps, flying machines, outworn animals and masculinity with dinosaurs. Some claim the Ica Stones are an ancient library rejected by a adrift culture. Others say they are a hoax. These andesite stones call into interrogation even-handed about body science has taught us about the origin of the human contest.

Dr. Javier Cabrera

The delayed Peruvian doctor Javier Cabrera popularized the stones close he recognized one as a gift for his birthday in 1961. He unfastened the Museo de Piedras Grabadas ( Engraved Stones Museum ) at the Plaza de Armas in Ica which displays his collection of some 15, 000 stones. Cabrera ' s theory is that the stones depict the first Peruvian culture as an alien chase that came to earth during the dinosaurs existence and consequently genetically engineered modern man.

Cabrera claimed that a farmer found the stones in a den. The farmer was arrested for selling the stones to tourists, but was sequential released on his testimony that he had faked the stones. According to Cabrera, the farmer was corresponding 20 years in prison if the stones were real so he changed his story to regain his freedom.

Cabrera also claimed that the locals had unearthed about 50, 000 stones and that they showed him a tunnel where there are another 100, 000.

Rocks cannot be carbon dated and no one has ever seen the cave, or the resulting strata, where the stones were found. A number of experts estimate the stones as being 1, 500 and 12, 000 years old. Cabrera placed them between 60, 000, 000 BC and 13, 000, 000 BC, although the difference between their occurrence in each period is not clarified. Others say that all of the stones have been falsified.

Fake or Real?

Some of the stones have been proven to be made by locals of the area to sell to tourists. Since Cabrera ' s stones come from a cave which has never been identified, the stones cant be carbon dated, which adds clout to the possibility that the stones are fakes.

In 1998, after four years of investigation, Spanish investigator Vicente Paris declared that the evidence indicates the stones are a hoax. Among the evidence presented were microphotographs of the stones showing traces of modern paints and abrasives. Other evidence of fraud is the crispness of the shallow engravings; stones of great age should have substantial erosion of the surfaces. Perhaps the strongest argument in favor of the skeptics is that the stones contradict just about everything we think we know about evolution.

Yet there is myth and strong evidence in favor of the stones authenticity. Inca myth speaks of a civilization of giants that created the stones as an historical record. Inca myths of giants parallel the Bibles story of a race of giants called the Nephilim, whom may have arrived from another planet.

Some engraved stones are said to have been brought back to Spain in the 16th century. Microscopic analysis of several Ica Stones has provided conclusive evidence that they are not modern forgeries.

There are far too many stones for a single farmer, or even a group of hoaxers, to have carved. Not only would it take a large group of people and an enormous amount of time to carve the stones, but they would also need to have intimate knowledge of extinct species of fish, dinosaur anatomy, ancient maps and geography, astronomy, complex surgery, blood transfusion and many other complicated topics.

Believers in the stones claim that evolution is a flawed theory, and they point out that its just that - a theory, not fact. Besides, only one single stone needs to be authentic to prove that an unknown, ancient civilization did exist in the Ica region of Peru.

Most scientists have turned a blind eye to the Ica Stones, unwilling to face historical controversy. Some of the stones have been faked, yet evidence points to the possibility that thousands of the stones are authentic. Whether real or fraud, their safety is important if further, modern analysis of the Ica Stones are to take place. If someday any of the Ica Stones are proven to be authentic, they would be one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time.

The Nature Seven Wonders

However, some scientists and naturalists raise to prospect and chronometer wonders which were not created by human beings, and they are undeniable that nature is the best creator, sculptor and builder. They think there are other seven wonders in the world which are worth study and watching equivalent more than Egyptian pyramids. One of allied common wonderment is considered to be the Grand Gorge which is quite unusual in color and architecture. It is one of the oldest natural sculpture in the world which keeps evidences of Ice Age and times even earlier. The Grand Canyon stretches two hundred and eighty miles long, four to eighteen miles across and more than one mile deep.

Having kept evidences of the Earth history aged hundreds of centuries the Grand Canyon is a unique natural sculpture which now demonstrates the world history with wonderful and incredible mix of colors that no any artist could really describe or paint.

Another creation which is considered to be the natural wonder is Glacier Bay in Alaska. It is the land of glaciers, big fiords and perpendicular ice walls shining in the sun. seals, white bears and whales add this picture so unique color that one could hardly imagine or draw. Glacier Bay has the highest mountains rising straight from the sea. The great glaciers grow slowly, become fantastically large and then slide majestically toward the sea leaving behind new soil were the cycle of growing begins again.

The next article will be dedicated to other five wonders created by nature. They are the Mammoth Cave, Victoria Falls, Baikal, Mountain Everest and Yellowstone National Park.