RH: The Secret History of Nintendo

Good Afternoon students, this is Dr. Cooper.
Secrets. They are everywhere, hiding important things from us. Some secrets are to protect us; others are to protect reputations. Some are kept secret merely because they are just plain weird and irrelevant. This is one of them.
Time for a history lesson...
Nintendo. The mighty video game behemoth. Creator of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pokemon, Kirby, and all those other Japanese video game franchises. The family-friendly alternative to the blood and gore games of Xbox. The games everyone started out with, until they grew old enough to play Call of Duty. But exactly what is Nintendo? Most people think they know the story. A small video game company, one of many, releases the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1985 with a game called Super Mario Bros., and the rest is history. Well, not quite. Most video and technology companies have been around since the 1970's and 80's. By the time Super Mario came out, Nintendo had been in business nearly 100 years. What had Nintendo been doing all that time? Turns out, almost everything.

In 1889 Japan a man named Fusajiro Yamuchi founded a small company named Nintendo to sell handmade playing cards. At the time a game called Hanafuda had recently become popular in the country, so the company did fairly well. They allegedly also provided cards for the Japanese mafia (yes, there was a Japanese mafia). Nintendo was noteworthy for being the first company in Japan to make cards out of plastic. Nintendo basically continued on like this for 50 years, until the management finally realized the limitations of a card company (you can only make so much money off cards). So they tried expanding into new markets, new enterprises. To boldly go where no Japanese card company has gone before.
However much like the Red Shirts of Star Trek, Nintendo failed with most their exploratory business ventures. 
They experimented with running a taxi company and a hotel chain, neither of which worked. They also tried selling various random things such as instant rice and their own vacuum cleaners. Eventually the one idea that didn't turn out to be too terrible was toys. Nintendo produced mechanical arms and knock-off versions of Lego's, but they soon gravitated towards electronic toys, which were rapidly becoming popular in Japan. Throughout the 70's they released little known electronic games and arcade games which performed poorly. That all changed when one arcade game became a breakout hit in 1981.

Donkey Kong became Nintendo's most popular product up to that time, due to its unique game play. The little hopping hero in the game was originally named Jumpman in Japan. But then one day at the company's U.S division, the angry landlord came in demanding his rent, which was very overdue. His name was Mario Segale.
After the success of Donkey Kong came the little-known arcade game Mario Bros, the first game to have Luigi, and starred the two fighting sewer monsters. Then soon after that Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System and became a worldwide icon. Everyone else knows the story after that...

So there you have it, a secret uncovered! Now you know what playing cards, gangsters, and instant rice have to do with a video game company. A new Retro Show article comes out next week. Until then...
 "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."




Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nintendo
 http://kotaku.com/5925652/the-weird--wonderful-history-of-nintendo

Photos: http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/nintendo_power_gives_us_the_best_moments_from_the_legend_of_zelda_nes 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NintendoCards.jpg 
 http://gifsoup.com/view/1794566/donkey-kong.html
http://www.fakecard.com/pokedex/pokemon/164.shtml

Nickelodeon's Longest Running Television Show!

Spongebob is the oldest cartoon to air on Nickelodeon, and it has several fans that adore it! In Spongebob, the main characters are Spongebob, Patrick, Sandy, Gary, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Plankton. In each episode, there is typically a life lesson about something concerning our everyday lives. There are so many things, though, that I'm sure you didn't know about Spongebob, even if you are one of the show's biggest fans.
1. Each character in Spongebob Squarepants was inspired by one of the seven deadly sins. For Example, Mr. Krabs is a very greedy man. He would kill for a penny, and in one episode, he is even willing to sell Spongebob's soul for sixty-two cents. Plankton, is supposed to be envy.He envies Mr. Krab's business and he is constantly trying to outdo Krabs in everything he does. Patrick, is sloth. He constantly stays underneath his rock and does nothing. There is even an episode titled Big Pink Loser, which is all about Patrick and how he is truly good for nothing. Sandy is a representation of pride. She takes such a great deal of satisfaction in her intelligence and where she is from. She thinks that it is a big deal that she is the only land critter to live in Bikini Bottom. Squidward is wrath. Spongebob and Patrick are always trying to have a good time, and Squidward is basically the party-pooper. He is always fussing at Spongebob and Patrick, no matter what they do. Gary is supposed to be gluttony. This may be hard to notice, but it isn't if you put as lot of thought into it.Gary is always hungry, and when you see him, he is almost always eating. If he isn't eating, he is meowing because he is hungry. Last but not least, there is Spongebob, and he is lust. More than any of Bikini Bottom's Residents, Spongebob has more of a rush for life than any of then. He is always filled with pep and cheer no matter where he goes. He lusts for life more than any of the other characters, and therefore he is the last of the seven deadly sins.
2. Spongebob was created by Steve Hillenburg, and he was a former marine biologist.
3. According to Spongebob's drivers' licence, he was born July 14, 1986.
4. Spongebob's name was originally supposed to be Spongeboy, but the name was already copyrighted for a mop.
5. President Obama is a fan of Spongebob. He says he even watches it with his daughters.

Sources from:  http://www.neatorama.com/2009/10/26/10-neat-facts-about-spongebob-squarepants/#!j7Odc
http://www.omg-facts.com/lists/333/11-Spongebob-Facts-Even-Superfans-Don-t-Know/1

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http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/257/968/786.jpg

Halloween Haunt

  

There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Screams of pure panic pierce the night. There’s nowhere you’re safe in the most horror experience in the region – Halloween Haunt at Kings Island! The seventh annual Halloween Haunt starts Friday and runs every Friday and Saturday night through October 26. Kings Island transforms into a horror-filled nightmare, from mazes with terrifying creatures around every corner to thrill rides they will haunt your dreams.  Returning mazes which include:  Carn Evil, Club Blood, Corn Stalkers, Holiday Horror, Madame Cavern of Terror, Slaughter House, Tombstone Terror-Tory, Urgent Scare and Wolf Pack.
Kings Island’s favorite thrill-rides are open during Halloween Haunt which includes: The Beast, Diamondback, Firehawk, Vortex, Drop Tower, Invertigo, Delirium, Flight Deck, The Racer, Flight of Fear, Adventure Express, Stunt Coaster, Monster, Zephyr, Scrambler, Shake, Rattle & Roll, Dodgem, Boo Blasters on Boo Hill and the Viking Fury. Friday nights feature the “Wall of Monsters” when the gates to the underworld open at 6 p.m. Only the bravest of souls will make it past the vast array of vampires, werewolves, mummies, zombies, undertakers, clowns and assorted ghouls.On Saturdays, the park opens at 11 a.m. then the transformation into Halloween Haunt beginning at 5 p.m. Halloween Haunt is not for the faint of heart and will ravage your senses. This in-your-face horror experience continues to break new ground.
                  Ticket info-
                   FRIDAY NIGHT HAUNT ADMISSION TICKETS
                   TICKETS ONLINE  $26.99
                   Buy online and you save $13.00 off the regular price at the park of $39.99! Valid for admission Friday nights from 6pm - 1am.

           

SATURDAY                                                           ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT AS LOW AS $32.99 Enjoy the park all day long and the haunted attractions all night for one low price. Buy online and you save $24.00 off the regular price at the park of $56.99!

  

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/
http://www.ohioshaunted.com
http://www.fox45now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wrgt_vid_16090.shtml

                             

The Visual Art Club is Finally Here!



 SPRING VALLEY'S VISUAL ART CLUB



Spring Valley finally has a Visual Arts Club. It is supervised by Ms. Howerton and Ms. Hagar, the art teachers. It is an exciting, and interactive club in which art and ideas can be shared. Students interested in joining should speak with one of the art teachers or can simply show up to the next meeting. This club is not only for people who draw or paint, but is also an outlet for students who are interested in photography to share their work and creativity as well. 



Photo Courtesy of http://triplepeasphotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/monday-january-18th-2011-lovemycamera.html



The Visual Arts Club meets every other Friday in Ms. Hagar's art room and will meet next Friday after school. Art is not always about creating a masterpiece, it is about self expression. It could be as simple as making designs on your nails or making doodles in the corner of a piece of paper. Its whatever you like and enjoy creating. The Visual Art Club is a great place to share your work with friends who will support you and your art.  



Photo Courtesy of http://freelancefolder.com/ways-to-become-more-creative/



Art from all mediums will be appreciated. If you are interested don't be shy. The Visual Arts Club already has several members and is looking to add more and is trying to let students know it's there and that they are welcome to join. Whether you are a sketch artist, a painter, or a photographer, and whether you like color, black and white, or a mash, this could be the club for you.

"Daddy Approved"

                                                         "Daddy Approved"

                                                            Photo Courtesy Of:
                                                 Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images 

      http://www.eonline.com/photos/9779/spring-2014-trends-from-new-york-fashion-week/311930

       Sadie Robertson from the show Duck Dynasty struggled last year with finding a dress that was "Daddy Approved" for her school dance. This year Sadie was seen strutting the runway at New York Fashion Week September 9th, wearing a 2014 Sherri Hill  "Daddy Approved" full length polka dot gown. The Robertson family partnered with Sherri Hill for a dress line called Sadie Robertson Live Original. Both Sherri and The Robertsons are eager to work with each others' families and provide girls around the world with "Daddy Approved" dresses. Although Hill will be designing the dresses, Sadie will choose which dresses she will give her stamp of approval to.

  http://breathecast.christianpost.com/articles/duck-dynasty-star-sadie-robertson-runway-fashion-prom-10452/

Food Animals The Newest Craze!

     Who likes food? Who likes animals? Who likes food carved to look like animals?! If you said "I do!" to all of those questions maybe you should take up the hobby of food carving.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2299953/Who-said-dont-play-food-Artist-creates-amazing-animal-sculptures-vegetables.html

     In many countries carving fruit and vegetables is considered an art. We normally think about pumpkins for Halloween, but I bet you never even imagined foods such as watermelon, potatoes, and many more!   

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/fruit-crafted-animals/

Retro TV: Courage the Cowardly Dog

Good afternoon students, this is Dr. Cooper. Today we visit animated TV for this week's show.
Some kids loved it. Others were terrified of it. All parents frowned upon it. Yet the show continued on for 4 seasons and maintains an avid cult following today among lovers of...whatever genre it would be defined as. Yes, today's topic is Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Courage the Cowardly Dog originally ran from 1999-2002 on Cartoon Network when they still made decent programming. It is still very popular even today, as most of the Cartoon Network shows from that era are.
It is difficult to truly explain the plot and basis of this show due to its extremely unusual.....unusualness. Courage is an ironically-named, easily frightened  dog owned by an elderly couple named Eustace and Muriel. They live in the Middle of Nowhere, a place plagued by random and spontaneous paranormal events, most of which only seem to happen to Courage and his family. In the words of the Nowhere reporter himself, "...creepy stuff happens in Nowhere". Courage loves his family very much, even though Muriel is the only one that cares about him. Eustace is always grumpy and calls him a "stupid dog!". A recurring gag on the show is when Eustace, either mad at Courage or wanting to frighten him for fun, quickly puts on a random mask for no apparent reason and screams "OOGA BOOGA BOOGA!!!".

Despite his extreme fears, Courage is always brave when his odd family is in trouble. The area is often plagued by zombies, monsters, chicken aliens, a mummy, thieves, talking cats, rats, trees, personified foods, mad scientists, a giant foot, and just plain weird things. Courage often has to go up against these things to save Muriel and Eustace, although they are often oblivious to what is happening. In the end Muriel and Courage always end up happily at home, while Eustace meets an unfortunate demise (such as being trapped in a pyramid). 
Another noteworthy aspect of the show was that Courage would always research stuff on the computer (to find out what the heck was going on), which may be one of the first known uses of the search engine on animated children's' television....yay. 
Despite having ended over a decade ago, Courage the Cowardly Dog is still aired on Cartoon Network (because their new shows are awful) and has an avid fan base. Its unusual aspect of kid-friendly dark humor and paranormal...things... makes it a unique show that I recommend watching.

This guy scared the life out of you if you watched this episode as a kid. Don't mess with King Ramses unless you like floods, locusts, and bad music. And please, don't steal his stuff.

 Thanks for joining me. That's all for today...go away now.
"We'll always have Paris"

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courage_the_Cowardly_Dog

Photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courage_the_Cowardly_Dog 

 http://forum.gameanyone.com/index.php?topic=18966.40

 www.tumblr.com  

 http://www.fakecard.com/pokedex/pokemon/164.shtm