From pets to legends

The dog that waited 10 years for its owner and other statue-worthy pets

Image: Point Normal

We all remember a special pet from our childhood for different reasons, and many of us still have a furry friend who happily greets us every time we come home. But beyond being faithful companions, some animals have also made a lasting impact on society. Join us as we discover 10 incredible animals who were honored with their own memorials!

Image: Jessica Tan

One of the most famous presidential pets in America -and even the world- was Fala, the lovely black Scottish Terrier who followed President Franklin D. Roosevelt everywhere he went. And in a way, Fala is still by FDR's side, as his own bronze statue sits right next to the president's at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Image: Alfred Lee

All dogs have a special place in our hearts, but as it turns out, some of them even find a place in government! That was the case for Bosco, a Labrador and Rottweiler mix that was elected honorary mayor of Sunol, California, and held the title from 1981 until his passing in 1994. As it could not be otherwise, after his death, the locals honored him with his well-deserved bronze statue.

Image: Chalo Gallardo

Central Park is where you'll find the statue of Balto, a brave dog who helped save many lives! In 1925, Balto led a team of sled dogs across nearly 700 miles of icy Alaskan terrain. This heroic dog was tasked with transporting diphtheria antitoxin to a remote village facing a deadly outbreak. No one can deny that he deserves a memorial!

Image: Darel Low

Dog loyalty is a serious issue, and Hachiko is the perfect example. Famous not just in Japan but around the world, Hachiko, an Akita dog, faithfully accompanied his owner to work every day and waited for him at the train station. Tragically, his owner passed away while at work, but Hachiko never left the station, waiting for him every day for 10 years until his own death. His story touched many people, and in 1934, a bronze statue of Hachiko was erected at Shibuya Station.

Image: Andréas BRUN

In the streets of Istanbul lived Tombilli, the city's most beloved cat. Known for lounging lazily on the steps of different buildings with one arm comfortably draped, this cat became an icon and was the main character of many stories and photos. After his passing in 2016, Tombilli's fame earned him a memorial in the streets of the Turkish city.

Image: Erik Mclean

This Llewellyn Setter, born in 1925, was particularly known for his exceptional hunting skills, but that wasn't all. It was said that Jim was able to understand and obey commands in multiple languages, and even in Morse code! According to his owner, Jim could also identify cars and people just by hearing their description. Whether this was true or an exaggeration, there's no doubt that Jim was an incredibly intelligent dog, and we're glad he has a well-deserved statue.

Image: Nan Wisanmongkol

We all remember Laika, the courageous dog who became the first living creature to orbit the Earth. Laika was found on the streets of Moscow, and her strength and resilience led her to become a part of this historic space mission. In November 1957, she was sent aboard Sputnik 2, the second spacecraft to be launched into space. Unfortunately, Laika didn't survive. Years later, a memorial was erected in Moscow to commemorate and honor Laika's heroic sacrifice.

Image: COPPERTIST WU

In the early 1800s, explorer Matthew Flinders undertook a series of voyages to circumnavigate and map the coasts of the Australian continent. But Flinders didn't sail alone. Along for the journey was Trim, the loyal cat who stayed by his side throughout the adventure. It's said that as a kitten, Trim once fell overboard but managed to swim back to the ship and climb up a rope. That moment showed his bold spirit, and it's just one of the reasons he earned the statue that was erected in his honor in 1996.

Image: Sean Benesh

It's not just cats and dogs; there's also a statue that honors Winnipeg, a black bear cub. In 1914, Winnipeg was adopted by a Canadian lieutenant who named her after his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The bear cub traveled with him to England during WWI and eventually became a star resident at the London Zoo. There, she captured the heart of A.A. Milne's son and became the inspiration for the lovable Winnie the Pooh. As could not be otherwise, her memorial is in the Canadian city of Winnipeg.

Image: Irina Nakonechnaya

When we talk about heroic animals, we can't forget the many four-legged friends who have served in different wartime conflicts. In London, you can find the Animals in War Memorial, a place dedicated to all those animals that have served and lost their lives under military command throughout British history. They definitely deserve recognition!

HIGH SCORES AND NOSTALGIA

Let's Remember The 10 Best Arcade Games

Image: Matt & Chris Pua

While today's virtual recreation options are many and varied, the arrival of arcade games in the early 1970s revolutionized the entertainment world and left a mark on entire generations. It's impossible not to feel a bit nostalgic when thinking of these incredible games. From the revolutionary Pac-Man to other iconic Donkey Kong, we all had our favorites. What was yours?

Today, we have compiled 10 of the best arcade games to bring back the joy and excitement they once gave us. Let's play!

Image: Kvalifik

Outer space and its possibilities were a recurring theme in the 1970s games. You probably already know which one we are talking about now. You guessed it right: it's the unforgettable Space Invaders.

Released by Taito Corporation in 1978, this game was so fun and addictive that it quickly became a hit. With a classic format, players had to shoot a laser at invading ships coming from the top of the screen. Space Invaders was one of the first games to track high scores, which unleashed a competitive fever among players.

Adrenaline, tension, and fun were combined in this great game that defined the idea of "shooting games" and marked the childhood and adolescence of many of us.

Image: Senad Palic

Continuing with the space theme, another classic arcade game appeared in 1979, the mythical Asteroids by Atari.

If fighting against various enemies and obstacles was your thing, you've played Asteroids. In this classic, players had a ship that traversed space among asteroids and enemy flying saucers. Avoiding collisions with asteroids and attacking rival ships was a big challenge.

However, the level of difficulty didn't make Asteroids players any less passionate. From the beginning, this game found success, gaining a loyal fan base and becoming one of the best-selling games of its time.

Image: Roger Ce

This list would never be complete without mentioning one of the most popular games of all time: the legendary Pac-Man.

Pac-Man, played around the world by people of all ages, genders, and nationalities, was a revolution in the world of video games.

Released by Namco in 1980, this arcade game was an instant hit, and it elevated its iconic and colorful characters to global fame: the one and only Pac-Man and his "adversaries" Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Do you remember them all?

Image: Kelly Sikkema

In 1981, Nintendo launched a game that would become an absolute success: Donkey Kong.

In this classic arcade game, a particular character named Jumpman had to overcome stairs and other obstacles to save the damsel Paulina from the formidable Donkey Kong. But do you know who this Jumpman was? That's right! He later became the iconic video game figure known as Mario Bros. While he was not yet called Mario in this game, it marked his debut as the popular character we know today.

Donkey Kong was one of the first arcades to include a series of diverse and challenging levels, and it became one of the best-selling games at the time!

Image: Ben Neale

In 1981, Sega released a game developed by Konami that quickly conquered gamers. In Frogger, players used the famous joystick to control the little frogs through congested routes and tricky obstacles and get them back home. As the game progressed, the obstacles increased in speed and difficulty, making it not only fun and addictive but also very dynamic!

Due to its simplicity and lack of violence, this game was a hit regardless of the gender and age of the players.

But there is one thing that will instantly bring this game to mind: its iconic music! Do you remember it?

Image: Isaiah Schultz

Two years after the successful Pac-Man, the arcade witnessed the debut of the iconic Ms. Pac-Man!

That's right, Pac-Man's girlfriend also had her own game, and it had nothing to envy the original. Released by Midway in 1982, Ms. Pac-Man came out as a sequel game and was one of the first video games to have a female protagonist.

This game was very well received by gamers at the time, as it had everything they loved about Pac-Man, plus several improvements. A bit more challenging than the original, Ms. Pac-Man featured the beloved female protagonist and the four ghosts, this time called Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Sue.

Image: Justice Thompson

Of course, we can't forget to include a video game celebrity: the one and only Mario Bros.

As we already mentioned, Mario's first appearance in a game didn't even feature his name in the title, and he went by a different name. But his character in Donkey Kong was so well received that Nintendo decided to develop a video game for the beloved Mario.

Mario Bros., released for arcades in 1983, had not only Mario but also his co-star, his funny little brother Luigi, fighting and jumping in each level against obstacles and enemies.

Mario Bros. became a very popular arcade game in its time and was the starting point for the development of the legendary franchise that now bears that name.

Image: Joey kwok

When it comes to fighting games, Street Fighter II -released in arcades in 1991 by Capcom- gets a special mention among arcade classics.

Unlike Street Fighter I and other games that preceded it, Street Fighter II allowed the players to choose from a diverse group of characters, all fighting to become the best warrior in the world. At the same time, each character had unique abilities and characteristics. If you had the chance to play it, you probably remember some of them, such as Ryu, Ken, or Chun-Li.

In addition to its multiplicity of characters, Street Fighter II presented innovative features like the "combo system" (allowing players to apply several attacks in a row) and the "versus mode" (with which you could challenge a friend to play). Thus, this game marked the path that fighting games would take in the following decades.

Image: Carl Raw

But in 1992, we welcomed a game that, for many experts, not only surpassed Street Fighter but also became an emblem of fighting games.

We are talking about the unforgettable Mortal Kombat, with its legendary and fearsome characters that include Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, Raiden, and Sonya, among others. In addition, each character had an interesting backstory that revealed a certain depth in the characters' crafting.

But what really set Mortal Kombat apart was its unusual level of graphical violence, which naturally attracted many gamers. Do you remember the "fatalities"? Did you have a favorite character?

Image: Karsten Winegeart

If sports games were your thing, you probably played NBA Jam. This classic was released in 1993 by Midway Games and was undoubtedly very well received by the public.

Among its best features was the possibility of choosing between real NBA players of that time, making fans get excited every time they could play.

On the other hand, the graphics style and the game speed were some of the most valued features among the players.

Remember the "Boomshakalaka!" and "He's on Fire!" by Tim Kitzrow? What a time!