Interesting Facts About Watermelon.

A square watermelon? Don't worry, I explain below.

I (not so) graciously consumed a slice of watermelon earlier. It was quite delicious and definitely satisfying. Accordingly, I figured hey... why not drop some watermelon facts on my audience? Nothing hot and heavy here for you to process this evening, just some cool facts about a cool fruit... and a vegetable?

• Yes, watermelons are both a fruit and a vegetable. They grow from a seed, making them a fruit. And yet, they are within the same family of vegetables as pumpkins, squash and cucumbers. The watermelon is a trans-food substance! How progressive!
• The wild watermelon, which looks much different than the watermelon we typical eat, originated in southern Africa.
• A watermelon is 92% water, making it a natural thirst quencher and great for your kidneys.
• Watermelons also contain high amounts of manganese, Vitamin C, Vitamins B1 and B6, Vitamin A and potassium.
• Watermelons are also packed with electrolytes, making them a much better choice for consumption over sugar-filled energy and athletic drinks.
• Most of the world's watermelons are grown in China.
• In China, the rind of the watermelon is eaten like a stir-fried vegetable.
• Japan has the strangest watermelons of all. You can purchase higher-end square watermelons, which are seen as fashionable. How do the farmers do it? They grow the watermelons in square glass containers, in which the melons gradually take on the shape. We really need these in the USA!
• The heaviest watermelon ever recorded was nearly 270 pounds.
• You can carve a watermelon just like a pumpkin at Halloween. When you light it with a candle, the red interior takes on the spooky appearance of blood! I did this as a child many times and can verify that it works.

And now, for you viewing pleasure (and just because it's my blog and I can do what I want), here is a video of an exploding watermelon!

Draw Something: The Friendly Kappa

The kappa meets all three requirements for being cool.

• Is it a monster?
• Is it a turtle?
• Is it from Japan?

Yes. Yes. Y-E-S!

Kappas are creatures bound in ancient myth. Said to warn children about the dangers found along the banks of rivers and lakes, the kappa is both terrifying and beloved. Their history is beside the point, though. I just think they look cool.

Sushi Night!

Every so often, Crystal and I will have a homemade sushi night. Surprisingly, making sushi isn't as hard as you might think. It just takes a little patience and the right ingredients.

The chief component is short-grain Japanese rice, along with rice vinegar, sugar, salt and sheets of dried seaweed for the exterior. Mix in various vegetables, fish and meat. Tada! You're all set. I won't bore you with a detailed description of how to make sushi, but there's a plethora of simple recipes all over the internet. You can surely find one that suits your tastes.

What are some of my favorite sushi rolls?

Unagi Roll - unagi (eel), avocado, cucumber, daikon sprouts, sesame seeds, sweet unagi glaze

Philadelphia Roll - smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, avocado

Spicy Tuna - tuna, spicy mayonnaise, roe, scallions

Spider Roll - fried soft-shell crab, avocado, lettuce, spicy mayonnaise, cucumber, roe

Tako Roll - tako (octopus), cucumber, avocado, lettuce

The Triumph Of The Rock Lords!

When you think of the greatest toys from the 1980's, there are many prime examples that would all be worthy of mentioning. Transformers, Thundercats, The Real Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, Barbie and Masters of the Universe -- each and every one is a winner. But... there is another toy line that's often forgotten about. This series featured sentient robots battling it out on a faraway planet. The toys had unique and often novel designs, each with a distinct personality and profile. Unfortunately... they were robotic rocks.

Of course, I'm talking about Rock Lords.

Oh look... a group of normal, non-menacing rocks!

The Rock Lords toy series began in 1986 as an off shoot of the floundering GoBots line. They were initially presented in the animated feature film GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords. From that point on, the toys received no media support, which definitely hindered any chance for real success. At this time, Hasbro's Transformers were dominating the toy robot market. Tonka, the owners of the sinking GoBots toys, decided the best tactic was to throw rocks at the Transformers. It was most certainly a boneheaded idea, but that doesn't mean the Rock Lords toys themselves weren't fantastic. In fact, they're awesome!

Unsurprisingly, the Rock Lords began their existence as a segment of the Japanese Machine Robo toy line, produced by Popy. Tonka imported them for release in North America, just as Hasbro did with many of the toys in the Transformers series. For example, the Rock Lord we know as Slimestone was originally released in Japan as Magnarock (MR R-5). Each Rock Lord had it's own captivating backstory and design based upon a certain type of mineral or stone. Boulder, the leader of the good Rock Lords, was composed of tungsten. The evil Rock Lord leader, Magmar, was an igneous rock. This was a standard for the entire toy line, creating a dense universal narrative. The characters had weight (literally in some cases) and substance. They weren't just transforming rocks... they were characters that could seemingly come to life in the mind of an imaginative child!

Narligator and Narlizard

Not every character in the Rock Lords toy line was a robotic rock, though. You had the Narlies, which were fuzzy critters whom lived on the Rock Lords' homeworld of Quartex. They were really interesting little toys that featured a unique rolling action feature. Pushing them across a hard surface would activate an internal mechanism, thereby making the Narlies move their mouths and tails.

Terra-Roc

Also present in the series were the Rockasaurs, a keen mash-up of rocks and dinosaurs. Only two were released -- the flying Terra-Roc and the rhino-like Spike Stone. As a twist on the gestalt combiner concept, the Rock Lords even had their own monstrous dinosaur robot called Fossilsaurus. Four individual Fossil Lords would combine to create the terrifying Rockasaurus Rex! This combiner set is quite hard to find and very valuable on the collector market. Considering how great the Rockasaurus Rex set is, I can understand why. It's a shame more rock/dinosaur hybrids weren't released in this series; they look phenomenal!

Over the course of three series, the Rock Lords tried to invade the hearts and wallets of a robot-crazed consumer base. As a concept, the Rock Lords had a lot of untapped potential. Future series could have explored other metal, alloy and space themes. Unfortunately, the Transformers were just too much of a powerhouse to be stopped. The Rock Lords were squashed, right along with the GoBots. Though, I have nothing but fond memories of the series. The Rock Lords are excellent toys that any fan of the 1980's should celebrate! They'll be remembered for their innovation and willingness to try something different. Even though they weren't a financial success, the Rock Lords can never be labeled as uninspired or lacking merit.

What Do I Want Out Of Life?

I'm looking for answers wherever I can find them.

I was recently asked by someone very close to me about what I want out of life. It has taken some genuine soul searching for me to answer these questions. Admittedly, most people could probably answer them with relative ease; this is not true in my case. Perhaps I think too much about life. Maybe I operate on more data than the average person requires. Understanding the 'Big Picture' has made me slightly nihilistic and hollow. Either way, here's my best attempt at answering the following questions.

Where Do I See Myself In One Year?

Within the next year, I'd like to have moved to a new place. North Carolina has been really great for me, but it's time to move on. There's not too much left here that I haven't seen. The Triad is fairly small, with little to offer in terms of entertainment or of an interest to my hobbies. By Summer of 2016, I'm hoping to either be in the process of moving or have just completed a move.

...In Five Years?

In five years, I'm hoping to have settled into the new place that I eventually move to, wherever that may be. Hopefully, my collectibles business would have expanded and still be able to support me. In terms of writing, I want to be published by then. I'm not too picky about in what manner I want to be published, though. Whether it be a novel, a collection of short stories, a screenplay or even a children's book. I also want the audience of my blog to have at least doubled by then. Currently, I average around 4,000 - 5,000 unique visits a month. Writing has had a truly positive influence on my life. It's something that I'm actually good at.

...In Ten Years?

In ten years, I'll probably be looking at moving again. I don't want to spend my entire life in one place. I'd get bored with my surroundings. Hopefully, there'll be multiple books that I've published at that point. By then, maybe my website will have become a place where those whom read my work can contact me, as well as enjoy my daily articles.

...In Twenty Years?

I'll be 52 years old in twenty years. By then, I've hopefully left the retail collectibles business behind and am solely supporting myself as a writer. Maybe I've expanded into the screenwriting business and have had a motion picture filmed of my work. I'll probably have moved yet again -- it's hard to imagine that I'll move three more times within twenty years, but that's likely the case.

Where Do I Want To Go?

The two places on the top of my 'To Go' list are Scotland and Japan -- this is probably the easiest question for me to answer. It doesn't matter which place I visit first, but I want to go to both within the next decade. I'm hoping to go to Japan in 2016 if everything works out right. By 2020, I want to see Scotland. Within the United States, I'd like to tour the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are also places I want to see. I want to travel to the Northeast and visit Colonial Massachusetts -- specifically to see the Adams National Historical Park. Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are also on my to-do list. Finally, I'd like to see Hawaii and experience the life of the native people there. I have a great deal of respect for traditional Hawaiian culture.

Where Do I Want To Live?

I'd like to live out west and experience life on the other coast. Having lived on the East Coast of the United States my whole life, I think seeing how the opposite side of America lives would be good for my mind. While I don't think I'd want to live in Southern California, I might consider a smaller or medium size city in Northern California like Redding or Chico that doesn't sit on an active fault line. In terms of what I want to see in a city, I want a place with a thriving downtown area and an art scene. I envision myself spending nights walking from an art house to a bar, then to eat at a restaurant. A place with an active brewing community would be great as well. Being able to make friends with some politically motivated individuals would be nice, as well as those whom like to read a lot.

At some point, I want to live in Japan and Scotland, not just visit them. I realize I can't stay there long term without immigrating, but a good three or six month span would be nice. With Scotland, I want to experience life in a small village along the coast or in the Highlands. Inverness would also be an interesting city to spend some time in. In Japan, I'd like to live in Tokyo and travel all along the length of the country. I want to ride the rails from one tip of Japan to the other, then hop a boat ride to Okinawa. There's just so much there that I can't even begin to list it all -- the cuisine, the shrines, the natural beauty, the sea life, the art, the people.

What Do I Want To Do?

I want to be a storyteller. Honestly, I believe my ability to tell stories is one of my strongest skills. Not one to stick to only fiction or non-fiction, my works would transcend genres and mediums. I want to write a biography, a children's animated film and a fantasy epic. When future historians look at the most diverse writers of the 21st Century, I hope my name is occasionally mentioned. I pray that my stories will make people cry, will spark the imagination of a child, will bring two lovers together, will inspire humans to travel to the stars.

What Do I Want Out Of Life?

I want to figure out what makes me happy. I'm not truly passionate about anything right now. The only way for me to figure that out is to see new things, travel to new places and meet new people. Being trapped behind four walls like a hermit is no way to go through life -- and I've been living like that for far too long. When I reach the twilight of my life, I don't want to feel like I wasted my chance at making my mark.

Godzilla Is Now an Official Resident of Japan.

Looks like Godzilla is formally a citizen of Earth.

Thanks to his regular appearances in and around Japan throughout his multitude of films, Godzilla was recently granted special residency by the Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo.

Godzilla made an appearance at the special event to receive this awesome plaque and a stylish sash from Shinjuku mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi.

This should come as no surprise. Godzilla's giant head and hand were recently installed on the new Toho Cinemas Kabukicho / Hotel Gracery Shinjuku Complex. The life-size head peaks over the rooftop, which you can then see from within the hotel rooms located there. It's all quite menacing, but intended to be fun at the same time.

Godzilla atop the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku.

By providing Godzilla residency, the Shinjuku Ward has officially chosen the King of Monsters to serve as the ambassador of international tourism for the city. As an added bonus, the first three thousand visitors whom want an official copy of Godzilla's residency document may do so at any of the ward's various government offices.

Godzilla's Official Residency Document

Image courtesy of @dybastar via Twitter

Congratulations to the big green guy. Even though he's caused trillions of dollars in damage, people still adore him. Now that's what I call unconditional love!

Here's a video of the life-size Godzilla installation above the hotel and theater center as it was unveiled. If you skip to the four minute mark, you can see the sculpture from ground level. It's HUGE!

So What Exactly Is Imitation Crab, Anyway?

I just wrapped up a tasty dinner comprised of two eggs, chopped spinach, a few chicken tenderloins and imitation crab meat. A couple dashes of hot sauce and vinegar were tossed in for good measure. Needless to say, my tummy is full and I'm satisfied. My dinner got me to thinking, though... what exactly is imitation crab?

Well, there's actually a fairly simple answer.

Imitation crab originates from Japan. It was first marketed by Sugiyo Co., Ltd. in 1973. At that time, the name for it was kanikama (crab stick). That name is still in use within Japan. By the late 1970's. the crab substitute had crossed the Atlantic, where it began production in the United States. The rest, as they say, is history.

In terms of ingredients, imitation crab is mainly a product of ground white fish meat, or surimi. The meat is then shaped into the form of a crab leg. To hold its shape, egg whites or the enzyme transglutaminase are used as a binding agent. Finally, crab flavoring and a food grade red dye are added. The end result is something that looks, tastes and smells an awful lot like crab meat, but isn't. I've enjoyed it for years -- it's so versatile for cooking with. You can add it to a salad, mix it with a stir fry, bake it in a casserole, construct a creamy crab salad or toss it with pasta. Of course, using it to prepare sushi is what imitation crab is most famous for.

The next time you're looking for something a little bit different to prepare for a meal, give imitation crab meat a try. You won't regret it!

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the campus of Duke University today. The lavish and well maintained garden facility is vast, with multiple areas featuring different types of plants and landscaping. The Duke Gardens are comprised of four different areas.

• Historic Gardens - Started in 1934, this was the original garden that started it all. Has a large, Italian style staggered terrace filled to the brim with all kinds of flowers, bushes, shrubs and trees.
• Doris Duke Center and Gardens - Features a white-flowered cottage garden and a large amphitheater, which is popular for weddings and social gatherings.
• H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants - Over 900 species of plants native to the Southeastern United States.
• W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum - 18 Acres of plants representing the diversity of species found in Southeast Asia.

Each area has a different look from the others. The walkways leading throughout the various garden areas are clean and easily passable. As such, the Duke Gardens are a perfect place to take your family.

This is a Japanese Tea House located in the Asiatic Arboretum. The intricate building serves as the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion. Chanoyu, which is the preparation and service of traditional Japanese tea, takes place here regularly throughout the year. It's quite impressive and easily one of the highlights of the experience. Durham is a sister city to Toyama, to which they host guests from each other in the celebration of peace between the Japanese and American people.

The terrace located in the Historic Gardens are amazing! Each staggered row of plants features a plethora of colors and arrangements. There's not a bad spot anywhere to take photos!

Here are some other various photos from the trip. As you can see, the site is well maintained and an absolute pleasure to take in. I highly suggest that you make a visit the next time you're in the Durham, North Carolina area.

Ice Cream That Will Make You Scream!

The snow clouds are moving away. Temperatures are on the rise. April showers are sweeping through the United States. Spring has definitely arrived... and Summer isn't far behind. That being said, Americans are returning to one of their favorite frosty treats -- ice cream.

Of course, we all know of popular flavors like vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint chocolate chip and fudge royal... but what about the other not-so-well-known flavors? I present to you a rundown of ice cream flavors that might just make you SCREAM!

Lobster -- That's right, you can actually order lobster-flavored ice cream right here in the United States. This odd flavor is produced by Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium in Bar Harbor, Maine. It should be no surprise given the geography. Surprisingly enough, it's quite the popular selection with the locals. Now that's some ice cream with a bite!

Butternut Squash -- When you think of potential ice cream flavors, vegetables typically don't come to mind. This odd concoction is crafted by il laboratorio del gelato in Manhattan, New York. Mmmmm... squash flavored ice cream. I think I'll pass.

Secret Breakfast -- Perhaps the best ice cream for deviants and those whom will eat anything, this unique flavor is from Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream in San Francisco, California. So what exactly is in Secret Breakfast? You've been warned... it's a mixture of whiskey and corn flakes. Talk about the ultimate hair of the dog treatment.

Wasabi Pea Dust -- This is an ice cream flavor with a kick! Coming from the wildly successful Big Gay Ice Cream in New York City, it is sure to wake you right up upon first bite. They also have other interesting flavors like Cayenne Pepper and Pumpkin Butter (I think I'd like to try this one, actually).

Cow Tongue -- This one is probably the oddest flavor on the list, hence why I saved it for last. You can taste not only this unique treat, but many others just as strange (if not stranger) at Japan's Namja Town amusment park in Ikebukuro, Tokyo! Within Namja Town are various ice cream parlors. Some feature more traditional, well-known flavors. Other stalls... they're peculiar to put it mildly. You can not only order Cow Tongue, but also Octopus, Snake, Salt and Yakisoba -- all in ice cream form. Sign me up!

Oh No... Spring Is Coming!

The Springtime Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) outside Himeji Castle,

Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan

As I sit down to write this evening, I must confess that I'm a slight bit under the weather. For the past few days, I've been dealing with some chest congestion and sneezing. Thankfully, I don't feel too ill; it's all in my chest. No fever. No chills. No sore muscles.

I'm crossing my fingers. Let's hope I don't feel any worse.

With the season of Spring coming on March 20, I enter into the time of year that I dread the most -- allergy season. Besides being allergic to most all types of plant-based allergens, I also have asthma. It's a double whammy!

The oncoming of Spring is a double-edged sword. I'm eager to see all the flowers return. Just this week, my daffodils flowered. A few crocus also opened their flowers. Before long, my peach trees will be in bloom, as will all the iris in our garden beds. It's a real blessing to see the flowers return year after year... but with that luxury come the allergies.

Like any great allegory, Spring reminds me of a valuable lesson. There are positives and negatives to all things.

Almond and Fish - YUM!

Good evening my readers. I have nothing monumental to say tonight, being that it's Friday and you're probably out having fun. Let's face it... I'm really just talking to myself.

That being said, I thought I'd share some photos of a cute little snack which my great friend Yuka mailed me all the way from Japan. She sent this in a package last January to celebrate the new year. As you can see, this snack is out of this world!

Yep... that's a bag of almonds and tiny little dried fish.

I can assure you - they taste better than they look. A snack of this caliber may come as a shock to the average American. But, once you get past the notion of eating a whole baby fish (I think it's a sardine), it's actually quite pleasant. My taste palette is a bit on the adventurous side anyway, so this was no problem for me to eat.

You'd think this would be a very salty snack that reeks of a pungent fish odor. Yet, you'd be wrong. It's actually very sweet tasting. The fish are not crunchy, to be honest. Instead, they mostly just fall apart in your mouth and melt away. Contrasting with the fish are the almonds, which add a nice depth to the overall flavor. From what Yuka told me, this is a very healthy and popular snack in Japan. Many parents prefer to give this snack to their kids instead of sweets, chips and candy.

I've been savoring the packets Yuka mailed me for the past year and making them last. Being that I can't purchase such a delicacy in the United States, I have to stretch out my supply. If you ever get the opportunity to try the almond and fish snack, be brave and go for it!

My Top Five Favorite Board Games.

I absolutely L-O-V-E board games. They require you to take part in a fanciful game of wits and will in a purely physical setting. Sure, video games are fun... but a board game puts you right up against your competition -- mano-a-mano! Tonight, I want to share my top five favorite board games (in no particular order).

Othello - Originating from the game Reversi invented in the late 1800's, Othello is a simple game where you must attempt to flip as many discs as possible to your color (white or black) on a square grid. The game is easy to learn, but extremely difficult to master. I've played it for over twenty years and wouldn't consider myself an experienced player at all. To succeed, a certain measure of anticipation comes into play -- you must be able to predict how and when your opponent will react to your moves. Having a sensible instinct can determine the outcome even before the first move is executed. The modern version of Othello was trademarked in Japan in the early 1970's by the Tsukuda Original Company. Since then, the Japanese have dominated the Othello World Championship.

Monopoly - We all know and love this classic real estate trading game! Monopoly comes from Parker Brothers, whom first released the game in 1933. Original versions of the game board were circular and not square! The real estate pieces used in the game are based upon actual places in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I always try to lock up the Purple and Orange properties if possible. The Purples (Mediterranean Ave. and Baltic Ave.) are cheap to acquire and produce much needed income in the short game, while the Oranges (St. James Place, Tennessee Ave. and New York Ave.) are statistically-speaking the most landed on spaces in the game. My favorite classic piece? The top hat! Here's an interesting piece of trivia -- the United Kingdom version of Monopoly changes Baltic Ave. to Whitechapel Road. What's so interesting about that? Whitechapel is the area that Jack the Ripper committed his gruesome murders! Chilling!

Risk - This should require little explanation. In Risk, you attempt to conquer the world! For a Moriarty-esque would-be-tyrant such as myself, it's a pure passion play! In my experience, the secret to winning Risk is not to back yourself into a corner. Try to occupy as many territories as possible (preferably entire continents), even if you feel you're stretching yourself thin. Remember - units can always be moved and occupying more continents adds to your troop development bonus. You can approach Risk from three different perspectives -- the turtle (all defense), the snake (targeted strikes) or the octopus (tentacles everywhere). BE THE OCTOPUS!

Key to the Kingdom - Wow... what a game. Key to the Kingdom is a fantasy adventure where you must traverse a dangerous world full of monsters and villains. As a treasure-seeking knight, you hope to enter this dangerous world, retrieve one of the hidden treasures and escape. Along the way, you're forced to complete various missions with tools and weapons. Beware! The evil Demon King stalks you around the board at every turn! The great thing about Key to the Kingdom is that the board is interactive. You can jump through "whirlpools" in the board, which causes it to open up and expose a much larger playing area. I can't recommend Key to the Kingdom enough!

Chess - The perennial classic! Chess challenges you against another human in a pure game of wit. Learning how all of the pieces move is daunting enough, but predicting your opponent's game-plan is even harder. Gaining early control of the center of the board is important for success, as is maintaining a strong defense for your back row. Don't be afraid to sacrifice a pawn to achieve a greater tactical advantage (that's what they're for). Be cautious of employing your more important pieces too early - you're sure to lose them. My favorite piece? The Rook. Yet another game I've played all my life, but have not completely mastered (and I probably never will). One of my favorite versions of Chess is the video game classic Battle Chess. Any child of the '80s whom played with a computer should remember this legendary game. Watching the various pieces massacre each other is hilarious! Here's a fantastic video of all the death scenes from Battle Chess.

What are some of your favorite board games?