Since 2012, Costa Rican banknotes are undergoing a reform and are being replaced by a new model. Two new denominations were introduced as part of the reform; 20,000 and 50,000 colones. The old notes will all be withdrawn from circulation and be replaced by new ones. The new banknotes will have different colors, shapes and images than their predecessors. All the denominations have a different length so that people with visual impairments can recognize the banknotes easily.
On February 6, 2011, the United States dollar was worth 508.11 colones. The colón has had an unusual relationship with the U.S. dollar that may best be described as a "crawling peg"; instead of being defined by a constant value to the dollar, the colón instead would grow progressively weaker at a fixed rate of about 3.294 colones per dollar per month. On October 16, 2006, however, this crawling peg was modified due to weakness in the U.S. dollar and the perception that the colón is now undervalued. The exchange rate is now free to float within a currency band referenced to the United States dollar. The floor of the band has been set at a fixed value, while the ceiling changes at a fixed rate. In practice the exchange rate has remained fixed at the lower value of the currency band.
Since October 17, 2006 the colón is no longer bound to controlled devaluations (known in Costa Rica as "minidevaluaciones") by the Central Bank of Costa Rica. With the new system, "sistema cambiario de bandas", the exchange rates posted by the Central Bank are a "reference" and each authorized financial institution can determine their value independently in hopes that the free market will provide a mechanism to keep them reasonable.
The colón is sometimes referred to as the "peso", which was the name of the Costa Rican currency before the colón, until 1896. This is very common across Latin American countries, where most have (or had at some point) currencies called pesos. Another nickname is "caña" (Spanish for sugar cane, plural cañas) but this nickname is more often used in plural for amounts under 100 colones. For example: 5 cañas, 10 cañas, 20 cañas. This term has become less popular.
"Teja" (roof tile in Spanish) is used as another nickname. It means one hundred colones. For example: five hundred colones are called ""cinco tejas"". "Teja" can also be used for 100,000 colones. ""Media Teja"" (half a roof tile in Spanish) is used for 50 colones or 50,000 colones.
The one thousand colones note is called "un rojo" (one red) because of its red color.
Sainte-Mélanie, Quebec
Sainte-Mélanie is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality. It is located along the western shores of the L'Assomption River.
Sainte-Mélanie used to be part of the territory of the Ailleboust Seignory, which was given to Jean d'Ailleboust d'Argenteuil (1694-1785) in 1736. By 1800, Pierre-Louis Panet (1761-1812) was Lord of Ailleboust. His daughter Charlotte-Mélanie Panet (1794-1872) may have been the source of the name Sainte-Mélanie, also a reference to Melania the Younger (383-439). Charlotte-Mélanie's husband, Marc-Antoine-Louis Lévesque (1782-1833), donated the land in 1814 for a chapel that was built in 1830. The Parish of Sainte-Mélanie was founded in 1832. Four years later, in 1836, the post office opened under the name Daillebout.
L'Assomption River
The Assomption River (in French "", named after the Assumption of Mary) is the most important waterway in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It is over long. It has a drainage basin of . It flows from the Mont Tremblant massif. Seven significant rivers flow into the Assomption (de la Boule, Versailles, Noire, la Chaloupe, Ouareau, Saint-Esprit, and Achigan) before it flows into the Rivière des Prairies at Repentigny, Quebec.
About 150000 people live in the drainage area of this river.
Long-tailed river stingray
The long-tailed river stingray ("Plesiotrygon iwamae"), also known as the antenna ray, is a species of freshwater stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae.
These animals have a long tail, small eyes, and few pectoral-fin radials.
They eat worms, crustaceans, mollusks, and small bottom fish (such as small catfish). They can detect electrical and chemical signals from prey in mud and sand.
The species was mentioned in 1987 by Hugo P. Castello from Museu de Zoologia, University of São Paulo. Examples were then found in other museums that had been given wrong names or identified incorrectly.
This fish does not appear often in the aquarium trade.
Lofn
Lofn is a goddess in Norse mythology. Lofn is described in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. She is described as a gentle woman who arranges marriages. She survived the Ragnarök, the battle at the end of the world to determine the fate of the gods.
Hawthorne effect
The Hawthorne effect is a form of reactivity. When the group which is under study knows about the study and their behavior changes after knowing that they are being studied, this change of behavior is the Hawthorne effect. For example: a group of 10 people are being studied for their health after exercising. Without knowing that they are being studied, they do or not do exercise, but after knowing that they are being studied they regularly do exercise.
Donkey Kong Country (TV series)
Donkey Kong Country was a French/Canadian animated television series. It was based off the video game of the same name. It first aired in France on September 4, 1996. It aired in the United States starting on August 15, 1997. It first aired on the Fox Box, but after 2 episodes, it moved to Fox Family. It aired until July 7, 2000.
The series involved a magical coconut named the Crystal Coconut found by Donkey Kong. It could grant wishes and answer any question. King K. Rool wanted to steal the Crystal Coconut along with taking over Kongo Bongo Island, the show's setting. Despite his efforts, he was never able to steal the Crystal Coconut.
Several things from this show, such as the Crystal Coconut, later appeared in the Nintendo 64 video game "Donkey Kong 64". Shigeru Miyamoto was critical of the show, stating his dislike for the show on several occasions.
Pac-Man (TV series)
Pac-Man was an animated television series that aired on ABC. It was created by Hanna-Barbera. It was based on the video game series of the same name. It aired from 1982 to 1983. Two seasons of 21 episodes were aired.
The show followed Pac-Man, his wife Pepper, their child Pac-Baby, their dog Chomp-Chomp, and their cat Sour Puss. They live in Pac-Land, a place built mostly of spheres and sphere-like shapes. Episodes were mainly about the Pac family and their battles with their enemies, the Ghost Monsters. The Ghost Monsters were Blinky, Inky, Pinky, Clyde, and Sue. They worked for Mezamaron, whose goal was to locate and control the Power Pellets. The Power Pellets were the food and power source for Pac-Land.
Two special episodes aired. The first one was the "Pac-Man Halloween Special", which was two Halloween episodes of the show. It aired in primetime on October 30, 1982. The second was "Christmas Comes to Pac-Land", which was a Christmas special where Pac-Man and his family had to help Santa Claus after he crash-landed in Pac-Land.
Cerro Chirripó
Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain peak of Costa Rica. This mountain is in Chirripó National Park. It is known for its biodiversity. From the mountain, it is possible to see both the Carribean Sea and the Pacific Ocean at the same time on a clear day.
Serampore
Serampore () (also called Serampur, Srirampur, Srirampore, Shreerampur, Shreerampore, Shrirampur, Shrirampore) is a city and a municipality in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. It is a town on the right bank of the Hoogly River.