With most sports now in the off season, now is the perfect time to start getting ready for the new season, whether its football, soccer, ice hockey, or anything else, there is no better way to gear yourself up than with a good sports film. With these films, you don’t even need to be a fan of that sport, so the only films that have made it on this list are those that transcend being merely a sports film and allow even someone who doesn’t like sports to enjoy them.

A house is where you make your home and your love for your family and all those under your household keeps them safe and secure. Psychologists say that a shelter (house/home) is a human need, because it provides you security but unfortunately, today even a locked house can still fall prey to intruders and your brick walls and Red Wood doors won’t be able to stop them, I’m afraid. Security is true today as it was a thousand years ago and having a dog or several dogs, swords, spears, bow and arrows and a strong united community defines clearly what “safe” is. However, we’re smarter now than our ancestors and although we have not forgotten the lessons that they taught us, we do have better ways to secure ourselves.

Our Ancient Ancestors Taught us first about Home Security

For instance, you don’t need a hundred strong men who are armed to the teeth to keep your house and community safe – what you need is a biometric scanner and a nasty alarm that will alert the police in seconds that will definitely scare the living daylights out of any intruder! That’s the advantage of a state-of-the-art home security system you see, everything is automated and is 100% secured. Theft and home invasion has always been a problem ever since mankind invented the ideology of possession (i. e. if it’s very important to you, then it must be very valuable to others too) and it started out with simple things like gold, jewelry, cash – ones that are easy to carry and get away with fast. Today, however, is a completely different scenario and people can steal your identity and cause far more harm than stealing your material possessions!

From the Benign to the Extreme

As for identity theft you’ll need to be careful when you make online transactions or giving out your social security number to credit rating companies or any other third party companies conducting suspicious surveys. But for theft and home invasion you’ll need a biometric scanner, reinforced steel or blast doors, silent alarms to alert the police and if absolutely necessary a handgun, shotgun or a semi-automatic/automatic rifle to protect yourself and your family – also your material things. Forgive me for mentioning industrial and military-grade security systems here like the blast doors and automatic rifles, but believe it or not there have been incidences where intruders used high caliber fully automatic guns and explosives and some of these people do not invade your homes to steal stuff but your very lives! Some home security systems though are designed to be non-lethal and they keep your home safe while you can use tasers on thieves and intruders. They’ll be immobilized and/or temporarily unconscious but they’ll be fine afterwards.

Biometric Scanners and Automated Security Systems can Thwart Company Espionage

Well, now that you have an idea as to why you need a biometric scanner and home security in your house, you may also consider installing it in your office building, business establishment or a high-end industrial facility. Company espionage may not be as rampant as it was in the past as it is more realistic to steal information by hacking your databanks than to physically be there and steal those blueprints for a new product design; however, there are instances when the product in question and information related to it is too sensitive to be placed in your databanks. In this scenario the intruder may opt to infiltrate your office building to acquire it, but it would make it virtually impossible for them to get through every door that leads to your prized possession without tripping the alarms.

So as you can see using biometric scanners as a means to secure your home or office building is absolutely necessary. It is one of those things that you would be thankful for that human ingenuity worked towards your favor instead of against it.

Typical Biometrics Tech Specs

A biometric scanner is an electronic device powered by a smart computer microprocessor that has the ability to scan your fingerprint, unique retinal formations, facial features and patterns, voice and soon probably even your DNA. It stores these information either in its onboard flash memory or the mainframe computer of your home or corporate building, so that whenever you access the entrances or exits of these places you will have to allow the biometric scanner to scan you every time in order for the computer to identify you and determine whether or not you have the proper security clearance to enter the house or facility.  Here’s a more detailed information on a typical biometric scanner:

– Supply voltage: 3.6 – 6.0VDC
– Operating current: 120mA max
– Peak current: 150mA max
– Fingerprint imaging time: <1.0 seconds
– Window area: 14mm x 18mm
– Signature file: 256 bytes
– Template file: 512 bytes
– Storage capacity: 162 templates
– Safety ratings (1-5 low to high safety)
– False Acceptance Rate: <0.001% (Security level 3)
– False Reject Rate: <1.0% (Security level 3)
– Interface: TTL Serial
– Baud rate: 9600, 19200, 28800, 38400, 57600 (default is 57600)
– Working temperature rating: -20C to +50C
– Working humidity: 40%-85% RH
– Full Dimensions: 56 x 20 x 21.5mm
– Exposed Dimensions (when placed in box): 21mm x 21mm x 21mm triangular
– Weight: 20 grams

However safe and secure you want your home or office to be is entirely up to you. You’ll be happy to know that there are different types of biometric scanners out there and depending on your needs, there’s certainly one to match from the lot.

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort,” by Jane Austen.

I’m quite sure that Miss Austen meant this phrase as a metaphor, rather than physical comfort; however, today’s home appliances become more and more intelligent that it makes you appreciate your life and truly get comfortable in your home. In the past you would have to adjust the knobs in order to tinker with the settings and set the timer for your washing machine or microwave oven, but now you can leave them unattended and they’ll do everything by themselves! Still in 2015 things just got even better…

And here are some of these household appliances that caught our attention:

Transparent HDTV

Historically, Hollywood has a pretty terrible losing record when it comes to turning video games into films. No one knows how film makers have made such a mess of turning (mostly) good stories into complete garbage that is so far removed from their source material. From Super Mario Brothers to Street Fighter, Bloodrayne to Max Payne, the majority have been just plain bad and nothing more than cheap, cash tie-ins. The level of writing within games has long rivalled that of film standards, the character development and plot has become as important as visuals and how realistic explosions are. So with good writing in place, characters already visually realised, and pretty much most of the hard work done, why is it so hard to translate a game to a film?

 The fundamental problem that can ruin any project is laziness. If a director or anyone involved doesn’t have a good knowledge of the source material then it will never work. Now, not all films that have come from games have been bad. There has been quite a few that have done the source material proud, So what games have yet to make it to the big screen, and which ones would work well if handled correctly.

Half Life 2

The original Half Life was released back in 1998 to critical acclaim, a first person shooter than no doubt forever changed the shape of the genre. The follow up Half Life 2 was released in 2004 to yet more universal acclaim, winning even further game of the year awards. With such an undeniably great game with an immersive story, it is only right for a film to come from it.

But as with all game to film conversions, can an intense and immersive game experience translate into a 2 hour motion picture? First problem, and a crucial one, is that the protagonist Gordon Freeman doesn’t actually utter a single word throughout the entire game series. Quite difficult to convey in a film. Drive handled the silent type well in Ryan Gosling, but he at least had a few lines. After rumours about JJ Abrams possibly taking the reigns of the adaptation, there hasn’t been any further word. Not to mention he picked up the reigns of a franchise far bigger than Half Life; Star Wars. Maybe in the near future, Abrams could dedicate himself to making a Half Life movie a reality.

For the role of Gordon Freeman, three actors instantly spring to mind. Bryan Cranston, who already has the scientist persona down, Edward Norton or even House MD Hugh Laurie would make a great main character. The film itself would be pretty action-packed, and trying to cram over several hours of gameplay into a film would be tough to do, but surely a game series that is so critically acclaimed like Half Life deserves a well made film.

 Max Payne

Something needs to be done to erase the terrible Mark Wahlberg film from existence. When the trailer first hit the internet back in 2008, it showed relative promise, it looked the part, the tone was spot on and of course the bullet time was on display. But when Max Payne was released, it turned out to just be another lazy film makeover, with very little relevance to the source material. Mark Wahlberg even admitted that he didn’t play the game himself, and by the looks of things, no one else did either.

Max Payne has everything needed for a genuinely good modern film noir; the pessimistic protagonist, the bleak world, revenge and femme fatales. Out of all the games on this list, Max Payne should have been the easiest to replicate on the big screen. The game has the look and feel of a movie, down to the noir-esque monologue from Max throughout the game, and has enough engaging characters and moving plot line that the film can work without the need of constant action.

A big part of all Max Payne games is the bullet time heavily borrowed from The Matrix, which came out just before the first Max Payne game. Since then, the slow motion, bullet trailing sequence has been replicated so many times that it will be difficult to pull it off without looking a cheap imitation. But if Max Payne can be done right, it would be a modern film noir masterpiece.

Metal Gear Solid

The definitive stealth game, probably one of the greatest games of the Playstation era, Metal Gear Solid. Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece debuted on the original Playstation back in 1998, and is still held as one of the greatest games of all time. What was even more groundbreaking than the tactical gameplay was the engaging cinematic storyline, score and voice acting. The stage seems to be set for a film version, but as with all great things in the video game world, such a film would have to overcome numerous obstacles.

Kojima even admitted back in 2006 that a film version was in development, but without the original voice actor of Solid Snake, David Hayter onboard. Then in August 2012, Konami announced that Columbia Pictures will be producing a live-action film, but no further news has surfaced since then.

Since the first game in 1998, numerous sequels have been released, all covering the immense back story and multi-layered world of Metal Gear, there is almost too much choice in making a film. It isn’t hard to imagine that a series of films could cover a large number of storylines and easily be as successful as the Bourne trilogy. With Metal Gear Solid, most of the important elements are in place, as Hideo Kojima not only created Metal Gear Solid, but also directed, produced and co-wrote the game. All that is missing is the studio to back it correctly and involving the right people, those who care deeply for the franchise.

It has been almost 20 years since Independence Day shocked the world when aliens destroyed The White House and mankind’s only hope was Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, well the sequel has now been given a release date and some of the details have now been revealed. Unfortunately Will Smith turned down the opportunity to return as Captain Steven Hiller, supposedly due to demanding too much money to reprise his role and Fox not bowing to his wishes. What is known is that Goldblum will return as David Levinson, and Chris Hemsworth’s brother Liam will be replacing Smith’s role. Hemsworth, who started out on Australian television with Neighbours, found fame with the Hunger Games as Gale Hawthorne, friend of Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.

Jeff Goldblum, whose film career started in the 1970s and found huge box office success in The Fly (1978) and as Dr Ian Malcolm in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993), is set to return in Independence Day 2 as David Levinson. Reprising his role as the ex-scientist turned cable technician, who is the first to discover the alien’s plans to destroy key landmarks across Earth. Independence Day 2 will be Goldblum’s first film role since 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, where he played Deputy Kovacs.

Principal photography has begun on Independence Day 2 but no word of plot or synopsis has yet to be revealed, but will no doubt involve aliens coming back to Earth to avenge the repelled invasion from last time. Roland Emmerich will be returning as director, who since he last took the reigns 19 years ago, has gone on to make a name for himself in the disaster movie genre. Godzilla, Day After Tomorrow and 2012 all followed the success of Independence Day. Carter Blanchard has been bought onboard to write the script, taking over from Dean Devlin who has now taken the role up of producer for Independence Day 2 and the subsequent planned sequel.

Independence Day 2 is scheduled for release on June 26 2016, surely missing a trick of not releasing it on fourth of July. But it will come almost exactly 20 years since the original was released on June 25 1996. The original went on to smash box office records, making over $50,000,000 on opening weekend, going on to gross over $800,000,000 worldwide. With such a huge success, it has come as a surprise to many why a sequel has taken this long to materialise.

According to producer Dean Devlin, the US military had agreed to support the film, allowing the use of military bases and consultations to any actors who played military roles. But after learning about the references to Area 51 in the script, all help was pulled. Independence Day also still holds the record for most miniature model work to appear in a film. Michael Joyce, who was a supervisor for all models on set claimed that the film featured more miniatures than any other two films combined. Due to the advancement of special effects, the need for practical affects lessens, so this record will more than likely stand forever.

Independence Day 2 is due for release next year on June 26 2016, with another sequel has been confirmed but with no date as of yet.