Reviews of a Poke'mon Entomologist: Vivillon

Hey ya'll 

So Nintendo just announced a couple of new things recently in conjunction with the Poke'mon franchise, and in addition to the news of a new type being introduced (it is Fairy, btw), two new species of Poke'mon have alos been added to the mix one of which is the pretty butterfly Poke'mon, Vivillon. Vivillon is described on the official Poke'mon website as a beautiful butterfly Poke'mon that can perform status attacks by dislodging the scales on its wings, or create strong gusts of wind. The description of it is fairly typical, as far as bug Poke'mon go and Vivillon is pretty standard in this regard. In terms of its name I can only guess that it combines the words "Vivid" and "Papillon" (which is French, for butterfly) or "Papillio" (which is the latin name for swallowtail butterflies) literally meaning a brightly colored butterfly Poke'mon. It recycles many traits that are pretty standard of previous butterfly-moth Poke'mon and seems to particularly embody physical aspects of generation 1's Butterfree and generation 3's Beautifly. Vivillon's type is purpoted to be Bug and Flying which, again is not particularly remarkable as many Bug Poke'mon share that typical combination. Part of me is hoping, however, that Nintendo will do a surprise switcheroo at the end and maybe give it a more unique type casting, perhaps Bug and Psychic, or maybe even Bug and Fairy. Having said that I am quite psyched by the appearance of this poke'mon as it marks the return of the butterfly-moth that was introduced in almost every installment of the poke'mon game save the latest Black-White edition.  Am definitely going to give Pokemon X and Y a go when it comes out later in the year, even if it means having to buy a whole new console for it. Which brings me to the question: anyone have second hand Nintendo 3DS for sale? 

ps. if you haven't yet noticed it, check out the animated Vivillon that now inhabits my side bar! Pretty nifty huh? 

Cheers, Cyren

Never Forget

Hey ya'll

What's really sad about the state of the world today is that people always complain about how ugly it is, or how corrupted... about how all beauty is lost, when the fact is that that couldn't be any more further than the truth! Beauty still exists. Despite all we've done to the planet, it's still there.  Want to try to find some beauty in your life? Try to be more observant to the things around you. 

Beauty is everywhere. The problem is most people these days don't bother to look. We expect beauty to be presented to us on a silver platter, or a silver screen, the way we are so used to being entertained by our computers, television sets, and smart phones, and so are equally quick to judge the "world" as an ugly place when its beauty is not readily visible to our eyes.

But I challenge you today, to take a walk around your neighborhood. When you've found a comfortable spot, bring yourself down to the level of the Earth. Now, I want you to observe a blade of grass. Pay attention to every detail of it, the way it grows out of its roots, the shade of purple in the smallest petals of the impossibly small flowers, the delicate wisps of fur that sometimes grow from the stalk. For a brief moment try to appreciate the complexity of it. Remind yourself that this is not "just a blade of grass" you are looking at, but a living thing. An organism with a complex system of cells and processes that contributes to the life giving oxygen that we all breathe.  And then try to look even further, observe the many creatures that frequent that blade of grass.

There are always ants of course, but if you look even closer you might see other things. Woodlice, perhaps, that can roll into perfect spheres when they are alarmed. Or maybe even the almost microscopic creatures. So small that they would seem like "insects" to the already diminutive insects!  Sit there for fifteen minutes or half an hour or so and take note of the various activities these animals partake in, so busy in their own tasks, or too small to may anything else any significance. I hope it won't take you too long before you realize that there is an entire world that is centered upon this blade of grass! Now take a step back and look all around you.  Take in every single blade of grass in the area, each containing its own secret little society. Take a step back further and think about this on the scale of the entire neighborhood. There are multiple "worlds" within our world, so close to us and yet so invisible from our own. Each blade of grass is its own community, each garden, a world, each patch of green, a universe! 

My friends, there is beauty everywhere (especially where there is a little Green!). One only need take the effort to look. 

Life History of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
photo source: http://cyrenization.deviantart.com