In celebration of World Turtle Day on May 23, 2013, here are the weirdest turtles in the world that everybody loves.

10. Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Photo Source: http://perpustakaan.blogspot.com/2009/11/weird-and-cute-turtles.html

A species of softshell turtle, the bizarre-looking spiny softshell turtle is one of the largest freshwater species found in the United States, Canada and Mexico. They were named from their spiny, cone-like projections on the edge of their shells, which are not scales, and six subspecies are recognized that have different markings on the sides of the head, feet and on their carapace. However, these markings are only distinct in hatchlings since they usually fade once the turtles grow. First described by Charles Alexander Lesueur in 1827, adults of the various subspecies are not distinguishable from one another, so their subspecies are only assigned based on their geography, though the adult females are usually larger than the males.

9. Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

Photo Source: http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/reptiles/turtles/leatherback-sea-turtle/leatherback_sea_turtle.htm

Sometimes called as the ‘lute turtle,’ the leatherback sea turtle is considered as the largest of all living turtles and the fourth largest reptiles after three species of crocodiles at 3m and 916kg. It is distinguished from other sea turtles by its carapace that is covered by skin and oily flesh instead of a bony shell. Due to its large, teardrop-shaped body, it can dive to depths of 4200 feet, making it the world’s deepest-diver among all reptiles. It also holds the record for being the fastest reptile with the speed of 9.8m/s in the water. Though initially named by Domenico Agostino Vandelli in 1761 as Testudo coriacea when it was first captured, it was later reclassified in 1816 as Dermochelys coriacea due to its leathery texture and appearance; hence its first names as ‘leathery turtle’ and ‘trunk turtle.’

8. Eastern Long-neck Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackdiamondimages/5426537012/

Included on the weirdest list not only for its appearance, the eastern long-neck turtle has some interesting traits as well. When it feels threatened, it will emit a very offensive smelling fluid coming from its musk glands, making it earn the name ‘stinker.’ Its most distinctive feature is its long neck, so it bends its head into it shell instead of directly pulling it back like other turtles. It also has a powerful webbed feet and a flattened, broad brown shell with black-edged scutes. Distinctive black lines or seams are also found on its underside plates and they prefer slow-moving freshwater habitats like dams, swamps and the lakes of Australia.

7. Argentine Snake-necked Turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera)

Photo Source: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/ArgentineSnakeNeckedTurtle.php

A species of turtle known for its long neck, hence its name, the Argentine snake-necked turtle is one of the most traded pets among the exotic animals. Though it originated from South America and locally found in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, it actually came from Australia. Despite being known as the South American snake-necked turtle, it is more closely related to the Mata-mata. It can reach up to 11 inches in length and has a carapace or shell that is strongly keeled. It can also be distinguished by its black and yellow markings on its head and neck with the females usually larger and have larger tails than the males.

6. Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

Photo Source: http://hobbycanbefun.blogspot.com/2011/02/alligator-snapping-turtle-macrochelys.html

One of the largest freshwater turtles in the world, the alligator snapping turtle is known for its big, heavy head and long thick shell with three dorsal ridges of large scales, which make it look like the plated dinosaurs. It also known for eating anything it catches from snakes, alligators, and other turtles. Though they are often captive-bred as pets and available in the exotic animal trade, they only make good pets for experienced aquatic turtle keepers, who can determine the sex of the alligators based on the temperature at which they are incubated.

5. Cantor’s Giant Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii)

Photo Source: http://www.turtlesurvival.org/blog/1-blog/167-field-surveys-for-wild-rafetus

A strange-looking species of freshwater turtles, the Cantor’s giant soft-shelled turtle is known for its broad head, small eyes near the tips of its snout, and smooth and olive-colored carapace. The juveniles have dark-spotted heads and carapaces, with yellow around it, while the adult can grow as much as 6 feet in length and weigh more than 100 pounds.  It is also known for its unique ability to spend most of its time buried and motionless underneath the sand with only its eyes and mouth showing, while surfacing only twice daily to take a breath.

4. Barbour’s Map Turtle (Graptemys Barbouri)

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nclarkii/3116117688/

Found in the rivers of southern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the western panhandle of Florida, the Barbour’s map turtle is named after the American herpetologist Thomas Barbour. It can grow at an average of 3.5 to 5.5 inches in carapace length, though the females can attain imposing dimensions from 6 to 12.5 inches with their heads enormously enlarged. The males, however, have black-tipped spines on their 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th vertebrae, which resembles a dorsal fin. Their diet mostly consists of small fish, insects and mollusks; and their ownership is outlawed both in Alabama and Georgia, while species below 4 inches in length are not allowed to be sold in Florida.

3. Spiny Turtle Heosemys spinosa)

Photo Source: http://www.arkive.org/spiny-turtle/heosemys-spinosa/image-G21398.html

One of the most unusual-looking turtles in the world, the very attractive spiny turtle prefers the lowland and hilly rainforest of up to 900m with small streams nearby in areas in the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore. Also known as the ‘cog-wheel turtle,’ its name was derived from its sharp, pointed and spiky-edged carapace, and spiny keel. Though nothing is known about their nesting behavior, their behavior appears to be triggered by the rain. Females, which develop a plastron hinge to ease laying of eggs, lay one or two eggs per clutch and produce three clutches per year with incubations of 106, 110 and 145 days in captivity.

2. Indian Flap-shelled (Lissemys punctata)

Photo Source: http://m.animal.memozee.com/m.view.php?q=lissemys+punctata&p=4&lang=kr

The Indian flap-shelled turtle is a cute-looking turtle that is endemic to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in South Asia and was later introduced to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A freshwater species of turtle, it derives its name from the femoral flaps on its plastron, which cover the limbs when they retract into the shell. Its carapace, which range from 240 to 370mm in length, is broadly oval in adults; though it is more circular and wider with the young. It is known to be omnivorous and feeds on the diet of fish, frogs, snails, shrimps, aquatic vegetation, flowers, plant leaves, fruits, seeds, and grasses.

1. Mata mata (Chelus fimbriatus)

Photo Source: http://petra-aqua.com/nove_zbozi.php?lang=en&page=2

A freshwater turtle found primarily in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America, the Mata mata has a shell that resembles a piece of bark, while its head resembles the leaves falling, which camouflaged its presence. The weird-looking reptile is a large sedentary turtle that has a large triangular flattened head with many tubercles and flaps, a horn on its long tubular snout, three barbels on its chin, and four additional filamentous barbels on its upper jaw. It also has a brown or black carapace and measures 18 inches in adult age and weighs 15kg. An adult has a grayish brown head, neck, limbs, and tail with its neck longer than the vertebra under its shell and has five webbed claws in each of its forefoot. Hatchlings, meanwhile, have a pink or reddish tinge underside of their shell and plastron, which gradually disappears as they grow.

10. Background

After the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United Nation adopted the 249^th resolution at the 57^th session of the United Nations Conference, which was a culmination of years of work. The goal of the resolution was to reaffirm the need for intercultural dialogue o prevent segregation and fundamentalism among nations. May 21 should provide people the opportunity to understand deeply the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together or co-exist better. UNESCO is therefore appealing to its member states as well as the civil society to celebrate this World Day with more participants as possible. However, this is just an observance and not a public holiday.

9. Aims of UNESCO’s Resolution

The proclamation of this day is based on the principle that ‘tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, are mutually supportive.’ In essence, it was established based on the relationship between culture and development; once the culture is enhanced, prosperity and global peace can be easily attained. The new World Day is a culmination of commitments undertaken by the international community such as the Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development, the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, the Declaration of the Stockholm Conference Action Plan on Cultural Policies for Development, and the proclamation of 2002’s United Nations Year of Cultural Heritage.

8. Why is there a need for this World Day?

This is not only to fight against the imbalances that exist in the global exchanges of cultural goods and the need for cultural policies in developing countries; but most importantly, to stress the importance of preserving the world’s most vulnerable cultures that are now heading to extinction. It can also be a means to highlight the importance of bringing awareness to the value of cultural diversity in a number of languages and in recognizing the contribution of traditional knowledge for environmental protection.

7. Events

The events organized for the World Day observance on May 21 aims to increase the understanding of issues around cultural diversity and development among the public, the non-governmental organizations, and the governments worldwide. A number of these events involved the presentations on the progress and implementations of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. These would include seminars for professionals, the launching of collaborations between official agencies and various ethic groups, and educational programs for children and young adolescents. There will also be exhibits to help people understand the history of various cultural groups and the influence on their own identities, and celebrations to create greater awareness of cultural values and the need to preserve them.

6. What is Culture?

Every country has its own culture that encompasses their language, literature and the arts. It also involves one’s belief, tradition, values system, and way of living. Respecting and protecting one’s culture are basic human rights that everyone should follow, regardless of race, color, or nationality. Since everyone should be able to participate in the cultural life o their choice, the Convention that aims to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expression was adopted in October 2005. The Convention outlines the obligations and legal rights concerning international cooperation for the protection of cultural diversity throughout the world.

5. Things People Do to Celebrate the Event

For the observance of the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity, people can have a movie night and watch an international movie that reflects a country’s culture. The media, including some Hollywood blockbuster films had been instrumental in promoting cultural diversity not only in the past, but in present times as well. You can also have a diversity and inclusion party by showcasing products, food, or traditional costumes of the various ethic group in your country. You can also spread the word about the observance of this World Day by hashtagging or #DoOneThing in Twitter and other social networking sites.

4. The 2013 Campaign

The 2013 campaign, “Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion,” encourages people and organizations from around the world to take concrete action to support diversity. It aims to raise awareness worldwide about the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion to attain worldwide peace. It also aims to build a world community of individuals that will commit to support diversity through their daily actions; and to fight polarization and stereotypes to improve their understanding and cooperation among people coming from different cultures. This event will also be celebrated in countries that embraced their varied cultural history and acknowledge the importance and need of embracing it.

3. Popular People Involved in the Diversity Day Campaign

Well-known figures in politics and religion, movies, philanthropists, in the fields of science and the arts, etc. are used in the handouts to create awareness to this worldwide campaign. The list includes Mahnaz Afkhami, Kofi Annan, Isaac Asimov, Ruth Fulton Benedict, Jimmy Carter, and Pablo Casals. There is also Jackie Chan, the Dalai Lama, Eugene V. Debs, and other deceased historical figures.

2. How to join the campaign?

Individuals who want to join the campaign can ‘like’ the organization’s page on Facebook, DoOneThingforDiversityandInclusion; promote it by sharing it with your friends, and organize an event in your area and contact the organizers so they can put your event under the umbrella of the campaign.

1. Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion

There are simple things that you can do to become a part of this campaign, which may include visiting an art exhibit or museum that is dedicated to other cultures, learn about another religion, or listen to musical tradition from another culture. You can also play a sport related to a different culture, invite friends over and cook traditional food, or learn about the traditional celebrations from other cultures. You can also volunteer with an organization working for diversity and inclusion, learn another language, or spread the word to your family and friends and invite people from different culture to share your customs.

10. Andorra

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/andorra/

This country has a total population of 85,293 as estimation for its 2013 report. Its official language is Catalan, but other spoken languages are Castilian, French, and Portuguese. Roman Catholic is the most dominant religion in this country while majority of the population comes from the Spanish group followed by 33% Andorran, 11% Portuguese, 7% French, and 6% belongs to other nationalities. They are under the parliamentary democracy, and they don’t have military forces or branches. Although there is a Police Service in Andorra which was formed in 2011, but their defense is a sole responsibility of Spain and France as part of the treaty that they have signed with them.

9. Palau

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/palau/

It is also known as a Republic of Palau that is situated in the Western Pacific Ocean, which is technically part of Micronesia. Its capital is Melekeok, and their official languages are Palauan and English. They were under the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific for three decades before they enjoyed total independence in 1978, but their liberty was fully acknowledged in 1994 when they entered the Compact Free Association. They don’t have military forces, but they have established the Palau National Police in 2009 since the defense assistance is being provided by the US through the agreement that they signed on October 1, 1994.

8. Kiribati

Photo Source: http://thelittleislandthatcould.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/kiribati-relocating-to-fiji/

It is situated in the central tropical Pacific Ocean, and its capital is South Tarawa. It’s government type is parliamentary republic and its last population count in 2011 has reached to 101,093. The languages spoken in this country are Kiribati and English. According to history, it was first known as Gilbert Islands in 1892 under the British protectorate. Hence, when UK approved their self-rule in 1971, its total independence followed in 1979, and their name was changed to Kiribati.  There was no military forces formed since it is being prevented by the constitution that they have established, but they have a police force since 2011.

7. Vatican City

Photo Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/country/vt-holy-see-vatican-city

It is officially known as Vatican City State or Stato della Citta del Vaticano that has 836 population recorded in 2012. The government type that they follow is under the Ecclesiastical Ruling or Absolute Monarchy, Elective and Theocracy since this is the center of Roman Catholicism where the higher authority of religion resides, which is known as the Pope. Through the Lateran Treaties made in 1929, Vatican City became an independent state. There are limited securities being sent in this country since the primary defense is vested in Italy as part of the treaty signed in 1929.

6. Grenada

Photo Source: http://www.cbt.cc/grenada.php

Its population is about 90,739 and Saint George is its capital city. It is one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere that carries and uses English as its official language. It is popularly known as a “Spice Island” because of its production of cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and other spices. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his trail, and it’s being inhabited then by the Carib Indians. Its full independence started when Britain granted autonomy to them for its internal affairs in 1967, but they have enjoyed it at the beginning of 1974. It does not maintain military forces, but they only have a Royal Grenade Police Force since 2010, which also includes the Coast Guard.

5. Costa Rica

Photo Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Costa_Rica

In Spanish, it is known as Republica de Costa Rica or Republic in Costa Rica in English, which is situated in Central America. Its population has reached over 4 million while maintaining the Democtratic Republic Government. For several centuries, they were known as part of the Spanish colony since 16^th century. Its first declaration of independence from Spain happened in 1821, and in 1838, their full sovereignty and freedom has been achieved after the disintegration of Federation which they were belong to during that time. They dissolved military forces in 1949, and it became one of the most progressive countries, especially in economic development, largely covering the agricultural sector, tourism, and technology industries.

4. Liechtenstein

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/liechtenstein/

This is popularly known as Landlocked Alpine Country found in Central Europe carrying the capital of Vaduz. Its official language is German while maintaining Unitary State, Constitutional Monarchy, and Parliamentary System. It was once occupied by Russian and French troops, but declared as a sovereign state in 1815 under the Germanic Confederation. Nonetheless, when it was dissolved 1866, its full independence was attained. It became associated in Austria when World War 1 ceased, but made a monetary merger with Switzerland because of the devastating economic downfall. They don’t have military forces being maintained, and they are only relying to close-neighbor countries after they abolished it in 1868 because of the costly evaluation of it in country’s overall expenditures. Hence, they have a SWAT and Police team that carries out internal duties.

3. Marshall Islands

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/marshall-islands/

It is located in Northern Pacific Ocean with a total population of 54,816 and Majuro as its capital city. It was under the US administration for almost four decades before achieving total freedom and sovereignty in 1986 because of the Compact of Free Association. They don’t have any organized military forces except for the Marshall Islands Police, which was formed in 2012 because the United States is responsible in providing security to their country under the Compact of Free Association.

2. Tuvalu

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/tuvalu/

Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu while carrying a 9,847 population, which was recorded in 2011. Its official languages are Tuvalun and English, while maintaining a Parliamentary system, constitutional monarchy, non-partisan democracy, and Representative democracy. Due to ethnic conflicts that transpired under the British Colony, separation of Gilbert from Ellice Islands took place, which resulted to the colonialism of Tuvalu from the British Colony in 1978. They only have the Tuvalu Police Force, but since its independence, it did not maintain or form any military force.

1. Federated States of Micronesia

Photo Source: http://coris.noaa.gov/portals/micronesia.html

It is one of the four states of Micronesia that maintains independent sovereign island status and its capital is Palikir. English is their official language and its population has reached 111,542 based on the last count recorded in 2011. Like some countries on this list, it also joined the Compact of Free Association in 1986, which was renewed in 2004. It has four administrative divisions such as Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. It has no military forces after its declaration of independence. They have a Maritime Surveillance Unit that takes care of the internal security, but United States is solely responsible of their defense because of the Compact of Free Association that Federated States of Micronesia signed.

10. Greenhill Family

Photo Source: http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Duggar-family.jpg

The Greenhill Family is led by parents Elizabeth Greenhill and William Greenhill who had a total of 39 children. Throughout her life, Elizabeth Greenhill conceived 32 daughters and 7 sons, the youngest of which was Thomas Greenhill, who is one of the most famous surgeons in London, United States today. Of their 39 children, two were twins and the rest were single births. The children of Elizabeth and William were all born alive, and all of them were baptized except for Thomas, who was born soon after the death of his father William. Stories say that according to Elizabeth, she and William would have had three or more children had William not died that soon.

9. Pullan Family

Photo Source: http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Pullan-family.jpg

50 year old husband Roseturai Pullan and his 45 year old wife Mani is the first white skinned Indian couple to have raised the largest albino family in the history of the world. The Pullan Family is composed of eight albino members and is officially on the Guinness Book of World Records. The members of this family are all suffering from poor vision and have extremely pale skin and white hair, which are very atypical of Indian nationals. The Pullan Family claims to suffer from grave prejudice in India because of their condition. All the children inherited the albinism of their father Roseturai. Currently, the members of this family dwell inside a crammed flat in Delhi, New India.

8. Kardashian – Jenner Clan

Photo Source: http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kardashian-Jenner-Clan.jpg

The Kardashian – Jenner Clan is composed of a total of ten siblings, of which the most popular in the news are Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and their step brother Brody Jenner. The parents of all of the ten siblings were married in 1991. The background is that in 1979, Robert Kardashian married Kristine “Kris” Houghton and they had four children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob. When they divorced in 1990, the wife married Olympics star Bruce Jenner just a year following the approval of her divorce with her former husband. Kris and Bruce had two daughters together, Kylie and Kendall Jenner. The members of this family are all celebrities today.

7. Luiz Costa de Oliveira Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Luiz-Costa-de-Oliveira.jpg

The 90 year old Brazilian father Luiz Costa de Oliveira admitted to have had secret love affairs with the sister and mother of his second wife following his two marriages. All in all, he had a total of 50 children. 17 of that number were conceived by his first wife. When he remarried, he had another 17 children, totalling to 34. But Luiz Costa de Oliveira did not just stop at that. Instead, he entered into an affair with the sister and mother of his second wife and conceived 15 more children. He became romantically involved with the sister and mother of his second wife when they moved into their house to help in taking care of the rest of his children.

6. Bates Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Bates-Family.jpg

Headed by couple Gil and Kelly Bates, the Bates Family is a close friend of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. This family originally had a total of 18 children, but mother Kelly Bates miraculously gave birth to her 19^th child, Jeb Colton Bates, in February 2012. This family is from Lake City, Tennessee, United States and stars the American reality television show entitled United Bates of America. The miracle child of the family, Jeb Colton, is often dubbed as a miracle baby because he came out dead after failing to breathe on his own. Of the 19 deliveries, Kelly Bates gave natural births to the 14. Tied with the Duggar Family, Bates Family is known as the largest family in the United States today.

5. Duggar Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Duggar-family.jpg

Composed of father Jim Bob, mother Michelle Duggar and their 19 children, the Duggar Family is one with the Bates Family in being the largest family known in the United States today. Of the 19 children, 9 are girls and 10 are boys, and this includes two sets of fraternal twins. This family from Arkansas, USA announced in 2012 that the immediate family would just get bigger as Michelle Duggar openly revealed that she and her husband were already expecting their 20^th child this year. The couple has been married for more than 27 years now and Michelle was already 45 years old when she gave birth to her youngest child. This family has already had several appearances in television shows such as TLC and Discovery Health.

4. Chana Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Chana-family.jpg

Ziona Chana is believed to have the largest family in the world with a total of 30 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters in law and 33 grand children. The head of the family currently lives with all his wives and 94 children in a spacious, four storey 100-room mansion in Baktwang in the state of Moziram, India and admits to have married more than 10 women in just a span of one year. This was so because Ziona Chan has long been the head of a religious sect that permits the practice of polygamy. According to him, it takes plucking more than 30 whole chickens and cooking more than 220 lbs of rice to be able to feed his entire family every meal.

3. Daad Clan

Photo Source: http://www.whatsontianjin.com/news_images/ea6920da24295d0f788b_1.jpg

60 year old Muslim father Daad Mohammed from the United Arab Emirates had 17 wives and a total of 60 children. According to stories, Daad would have sex with his wives twice in the morning and seven times in the evening that is why he was able to create such a great number of children in his entire lifetime. His clan is now the biggest and oldest of the Dwarven clans of Ardrana. Even today, Daad Mohammed is just too mad about sex that he would divorce his wife the moment he finds out that she is no longer fertile and could conceive a child.

2. Albina Family

PhotoSource: http://www.hoggattfamily.com/Campbell/00006%20-%2019250829%20Roy%20and%20Mary%20Campbell%20wedding%20Albina%20Jn%20Bertha%20George%20Ora%20Zadok%20Mary%20Roy%20Elsie%20Hoy.jpg

None of the 64 children of Mr. and Mrs. Albina was adopted. The couple was married when Mrs. Alona was only 12 years of age and Mr. Albina was already 30. Today, Mr. Albina is already 79 and Mrs. Albina is already 61. They no longer know the whereabouts of each of their daughters and sons, and they currently live with just a few of them in a small house in Chile. Most of the children of the Albina couple are twins and triplets. Mrs. Albina very seldom gave single births.

1. Vassilyev Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Vassilyev-Family.jpg

The Vassilyev couple currently holds the record for the most number of children in the world. Mrs. Vassilyev gave birth to about 69 children, only 67 of which were able to survive their infancy. Of this number, there were 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. She gave birth to all her children between the 1725 to 1765 period.

10. Airplane

Photo Source: http://www.myteenagewerewolf.com/home/lauren/public_html/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Airplane1.jpg

Also known as aeroplane, an airplane is a fixed-wing aircraft that was discovered by the Wright brothers. Airplanes are propelled forward through their propellers and jet engines and come in different sizes and wing configurations. They are used for the transportation of goods and people, in the military, for recreation and research. Though most airplanes are run by a pilot, there are airplanes today that are especially designed to be controlled by computers and remotes. According to history, the first artificial and self-propelled flying device was invented in 400BC by the Greeks.  These flying devices deviated from the airplanes of the 18^th century which featured fixed wings and separate systems for lift, propulsion and control. Modern airplanes have complex flight control systems and contain main controls that help the pilot in controlling the speed, altitude and direction of the flight.

9. Spacecraft

Photo Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cw7iNVPZpPg/T8I2btyjGgI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Q187CJAHZf4/s1600/spacetravel.jpg

Usually used to refer to a vehicle, vessel or machine that flies in the outer space, a spacecraft is used for a broad range of purposes, such as for communication, meteorology, navigation, planetary and exploration. This type of vehicle enters the space on a sub-orbital flight and normally gets into closed orbits revolving around the Earth or other celestial bodies. Spacecrafts can be used to carry people as crew or passengers while others use robots either for space probes or to support scientific research. By design, most orbital spacecrafts re enter the earth and get divided into non-winged space capsules or winged space planes. The first artificial satellite that was used to probe space was Sputnik 1 and it was launched by the Soviet Union into an elliptical low Earth orbit.

8. Computer

Photo Source: http://images.wisegeek.com/black-desktop-computer.jpg

A computer is a device that can be programmed to perform different arithmetic and logical operations. This device consists of a processing element called as the central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. Its CPU is the component that executes the arithmetic and logic operations that are inputted in them. The first computers were electronic digital computers that were developed sometime between 1940 and 1945. These computers were about the size of a spacious room and consumed power that went as much as the power consumed by hundreds of modern personal computers today. Most of the computers that are known today are based on integrated circuits and are more than a billion times more capable than the earliest computers. They are small enough to fit mobile devices such as mobile phones and industrial robots. Also, they occupy just a small fraction of the space occupied by the first electronic digital computers.

7. Automobile

Photo Source: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00iCgEBFyIgRrp/Automobile-Motor-Cars-Mini-Car.jpg

An automobile or a car is a wheeled motor vehicle that is primarily used in the transportation of goods and people. It carries its own engine or motor and is designed to run on roads. A typical modern automobile has four wheels and has a seating for about one to eight people. It is estimated that today, the number of automobiles around the world today is about one billion and continues to increase rapidly, particularly in highly populated nations such as China and India. In 1672, the first steam-powered vehicle was designed and built by a man named Ferdinand Verbiest. His discovery was just about 65-cm long car toy that he especially made for the Emperor of China, and it could barely carry a driver or a single passenger. The first full-scale and self propelled automobile was discovered by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot sometime in 1769.

6. Telephone

Photo Source: http://www.writeupp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/phone.jpg

Known as a telecommunications device that allows people from different vicinities and locations to have conversations, a telephone is an engineering discovery that converts human voice into electronic signals that are suitable for transmission via wires and cables over lengthy distances. Telephones allow these electronic signals to become as audible as possible to the user from the other line. Its name was derived from Greek words tele and phone, which mean far and voice, respectively. The first of its kind was invented in 1876 by renowned scientist Alexander Graham Bell, who made a patented telephone device that allowed people to talk directly with each other even when they are separated by large distances. Today, telephones are considered as one of the most valuable discoveries in the field of engineering because they are indispensable to businesses, households and the government.

5. Air Conditioning

Photo Source: http://www.devonrefrigeration.co.uk/img/airconditionin1.jpg

An air conditioner is a major home appliance or mechanism that is especially designed to change the temperature and humidity of a closed area such as a room As its name suggests, it is basically used for cooling and it does this thru a process called refrigeration cycle, though in the cooling of buildings and motor vehicles, the process of evaporation is more common. In the field of construction, air conditioners come as a complete system that can be used for heating, ventilation as well as air conditioning. The concept of air conditioning was first use during the second century, when a Chinese inventor named Ding Huan of the Han Dynasty created a rotary fan to condition the air. This appliance contained seven wheels that were three meters each in diameter. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, on the other hand, introduced in 747 A.D. water powered fan wheels for air conditioning.

4. Highway

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A public road or public way on land, the term highway refers to arterials that are controlled by a state or a provincial agency. The first modern highway systems were developed during the 20^th century, along with the rising popularity of automobiles. The first limited access road was built in 1992 in Italy, while the construction of the first autobahn started in 1929 and was opened three years later in Cologne. The discovery of highways is one of the most important discoveries in the field of engineering as they reduce travel times relative to city or town streets as well as increase the chances for the transportation of people and goods. Modern highways are helpful in the reduction of commute and travel time as well as in the creation of new induced traffic demand.

3. Optical Fibre

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Optical fibre is a transparent and flexible fibre that can be made either of glass or plastic. Today, this is known to serve different functions such as a wave guide or a light pipe. The design and application of optical fibres, dubbed as fibre optics, are works of science and engineering. Optical fibres are used these days in fibre optic communications which makes possible the transmission of sounds or signals over long distances through high bandwidths. Optical fibres made of metal wires are also used to carry signal with less loss and to make possible the immunization of electromagnetic interference. They can also be used for illumination to carry images. The principle of fibre optics was first introduced during the 1840s by Daniel Colladon and Jacques Banibet. A man named John Tyndall also demonstrated the first use of optical fibre for public lectures in 1852.

2. Television

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A television or TV is a telecommunication device that works in the transmission and reception of moving images, whether monochrome or coloured. Its name was derived from Greek words tele and visio, which mean far and sight, respectively. The batch of manufactured televisions became commercially available in the late 1920’s. Since then, they have become common in homes and businesses and are used in advertising, broadcasting and entertainment. The first electromechanical television system was patented in 1884 by a man named Paul Gootlieb Nipkow. This was just about four years after the concept of electrically powered transmission of television images was introduced in America as “telephonoscope.”

1. Internet

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A global system of interconnected computer networks, the Internet is a network of networks that is made up of millions of various private and public networks that are linked together through electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. This carries a broad range of information such as inter-linked hypertext documents. The concept of Internet began in the 1960’s, when research on packet switching was first conducted along with the development of packet switched networks. The term Internet was coined in 1974 to refer to internetworking, which was followed by the introduction of the concept of the Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) in 1982.

10. Home schooling

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Home schooling or home-based education is common among mothers. Unlike schooling in a formal setting, home schooling involves staying at home and doing assignments given by a tutor. Though this practice has been adopted as an alternative form of education in other nations, most people still believe that going to a formal school is better than staying at home to study.

Some parents opt for home based education for their children for a broad range of reasons. Most of the time, mothers who opt for home schooling for their children are those who would not want their children to get bullied in crowded classrooms. Also, these mothers believe that it is better to study at home because it is more conducive for learning and it helps children achieve better focus when studying. This is hardly possible in a classroom setting, where 30-50 students normally crowd a single classroom and not everyone gets the same attention from the teacher.

9. Vaccination

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Vaccination involves the administration of a vaccine to an infant to stimulate his immune system, thus allowing him to develop adaptive immunity to pathogens. The common notion is that when a child gets vaccinated, he is less likely to catch diseases in the future because he is already immune to those diseases. Sometime in the past, however, there was a doctor who conducted a study and published a book that stated that the development of autism and other neurological conditions stem from vaccination. Since then, a good number of mothers have been opting not to get their babies vaccinated when in reality, they should. Just recently, the medical license of the doctor who published the misleading study was taken from him because of the confusion that he spurred among mothers. Since his study was published, there came a rise in the number of communicable diseases afflicting children.

8. Cloth Diapers vs. Disposable Diapers

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Whether to use cloth diapers or disposable diapers has been a bone of contention among mothers. Both diapers have their own share of advantages and disadvantages, but mothers have got to pick the one whose advantages outweigh its disadvantages. Disposable diapers are reusable and create less waste than disposable diapers. Also, this kind of diaper is far less costly than disposable diapers because these diapers are washable while disposable diapers are not. For most mothers, however, disposable diapers are more convenient because they never have to wash every now and then. All they just have to do is to make sure that they never run out of stock.  Also, they are more breathable and convenient, because with disposable diapers, they do not need to deal with complicated folds and pins. Some mothers who prefer cloth diapers, however, complain that disposable diapers increase the risk of diaper rash among their babies.

7. Discipline

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Mothers have different concepts of discipline. For some, spanking their children is the right way to teach their children discipline, while for some, this is not the way to go. A recent study in the United States showed that more than one third of parents in the United States prefer to spank their kids so they will be forced to behave as their parents would want them to. Whenever a child does something wrong, what most parents do is spank the child so he would learn his lesson. Several mothers go up against this practice, saying that using physical force does not teach children discipline but fear towards their parents. These mothers believe that they can bring up their child into becoming well-rounded individuals even without having to inflict physical pain on them.  Mothers can choose not to become violent in rearing their children, though this is case-sensitive.

6. Organic Products

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Most mothers would prefer feeding their babies with organic products, believing that they are healthier. While it is true that eating organics allows one to reduce his exposure to chemicals, many experts believe that it is not always so. In fact, a large group of pediatricians recently revealed that parents who buy organic food for their children are actually wasting money. Experts say that to believe that organic products are more nutritious than non-organic products is nothing but a false notion because the nutritional differences between conventional food and organic food are far more minimal than most mothers think. Most mothers also use organic milk to feed their babies believing that it is more nutritious than the processed ones, when in fact, it is not worth it. Mothers who are working on a limited budget should not go for organic because they are costly. Those who have more than enough budget argue that organic is still better, though.

5. Attachment Parenting

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Attachment parenting refers to the tendency of a child to develop or form very strong emotional bond with his mother. One of the practices that lead to attachment parenting are co-sleeping with babies until they come of age, extended breast feeding and baby wearing. Some mothers believe that practicing attachment parenting allows them to produce healthier and better nurtured babies and children. On the other hand, those who oppose the practice believe that it only delays the socio emotional development and well-being of the child because he tends to become too much dependent on his mother. Today, the population of mothers is halved by this practice. Those who are up for attachment parenting argue that the practice is nothing but a simple demonstration of love, while those who think otherwise argue that this is detrimental to the development of a child and will do no good to him.

4. Breast-feeding vs. Bottle-feeding

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Determining whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed her baby is one of the first decisions that an expectant mother makes. Because the very first thing that a baby looks for as he gets out of her mother’s womb is milk, this is one of the most basic decisions that a woman makes as she enters motherhood. The common notion is that breast milk is the most valuable source of nutrition for babies because it helps defend the baby from harmful infections as well as protect him from allergies and other chronic conditions. But working mothers would prefer bottle-feeding their babies because they need to earn money and go to work. These mothers cannot afford to stay at home and breastfeed their babies the entire day, unless the earnings of their husbands are enough to provide for the needs of the family.

3. Scheduled Caesarean Sections

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Cesarean section is a surgical procedure that is performed when a mother gives birth, characterized by one or more incisions made on her abdomen and uterus to deliver her baby. Normally, this procedure is the last resort when vaginal delivery poses death risk either on the mother or the child. Nowadays, however, some mothers who are capable of normal vaginal delivery would still opt for cesarean section because it is less painful. In fact, celebrities are known to have scheduled caesarean sections even months before the due date of the baby. This practice has been emulated by several mothers today, believing that this makes the birth of the child more convenient. Those who go for vaginal delivery argue that those who go for C-sections are harder to recover compared to those who go for normal delivery.

2. Natural Birth

Photo Source: http://www.babylifetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/natural-birth.jpg

Though cesarean sections are growing in popularity these days, giving birth the natural way is still generally the most preferred of most mothers. Mothers who have laboured and gave birth to their babies without the need for an epidural or medications are often prouder than those who underwent procedures because they were able to suffer the real pain of giving birth. However, some mothers are just not healthy enough to go through the natural way of giving birth so doctors prefer having them incised. Mothers who argue that those who go for c-sections are weaker should understand that what may be good for them may not be good for another.

1. Cord Blood Banking

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Cord blood banking is a practice wherein the blood from the umbilical cord of a baby is saved and stored in a facility for possible use in the future. The umbilical cord of a baby is the major source of stem cells, which are used today the way bone marrow cells are used to treat different kinds of illness, particularly leukemia. This is a more guaranteed match compared to a donor. Cord blood banking is a choice that mothers make. Most mothers oppose the idea of cord blood banking because it is too expensive, while those who are up for the practice claim that this practice is life-saving.

10. Mother by Cyndi Lauper

This is not a typical Mother’s Day song that was written by Cyndia Lauper. In fact, she also wrote another song entitled “I want a Mom that Will Last Forever”, which would also melt your heart. It actually illustrates and defines what a mother is, and the kind of relationship she has to her children. You’ll know the things that a mother can do through the lyrics that was written in an anecdote manner.

9. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

The tune of this song is normally heard and played in religious gatherings like church services, which is one of the finest contemporary hymns at the beginning of the 20^th century. Little that we know, it was originally sung and composed by Secret Garden in 2003, but this song was only famous in the United Kingdom back then. When David Foster produced this song and chose Josh Groban to it, no one ever predicted that it would hit the #1 spot in the US Billboard charts in 2004.

8. Mama by Chris Brown

The lyrics are intentionally written and dedicated to Chris Brown’s mother wherein he wanted to tell her that he appreciated the things that she did for him while he was growing up until the time that he had done mistakes. At the end of the song, he invites everyone to show gratitude for the things that mothers have done to their children. Indeed, they are always there for us whether we are in situations of good or bad.

7. The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley

This is one of the immortal songs of the legendary King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley that he sung as part of his single in 1970. He was not the first person who recorded this song. In fact, it was a single of Ray Peterson in 1959 that was composed by Baker Knight. Despite of the fame that Mr. Presley had during that time, he even asked permission from Mr. Ray Peterson if he could record this song, which he gladly allowed. It describes the kind of support that a mother can do for her child amidst the situation where no one could ever understand the flaws and imperfections that a child might commit. The song is really short, but the message it sends provides hope to any individual who is experiencing problems, that there is a mother that could give strength to them.

6. Mother Stands for Comfort by  Kate Bush

Kate Bush has beautifully sung this song with all her heart. The song is all about the unconditional love that a mother can extend to her children. It narrates that even though a child lies, a mother would not say anything about it. It explains the depth of affection and love that a mother can give, even when a child has done something wrong. Indeed, mothers would be there to comfort and strengthen us despite of our weaknesses.

5. Mama by Spice Girls

This is one of the biggest hits of the Spice Girls. This would really touch everyone’s heart, especially those who were not with their mothers anymore. This is a song that would awaken one’s heart in realizing and understanding the kind of love that mothers show. It explains that a child may never comprehend the things that a mother does for the kids, but later on, the misconception about their mother’s actions will be realized. You’ll see the depth of love that they have through their eyes. They are not just mothers, but friends.

4. Mother by Pink Floyd

The song runs 5 minutes and 35 seconds, which was sung by Pink Floyd that was released under the Wall Album in 1979. It was written by Roget Walters, and it’s under progressive rock genre. It’s about the boy who has lost his father because of World War II. He was raised alone by her overly protective mother that made him feel an outsider from the world while he was growing up.

3. Let It Be by Beatles

Indeed, mothers speak words of wisdom as the message sends by the “Let it Be” song that Paul McCartney wrote. He became inspired to write this song for his mother who died when he was 14 years old. Moreover, it was the last album of the group in 1970 that made this song historical, impactful, and full of feelings. Hence, a correction is given too that Mary in this song was not the biblical character in the Bible, but it was the name of Paul McCartney’s mother.

2. The Perfect Fan by Backstreet Boys

It was written by Brian Thomas Littrell and Thomas L. Smith, as popularized by the boy band group called Backstreet Boys. The song talks about how the mother becomes a perfect fan to her child. It narrates the things that a mother has done since he was a child until he grew up. It was a feeling of a child to her mother as to how he has been blessed because of the guidance that his mother gave to him. As one of the lyrics reaffirmed, he also wished that he could be the perfect son in order to give back what his mother has done for him.

1. Hero by Mariah Carey

This song was under the Columbia label, which was released on October 19, 1993 and sung by Mariah Carey. It’s one of the most favorite songs of the singer-songwriter despite that she wrote it for Gloria Estefan. The song can be attributed to one self, but later on, it became one of the favorite songs being sung during Mother’s Day. There was no direct attribution to mothers, but this song exactly represents that all mothers are heroes of their own worth.

10. Ethiopia

Almost 60 percent of the children living in Ethiopia are forced by their parents to work to complement the income of their families. These children are deployed to farms, although the most common practice is sending them to mining areas to prospect for gold. Each child earns just one dollar every month, which is just enough to feed an entire family for a day or two. Several local awareness campaigns have been implemented in Ethiopia to inform its people about the policies of the Ethiopian government against child labor and neglect. Since the 20^th century, several organizations have reached out to rural communities in this country to offer educational opportunities to children who have no access to formal schooling.

9. Pakistan

Around 11 million Pakistani children work to earn a living by the age of 7. International organizations attribute the prevalence of child labor in Pakistan to poverty, which is said to be the single greatest cause of child labor in most countries around the world. More than 90 percent of children working in Pakistan are deployed in the wholesale and retail industry and the rest are in the service industry and manufacturing. Child labor is most common in a small community in the north eastern part of Pakistan called Sialkot near the border of Kashmir, where children are exploited to toil in factories engaged in the production of export goods.

8. Burundi

Children in Burundi work in the areas of agriculture, fishing and herding. Most of the Burundian children who are subjected to child labor come from the rural areas since they are the ones who generally have lesser opportunities to attend school. Children in urban areas who suffer from child labor are generally street children who get involved in hawking goods or in carrying heavy loads in ports. Some of them also work as domestic servants in affluent families and unfortunately become victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Child trafficking is also common in Burundi. Some locals sell children for the purpose of domestic service or soldiering. Most of these children start working even before they reach the age of 12.

7. Afghanistan

Poverty and lack of quality education are the major causes of child labor in Afghanistan. More than 30 percent of Afghan children are forced to work in illegal remote mines at a very young age to search for gold, which is the major source of income for poor families in the country. Some of those who are not deployed in mines are sent to factories or construction sites to do heavy work. They go to work in food processing, textile and cement industries, while some labor in poppy fields. There is also a rise in the number of underage girls exploited in this country, as they are sold for a price so their parents can pay for their debts.

6. Zimbabwe

Around three million children in Zimbabwe are out of school. A recent study showed that a big percentage of children who do not have any formal schooling participate in prostitution, mining, agriculture and other illicit activities in the country. Just like in many other countries, the underlying cause of child labor in Afghanistan is poverty, followed by the breakdown of family units due to sexually-transmitted diseases, and the lack or inadequacy of a good social services delivery system for its locals. Because of these factors, many children grow up being poor orphans who have no other choice but to subject themselves to exploitation and abuse just to earn a living and be able to sustain their everyday needs.

5. Democratic Republic of Congo

More than 14% of the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo depend on artisanal mining to earn a living. A huge part of this population is composed of children who use their hands, hammers, picks and other materials to pick through rocks on riverbeds or leftovers from mines to search of gold. Around a million children from the Republic of Congo work underground or in pit mines to earn a little and supplement the money earned by their parents. Child miners face health risks everyday as they handle minerals, dig tunnels and dive into wells.  Some of them even get killed due to cave-ins and explosions, and sometimes drowning.

4. Sudan

Slavery is a common practice in Sudan that has been since the ancient times. Most of Sudan children especially in the south are captured and taken away from their families during military raids so they can be sold to well-heeled families and serve as unpaid household servants. Some Arab militias and soldiers raid houses in small villages and take children with them as they return to their homes where they have them do unpaid labor within their homes. Most of these children work in herding animals for fear of beatings from their masters. There are also instances of sexual abuse among these children. The government of Sudan recently took steps to help the poor children be reunited with their parents in the camps by piloting projects that seek to alleviate poverty and abuse.

3. Somalia

According to statistics, more than half of the population of children in Somalia work starting the age of 7 so they can provide for themselves and their families. These children engage in one of the worst forms of child labor in the whole world. Most of the schools in Somalia have been transformed to recruitment centres, and nearly all children living in the poverty line are forced to be trained by the Somali army so they can soon join the military. By 15, most of the poor children of Somalia are already armed and trained to be involved in violent conflicts, act as bodyguards to the high-ranking officers of the military or work in agricultural fields and quarries.

2. North Korea

At age 14, the children of South Korea go to the military and are forced to stay in hard labor camps for up to 6 months and work 15 hours a day. Barely fed, these children are deployed to engage in hard labor activities such as mining, logging and agricultural work. Girls of the same age also get sexually abused by the guards of labor camps while they labor. In this country, children are placed in labor camps to punish them for the political offenses that they have committed. That is why it is called “re-education through labor.” If they are not placed in labor camps, children are deployed in factories to labor in the area of manufacturing.

1. Myanmar

In Myanmar, minors are forced to work as cheap labor. Most of the children in this country, especially the orphans, are separated from their parents by force to abandon schooling and start working either in farmlands or construction sites for less than a dollar earning a day. Several fishing boat owners in Myanmar also employ children not just because they are easier to control but because they can be paid with very cheap wages.

1. Surf’s Up

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An American comedy film staged in 2007, this Ash Brannon and Chris Buck film features a teenage rock hopper penguin who was determined to win the most important competition in the world of penguin surfing to prove his fellow penguins that he was more than just the “surfing fool” they credited him for. Together with his chicken friend, he joined the Big Z surfing competition in Pen Gu Island. Surf’s Up was produced in 2002 by Sony Pictures Animation and featured the voices of some of the biggest Hollywood stars such as James Woods, Jon Heder, Shia LaBeouf and Jeff Bridges. It generally received positive reviews from movie critics, saying its story was “certified fresh.”

2. March of the Penguins

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A French documentary film that featured the annual journey of the Emperor of Penguins of the Antarctica Region, March of the Penguins was directed by renowned director Luc Jacquet and was co-produced by Bonne Pioche and the National Graphic Society. It took the staff of March of the Penguins one year to shoot the film, since it involved the breeding age of penguins where they leave their natural habitat, the ocean, to journey to their own breeding grounds to court and mate with a fellow penguin. In 2005, the film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and several other awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Online Film Critics Society Awards.

3. Mr. Popper’s Penguins

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Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a book that was turned into a film in 2011. The story featured Mr. Popper, a poor house painter who resided in the Stillwater town with his family in the 1930’s. Years of residing in that place, the family met and took possession of a penguin which they named Captain Cook. Following their adoption of this male penguin, the family of Mr. Popper got another female penguin fresh from the zoo that eventually mated with Captain Cook. As the couple penguins had a total of 10 baby penguins, the Poppers family, threatened that the penguins might eat them, had to think of ways on how they could get rid of the thriving family of Captain Cook. The film adaptation of Mr. Popper’s Penguins was directed by Mark Waters and starred renowned actor Jim Carrey.

4. Cry of the Penguins

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More commonly known as Mr. Forbush and the Penguins, Cry of the Penguins is a British penguin movie that was shown in 1971. This Arne Sucksdorff, Alfred Viola and Roy Boulting-directed film starred Oscar winners John Hurt and Hayley Mills and was filmed in Antarctica through the assistance of the Argentinian navy and army. Based on a bestselling novel written by Graham Billing, Cry of the Penguins was a story of a young and rich biologist who left his family and girlfriend to live with the creatures of the frozen South Antarctica.  The movie featured several footages of real penguins and their encounters with humans.

5. Farce of the Penguins

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An American parody of the French documentary film entitled March of the Penguins, Farce of the Penguins is an award winning film that conquered the silver screen in 2007, featuring Samuel L. Jackson as its narrator and two other major characters dubbed by writer and director Bob Saget and Lewis Black. The film featured a wide array of slapstick talents and R-rated commentaries for live footages of penguins in Antarctica. The story was about a group of penguins who journeyed 70 miles towards their breeding grounds to find their mates and sleep with them. Somewhere along the way, the main characters, Carl and Jimmy, met a penguin named Marcus who loved bragging about his huge boom stick and bullying those who have small ones. The film generally featured the story of the three buddies towards their self-indulgent power of procreation ritual in Antarctica.

6. The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin

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A penguin movie that was screened in 1986, The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin was directed by Gennadiy Sokolskiy and starred Hollywood stars Virginia Masters, David Miles Monson and William Oliver. It was released by Enoki Films and was originally entitled The Adventures of Small Penguin Lolo. This movie featured a story of two penguins who got stranded on a floating iceberg in Antarctica and were eventually caught by a man who wanted to sell them to the zoo for a price. In due course, the two penguins met another macaroni penguin who promised to help them escape from the hands of the greedy man. The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin generally tackled the life of penguins in Antarctica during spring.

7. The Penguins of Madagascar

Photo Source: http://swesub.tv/uploads/images/1540.jpg

The film adaptation of American CGI television show The Penguins of Madagascar, The Penguins of Madagascar is a spin-off feature film that will be starred by the penguins of the original television show that is currently being aired on Nickelodeon. Slated for release in 2015, the movie will feature the nine main characters of the Dream Works animation movie Madagascar, namely, the penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Private, Rico, the lemurs King Julian, Maurice and Mort, and the chimpanzees Mason and Phil. The film is expected to enjoy huge success the way the television show does now among kids and families, garnering several awards such as outstanding direction, best animated television program, favorite cartoon show and many more.

8. Happy Feet

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An Australian-American animated musical family film that was staged in 2006, Happy Feet was the first animated film produced by renowned film producer Kennedy Miller, together with Animal Logic, a visual design company. It was directed and co-written by George Miller and had its earliest release in the theatres of North America on November 17, 2006. The movie slotted in some live human actions in certain scenes but was never released on IMAX 3D due to budget constraints. It featured a little penguin named Mumble who had a terribly bad singing voice but was best at tap dancing—something that no other penguin could match. His story taught his viewers that uniqueness is more of a gift than a burden. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film and a lot more.

9. Wallace & Gromit in the Wrong Trousers

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Directed by Nick Park and Aardman Animations, The Wrong Trousers is an animation film that was staged in 1993 and featured the incredible duo, Wallace and Gromit. A dog, Gromit found himself being taken out of his own home by a tenant who happened to be a ruthless criminal. This criminal, a penguin, planned to rob the home of Gromit and sought to use Wallace and his new invention, a mechanical remote-controlled pair of trousers. By the end of the story, Wallace’s intelligence rose above that of the ruthless penguin and was able to save Gromit. The movie won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

10. The Pebble and the Penguin

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Filmed in 1995, The Pebble and the Penguin was an animated musical film that featured the actual mating rituals of Adelie Penguins residing in Antarctica. It was produced by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman and featured the story of a penguin named Hubie who was so in love with another penguin named Marina. The two encountered several challenges before they finally became an item and had children.

10. Dean Koontz ($19 million)

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The 67 years old American author did not climb to the ladder of writing in an instantaneous manner, but the physical abuse that he has experienced from his father became a catalyst to his decision to speak his mind through pen and paper. Although he is a teacher by profession, he used his spare time to write a novel, and who would have thought that he could produce dozens of it, especially in the science fiction genre. Since 1968, his inclination to write continued until he went to another line of writing under the horror fiction, which he is popularly known. With his wife’s challenge that she’ll support him in 5 years, otherwise, he had to quit and forget his dream as a writer, which pushed him to fulfill it.

9. Suzanne Collins ($20 million)

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Her path to writing began when she pursued a double major course in the field of Telecommunications and Drama at Indiana University, which placed her to a children’s television show as its writer in 1991. Some of the shows where she’d worked closely were Nickelodeon, Oswald, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and a lot more. She is expert in Children’s literature, Fantasy, Young-adult fiction, and Science Fiction. She has published well known books that she authored like The Hunger Games, and Gregor the Overlander, which became a New York Times best seller.

8. Danielle Steel ($23 million)

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Her passion in novel writing is evident because of more than 800 copies that were sold. Some of the top favorites from her loyal and new patrons that became internationally acclaimed for the content and approach are One Day at a Time, 44 Charles Street, Matters of the Heart, Legacy, Bright Light, Southern Lights, Family Ties, and a few more. Novelist is her lifetime career, and she’s been doing it since 1978 despite of the break-up marriages that she had. Her writing genre is focused alone in romance and mainstream.

7. Nora Roberts ($23 million)

Photo Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/the-60-million-woman-nora-roberts/story-fn6bn9st-1225961689659

The 62-year old awardee of Quill Award for Book of the Year, Quill Award for Romance, and RITA Award for Best Novel has been a novelist since 1981, and is still working until now. She carries different pen names when she writes like J.D. Robb, Sarah Hardesty, Nora Roberts, and Jill March. She is expert in suspense, romance, and fantasy genres. She was not able to complete any related course in novel or writing since she married after she graduated from high school. She just had the opportunity when she married her husband who happens to be a bookstore owner. Their meeting started when she hired her second husband to work on her bookshelves. Since she was housebound in 1979 along with her two kids, she started drafting ideas until she was able to finish that day, 6 manuscripts. Of course, her path towards the novelist title was never easy; she received several rejections before her works were recognized. She’s thankful to her family because they love reading, which she has witnessed at an early age.

6. Bill O’Reilly ($24 million)

Photo Source: http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/10questions/0,30255,1839981,00.html

Who would have thought that this 63-year old and bubbly guy, who is much known as a Fox News Host, would have more bucks out of his historical books? According to his biography, he served as a writer in his school newspaper at Marist College in New York, where he received his degree in history and after two years, he completed his Master of Arts degree in the field of journalism at Boston University. Hence, he also served as a columnist and a reporter in several local newspapers in Boston. So, we could see broadcasting and writing are two of the most important jobs that he loves the most, but he earned much when he focused himself in writing.

5. Jeff Kinney ($25 million)

Photo Source: http://www.positivelynaperville.com/2012/10/30/wimpy-kid-creator-jeff-kinney-will-stars-at-andersons-event-at-still-middle-school/14425

He is the youngest author millionaire on this list, and at his age, he has accomplished and exceeded the expectations of others who are ahead of him. Imagine, with his just two books, The Wimpy Kid and Dog Days, with the combined sold copies, it got $18.3 million already. He also received various awards like Kid’s Choice Award for Favorite Book, and Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award. It is pretty obvious which genre he is focused on with the awards that he got. His first frustration was really becoming a cartoonist, which he has humbly exemplified when he led their campus newspaper at the University of Maryland at College Park. He is also cited as one of the Most Influential People in Time Magazine.

4. John Grisham ($26 million)

Photo Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2012/0607/Name-that-character-in-John-Grisham-s-new-novel

He could have achieved this grandiose state of wealthy living because of his earnings from his writing job as a writer, but he came from a humble family where his parents were not even able to finish college. He might have shifted from different degrees thrice, but he was able to finish accounting, and became a tax lawyer. He also dreamt to become a baseball player, but his career turned into writing where he focused on what he knows, such as legal thriller, baseball, and crime fiction. Two of his best sellers are Calico Joe and also The Firm, but before entering the bandwagon of writing he was also an active politician and a lawyer.

3. Janet Evanovich ($33 million)

Photo Source: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-06-16-Janet-Evanovich_n.htm

No one and nothing can stop her from producing quality novels in the field of mystery, romance, and suspense. She’s been writing since 1987, and at her age, she still finds the energy to squeeze out more of her creative imagination, which proves that her age does not really matter in this field of work. She began writing short novels carrying the Steffie Hall pen name, but she made a name out of the modern mysteries which are in series that became best sellers in Amazon and New York Times. Her quest in writing started when she made a decision to be a stay-home mother to take care of her kids, she tried writing, but was never able to push through it. She tried improving her craft, until someone told her to try the romance genre, which she enjoyed after reading several romance novels. The rest became a history for her, and the humorous side that she had shown in most of her novels.

2. Stephen King ($39 million)

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His name is being echoed in four quarters of the earth because of his talent in writing, where he authored more than 50 books, and majority of which became best sellers. His passion in writing happened while studying in high school, but later started contributing at Dave’s Rag. His love in horror became a channel for him to write what he has watched, and share it to his friends. He even pursued Bachelor of Arts in English and finished it in 1970 at University of Maine. He was not able to work right away, so he decided to sell some short stories that he personally wrote to sustain himself and his daughter. Although prior to the peak of his writing career, he had faced serious personal problems, but starting in 1973, his success began. Some of his notable works are The Dark Tower, Carrie, It, the Stand, and among others. He also received various awards like Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award, and other distinguished recognitions.

1. James Patterson ($94 million)

Photo Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/authorinterviews/7052581/James-Patterson-interview.html

Majority of his earnings came from his occupation as an author, and he’s proud of that. He is expert in science fiction and thriller, and some of his notable works are Witch and Wizard Series, Maximum Ride, Daniel X series, Alex Cross Series, and others. He got several recognitions and awards as well including the Edgar Award, the Children’s Choice Book Award Author of the Year, the BCA Mystery Guild’s Thriller of the Year, and others. Although Stephen King described him as a terrible writer, but he has better earnings than Mr. King, but having 230 million total copies sold proved that he is way better than the prominent and respected author, Stephen King. He finished his education at Manhattan College and Vanderbilt University with the degree in English and Master of Arts in English.