Most people love watching movies to relax and unwind. And there are lots of parents who want their children to watch animation movies because of their moral lessons. Here are some of the best animation movies that children must watch. It is good for the heart for both kids and kids-at-heart.

FAMILY

Finding Nemo (2003)
This is a stunning underwater adventure of an overly protected father clownfish named Martin who is looking for his son, Nemo. They become separated in the ocean when Nemo is unexpectedly taken by a diver and dumped into a fish tank. Like any father will do, Martin embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue his son and return home safely. Finding Nemo is a movie with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion. This father-and-son-relationship movie will teach children to obey their parents. It is also a must-watch film for every parents as well, for this movie will also gives every parents an idea to let their children explore and to give them a little freedom.

Frozen (2013)
Different from the typical boy meets girl story of Disney movies. Frozen is about sibling relationship. When a prophecy traps a kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter because of the Snow Queen’s (named Elsa) icy spell, her fearless optimist sister Anna sets off an epic journey to find her and stop the spell. Teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff with his sidekick reindeer Sven, they battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction. Frozen is a nice movie for kids because of the story and humor. Also, they will surely love the snowman who wants to experience summer.

FRIENDSHIP

Toys Story (1995)
Known as the first feature-length film animated entirely by computer, Toy Story focused mainly about friendship. Woody, a pull-string cowboy toy thinks that he is Andy’s (a wide-eyed youngster owner) number one toy. But his supremacy is challenged by a space-ranger action figure who named Buzz Lightyear who thinks that he is real and not a plaything. The rivalry of Woody and Buzz turned into friendship when they are threatened to turned into hideous mutants by a nasty next-door neighbor kid named Sid. This animation film will surely give your kids a good time watching an action movie with a great moral lesson. This movie will also teach children on how to appreciate their toys. Toy Story 2 and 3 are as good as this first movie as well.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)
This story is about how monsters generate their city’s power by scaring children. Monsters, Inc. is a scream processing factory where blue-furred behemoth James “Sully” Sullivan and his one-eyed assistant Mike Wazowzki are employed. These monsters are lurking under beds and closets to scare children. But monsters are also terribly afraid of being contaminated by children. Top scarer Sully with his assistant find their world disrupted when they are followed back into the monster world by a very unafraid little girl named Boo. Monsters, Inc. is also a movie about friendship. Of how these monsters became friends with this little girl.

ENVIRONMENT

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (2012)
This movie is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. Lorax is a grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. He must be find by a 12-year-old boy searching for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. This animated adventure is not only for kids and kids-at-heart but for everyone. For Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax will help us realize the importance of nature. This will teach us appreciate and protect our environment.

CHASING DREAMS

Up (2009)
Carl Fredricksen is a 78-year-old retired balloon salesman who longed to wander to the lost world (South America) of his childhood dreams in his entire life. He is ready for his last chance to fulfill his lifelong dream. One day, he shocked his neighbors by tying thousands of balloons to his house. But Carl is not alone in this high-flying excitement journey because an overeager 8-year-old wilderness explorer Russell is on his front porch. As the house touches down on the world’s second largest continent, the duo meet fantastic friends. Then, Carl realizes what true adventure means. Up is an animation movie that will teach you on chasing your dreams and to appreciate people around you. It is really a good movie to watch!

In Part 1 we discussed such video game related patents as Crossings on Gamepad, Directional Arrows, Dialog Wheels, Running in Spiral, and the Gaming Console of EA. We are back with a few more Patented Game Inventions That Might Amaze You!

Passage Quests with Friends

Invention of: Zynga
Excerpt from the patent: “A team of friends is sent a request to join a team and participate in the performance of tasks. Each team member who answered the query derives his task.”
Significance: The patent of sometime a successful company Zynga describes the sinister social mechanism: “Invite your friends, so they gave you two boards and watered the beds, then you can pass the quest”. Despite the fact that the sent automatically requests from playing friends at least once enraged any Facebook user, Zynga today is suffering terrible losses. As they say, – ‘karma is a bitch’.

Protection from Second-Hand Games

Invention of: Sony
Excerpt from the patent: “The patent application provides that when a game is purchased, the medium itself (game disk) would contain a unique identification tag which would be read by the reproduction device of the gaming system (Playstation 3 for example). The first time the disk is inserted into the gaming system; the reproduction device would record the disk ID and player ID, and use an authentication process to confirm that the combination satisfies Sony’s terms of use. If the combination of IDs does not meet the terms of use on any subsequent use of the game, the game will not start. The effect of the technology would be similar to having a single license for the game and will not require internet access to work. This process nullifies any resale value of the game. ”
Significance: Among the gamers the Sony Corporation fixed a reputation of goodwill because it produces good games, supports independent developers, regularly lowers prices and releases the consoles without regional security. Notwithstanding, this fact does not stop Sony to invent technologies that will hit the players like a method of protection from second-hand console games. Obviously, that in the case of a mismatch of the disc identity and the player a mysterious handle rights usage will not allow you to run the game.

Episodic Content Delivery

Invention of: Electronic Arts
Excerpt from the patent: “The application module contains an initial episode of the game and a technology shell to allow future episodes to be downloaded over the Internet and executed. As new technology is developed, the new technology can be incorporated into the technology shell, independent of the content development. While the patent describes a lot of these features, the (single) claim is a little elusive. It’s interesting, though, that with Xbox Live we are seeing more games providing episodic content delivery after the game’s initial launch.”
Significance: The title of the patent speaks for itself. In 2001 Electronic Arts has already come up with that what in the age of Xbox 360 would be called downloadable content (DLC). However, in the 2000s company thought that the new episodes will include different technical innovations, but in fact it was much more boring as the current games only get new versions of the endings, characters and levels. Despite the presence of the patent, EA did not sue other companies that produce their games downloadable add-on.

Balls of Junk

Invention of: Namco
Excerpt from the patent: “A game performing method for executing a game by arranging a plurality of objects comprising a plurality of objects to be stuck and an operation object, in a virtual space, controlling rolling and movement of the operation object according to a player’s input, and rolling and moving the operation object while sticking the objects which the operation object comes in contact with, comprises: setting a plurality of first displacement points capable of displacing only in predetermined radial directions different from each other, from a reference point respectively; displacing the first displacement point adjacent to a contact position, in the predetermined radial direction when the operation object comes in contact with the object to be stuck; setting a second displacement point in a position which meets a predetermined distance condition; and controlling the rolling of the operation object based on rolling surface reference points comprising the first and second displacement points.. ”
Significance: Another incredible formulation, behind which hides one of the most successful game mechanism of the last decade. The text of the patent describes how the ball out of Katamari Damacy sticks to all kinds of things, growing in volume, but always remaining relatively round . The truth is, for a seemingly simple system there is a huge number of calculations. That is why Namco has decided that this invention will be for it.

It is dollars to doughnuts, that it is not a complete list of interesting patents that gaming companies own. Sometimes lawyers of publishers patent any small invention for simply “just in case” and then do not even remember it. The matter is that the progress cannot be stopped by patents. The most likely they spur other publishers and developers to come up with alternative solutions that are even more successful than patented ones by competitors.

In recent years, the highest grossing films are often adaptations of best-selling books. When there’s a lack of good story to tell in Hollywood, they resort to literature for ideas. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is currently raking in the big dough by the minute. And who can forget two of the biggest film franchises ever: Harry Potter and Twilight? For the delight of science fiction junkies, Ender’s Game finally takes on the big screen this year, after decades of movie adaptation rumors.

If Hollywood needs more ideas on which books or series to bring to the theaters, they can take note of the following:

Vampire Academy (series) by Rachelle Mead
Please don’t relate it to Twilight, because Mead’s take on the vampire phenomenon is fresh, exciting and full of interesting characters. Teen vampires and half-humans take center stage in this series, and to make it even more interesting, an academy is the setting of this harrowing series.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
This is a Tim Burton film waiting to happen. Gaiman has always crafted rich worlds for his characters, and American Gods probably has the most diverse number of engaging characters. Where are the gods in this modern times? What are their roles in society? It’s an interesting look at mythology, and it will definitely make for an engaging and visually-stunning movie.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
There’s no more creative book than House of Leaves. A horror story that will make you turn your book upside-down and tilt your head every which way, Danielewski’s novel tells the plight of a family who moved into a house that’s bigger on the inside than the outside. Through the jumble of differently formatted pages, House of Leaves creates an eerie tale that can echo screams of terrors in cinemas worldwide.

The Stand by Stephen King
Regarded as King’s best novel, it’s surprising that a movie adaptation of The Stand hasn’t materialized yet. The unapologetically thick novel covers a wide array of genre from post-apocalyptic to horror to fantasy. For years, there are reports of movie deals but nothing came after. Producers should make up their minds because they have the best sci-fi movie in their hands.

Looking For Alaska by John Green
It’s surprising how Green’s other novel Fault in Our Stars got to be adapted into a movie first. Looking For Alaska is another of Green’s famous works. Miles enters a preparatory school for his junior year and meets Alaska, the beautiful mess. No other character in young adult fiction has characterized the beautiful mess as well as Alaska, and I demand that we see it on the big screen soon.

A great amount of video games is protected by patents. As a rule, video games develop much faster than any other entertainment industry and each game invention has the author. Respectively, the author’s ideas are accepted in order to be protected by patents from competitors or at least to make good money (in case the idea is really successful). Among these patents sometimes can be found very unusual and funny. In Part 1 we will present 5 examples of such inventions.

Crossings on Gamepad

Invention of: Nintendo
Excerpt from the patent: “Multi switch which can be mechanically activated in different directions by the operator’s finger tip pressure. It has the shape of the cross.”
Significance: A crossing, or so called D-pad is presented on all console types of gamepad, including NES. But if you look closely, you will notice that the shape of a cross was taken only on controllers of Nintendo. Sega and Microsoft framed the “arrows” with a plastic circle and Sony preferred to separate all directional buttons. These creative solutions are the result of the patent obtained by Nintendo in 1983. It describes in detail the device of cross which could not be copied by the Japanese contenders. Nearer to the forbidden territory came Sega in 1998 when D-pad gamepad Dreamcast had the shape of a cross, but was significantly different of both look and mechanics of the work. The patent had been invalidated only in 2005, but the consequences of its departure we see just now: D-pad controller of Xbox One looks like a classic “cross”.

Directional Arrow

Invention of: Sega
Excerpt from the patent: “A method of displaying the direction for the object that is moving in the virtual space to a destination.”
Significance: The directional arrow for the first time appeared in the arcade racing Crazy Taxi. When a passenger was getting in your car, a green arrow displayed at the top of the screen that shows you where to go. This is a very simple and intuitive method of orientation, so Sega had arrogated it and even successfully sued the developers of The Simpsons: Road Rage (they decided that the replacement of the arrow with the index finger will not be a breach). However, this ban has given life to new solutions: GTA 3 introduced to the players a much more friendly minimap, so, the arrow is no longer needed.

Dialog Wheel

Invention of: Electronic Arts
Excerpt from the patent: “A graphical interface is displayed during operation of the program that provides a choice indicator, wherein the choice indicator has a plurality of selectable slots, each associated with a dialog class. The graphical interface is consistent as to the position of dialog classes throughout at least a segment of the program.”
Significance: Dialogues in role-playing games had been giving for a long time an accurate representation of the consequences that would trigger this or that phrase in conversation. Thus, the half of the fun of Fallout I was the augury whether you get shot after another replica or not. Mass Effect previously explained the meaning of each phrase: the good answers are always located at the top right of the dialog wheels, the hostile ones are at the bottom right, and so on. Such a system has become a part of a series’ patented element. Other role-playing games still use simple lists of available responses.

Running in Spiral

Invention of: Sega
Excerpt from the patent: “A method is provided for controlling the appearance of a video game character, as the character traverses a path displayed on a display screen; wherein the method is used in a video game system which includes a graphics controller, digital memory and a display screen, the method comprises the steps of: displaying a banked path segment in which the game character is displayed upright at least one location on the banked path and is displayed upside down at at least one other location on this banked path…”
Significance: The complicated formulation of the patent conceals a simple idea. Do you remember blue Sonic the hedgehog who ran through the corkscrew loops? At that moment we have seen him upside down and at angles. Sega could not patent the idea of the loops, but completely does the method of displaying two-dimensional character that falls into them.

Gaming Console of EA

Invention of: Electronic Arts
Excerpt from the patent: “An electronic game system includes a game console, which accepts a game cartridge and runs the games stored therein, and a wireless controller for controlling actions in the game. The wireless controller includes a radio frequency transmitter for sending control signals to the console, and the console includes a receiver for receiving the control signals from the controller. Because the controller uses radio frequency signals instead of infrared signals to send information to the console, the controller may be operated at a large distance from the console. Thus, the game system of the invention may be used in long range applications wherein the console and the controller need to be separated by a relatively large distance.”
Significance: In early 1994, Electronic Arts applied for a patent of their own gaming console. It has been almost two decades and the patent will soon be over, but in reality such a controller does not exist yet. And, what makes things worse for EA, the company could not even sue anybody. Nintendo 64, released in 1996, had only wired gamepads. Though, the subsequent generation of consoles switched to wireless controllers, but they decisively abandoned cartridges at the same time. Fail.

In Part 2 we’ll be talking about 4 more Patented Game Inventions That Might Amaze You.

There have been plenty of movies that show different aspects of the world of casinos, but perhaps none so vividly as Casino

Ace is running the fictional Tangiers casino on behalf of the Chicago mobsters, and Santoro is sent to make sure that all the casino profits go back to the mob without anything being skimmed off first. It’s also his job to keep the Vegas mobsters in their place. Ginger is a former prostitute and drug-addict who Ace falls for and eventually marries. It’s a class act by all three actors and director Scorsese with a heady mix of gritty realism and glamor.

The film is so long that you begin to feel you’re actually there with all the main characters trapped in the same existence as them, and it’s with a sense of relief that you greet the credits at the end of the movie! Although it’s a long watch, there are plenty of lighter moments in the film, so don’t be put off by the length of the movie. This was Scorsese and De Niro’s eighth collaboration and proved yet again what a successful movie making team they make.

Guest post written by Spark.

When confronted with fantastic technology, the first impulse a person has is usually to figure out a way to waste hours of their time doing something nonproductive with it. The very first video game was the Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device developed in 1947, though most people consider the 1972 game, Pong, to be the first traditional video game. The public has had a long and checkered past with video games, sometimes treating them as toys for children, and other times welcoming them as a hobby for adults. According to the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the average age of a gamer is currently 34 years old, and the average gamer has spent 12 years gaming.

The 1970s: Motown, Bell Bottoms and the Atari
Video gaming emerged as a true industry in the 1970s. Although arcades were extremely popular throughout this decade, home video game consoles were also introduced. There were a multitude of different consoles, but only one would end up standing head and shoulders above the rest: Atari. The Atari Video Computer System retailed at $199 and according to Video Game Console Library, there were a total of 418 games released for the platform. At this time, video games were mostly the domain of children and teenagers.

The 1980s: Big Hair, Legwarmers and Mario
Arcades grew tremendously in popularity throughout the 1980s–often known as the Golden Age for Arcade Games. At the same time, IBM PC compatible computer games were being developed, and home computers were starting to become more accessible. The Nintendo Entertainment System was also released in 1983, and quickly became the most popular console on the market. According to Examiner, the popularity of the NES system skyrocketed due to a single Italian plumber named Mario.

The 1990s: Dot-com, Beanie Babies and Shareware
The decade of the 1990s was marked by a release of many portable gaming systems, as well as an increase in the overall home computer market for video games. Shareware played a huge part in this, because it enabled home computer users to download, play, and release video games into the community. Sega managed to break into the console industry with Sonic the Hedgehog, though Nintendo still captured a large amount of market share. Meanwhile, iD’s 1996 FPS Quake completely revolutionized the video game industry and ushered in a new model of Internet-based gaming.

The 2000s: High School Musical, Freedom Fries and Counter Strike
The 2000s saw console and online gaming becoming rapidly more popular among adults. As laptops for the classroom, office and even home use became more popular, a shift towards casual games that required less powerful systems also developed. A simple casual game called The Sims dominated market share and opened the door for more female gamers. CNN reported that The Sims was the best-selling PC game from 2000 to 2003, and has now sold more than 125 million copies. At the same time, the market stabilized to show a total of three major video game systems: the Sony PlayStation, the Microsoft Xbox and the Nintendo Wii.

The 2010s: Zumba, Dog Shaming and the Next Generation
The next generation of video game consoles are being eagerly awaited, including the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Video games are pushing forward with motion-based and voice-based technology, which is leading to far more inventive methods of playing. Independent developers are also attempting to break into the game business, such as the Ouya, which is an Android-based video game console. The games on the Ouya are intended to be completely free, as noted on the Ouya website. The market has shifted towards more casual and accessible games, especially among the female demographic.

With Orange is the New Black, Weeds creator Jenji Kohan has a stunning, hilarious new hit that offers life lessons straight from a minimum-security prison. The series is only available on Netflix, available with Hughesnet.com satellite Internet or other high-speed connection. Orange — or OITNB as fans call it — follows the prison life of Piper Chapman, a Seven-Sisters educated white girl who carried drug money and got caught before the statute of limitations ran out. Prison puts Piper in contact with her ex Alex, who got her into the drug trade, and a range of characters, from a transgendered hairdresser to a born-again faith healer. Among the top truths of OITNB are these nine life lessons.

1. Make peace with your past.
When Piper learns Alex is in the same prison, she is enraged. However, Piper must learn to make peace with her past, forgive Alex and accept her crime and subsequent punishment. No matter what your past, you must come to peace with it before you can move forward.

2. Think before you speak.
When Piper voices her views on prison food, she offends the head chef, gets herself dissed in the food line by the chef’s friends and must go to great lengths to make it up to the chef. Piper learns fast to think before she speaks to avoid making enemies.

3. Lean on your friends to get through hard times.
Friends are a must for prison life, just as in real life. All the women of “Orange” lean on friends to get through hard times portrayed on the show.

4. Be resourceful.
Afraid of getting disease from prison showers, Piper rigs her own flip flops. Sophia teaches her to make duct tape shower shoes until her commissary money comes in. Throughout the show, the prisoners show resourcefulness that will translate directly to out-of-prison success.

5. Practice tolerance.
Born again Tiffany Doggett’s anti-gay stance pits Piper and her ex Alex against the prison’s Christian coalition. Pranks escalate as Tiffany locks Alex in a washing machine, and Alex and Piper conspire to send Tiffany to the prison’s psych ward. Instead of seeking revenge on your enemies, Orange suggests that you practice tolerance.

6. Be who you are.
By showcasing transgender, bisexual and lesbian characters — not whitewashing or feminizing these female characters a la Pretty Little Liars and referencing the Kinsey scale — the series tells its viewers that they can and should be who they are. Sophia’s past shows that she was willing to commit a crime to become female but must learn to let others be who they want to be.

7. Hope will get you through.
Even in prison, there are little things to look forward to. Taystee knows all of them. Remember to have gratitude and hope when you can, even if all you can look forward to is taco night.

8. Every action has consequences.
In “Orange,” every action, even one as minor as two prisoners dancing together, has big repercussions. Think before you act.

9. Life presents unexpected learning opportunities.
Piper’s prison assignment in an electrical shop seems like a mistake, until she turns it around and accepts the challenge of learning a new skill. Through life, you will always learn new skills.

The first season of Orange is the New Black is currently airing on Netflix, with the second season currently filming with an anticipated release next year.