Cool Crack

Ugly Photos of Celebs (30 pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:05:00 +0000

Celebrities also have bad days. But paparazzi are always there hunting for famous people even on such days. Here is a collection of the most unflattering pictures of celebs.

Dog the Bounty Hunter

Michael Pitt

Britney Spears

Kate Moss

Mickey Rourke

Peter Doherty

Mischa Barton

Jonah Hill

Samantha Ronson

Brad Pitt

Taylor Momsen

Adam Duritz

Amy Winehouse

Kristen Stewart

Devendra Banhart

Adam Sandler

Flavor Flav

Colin Farrell

Rip Torn

Johnny Depp

Ron Jeremy

Kirsten Dunst

Joaquin Pheonix

Robert Pattinson

The Olsen Twins

Russell Crowe

Spencer Pratt

Ke$ha

Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.)

Courtney Love

How beaches looked 100 years ago

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:57:00 +0000

If Cartoon Characters Were In College

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:17:00 +0000

Replacing World Landmarks With Cheap Souvenirs

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:52:00 +0000

Edo-period monster paintings by Sawaki Suushi

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:13:00 +0000

In the sophisticated popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), much attention was devoted to Japan’s rich pantheon of traditional monsters and apparitions, known as yokai. Sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous, these compelling Japanese folk creatures were the subject of numerous artistic and literary works. One such work was Hyakkai Zukan, a collection of picture scrolls completed in 1737 by Sawaki Suushi, a relatively unknown artist who studied under master painter Hanabusa Itcho (1702-1772). Hyakkai Zukan’s colorful depictions of Japan’s most notorious creatures inspired (and were copied by) yokai artists for generations.

When Waves Collide

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:35:00 +0000

Waves bouncing off of the seawall at the south end of "Victoria Beach" in Laguna Beach, California, rebound into oncoming waves to create a beautiful and turbulent water playground.

Types Of Bosses

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:32:00 +0000

When Afghanistan Had Hopes for the Future (23 pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:26:00 +0000

British Defense Secretary Liam Fox called Afghanistan “a broken 13th-century country” when he visited it. His words drew fire on him. This happened not because he was wrong, but because he was way too blunt. Actually, Liam Fox wasn’t the first person to call Afghanistan a medieval country. There were people who labeled local inhabitants “barbarians with a 1200 A.D. mentality”. Many people really think that Afghanistan is an ungovernable land with chaos that would never make it out of the Middle Ages.

Still there were times when Afghanistan was a nice country where women could pursue careers in medicine, where people could go to the movies and work on the factories. This country used to produce many goods. It had a government that was able to undertake national infrastructure projects. People believed they had a future, but all their hopes were destroyed by 30 years of war.

Original caption: "Kabul University students changing classes. Enrollment has doubled in last four years."
The physical campus of Kabul University, pictured here, does not look very different today. But the people do. In the 1950s and '60s, students wore Western-style clothing; young men and women interacted relatively freely. Today, women cover their heads and much of their bodies, even in Kabul. A half-century later, men and women inhabit much more separate worlds.

"Biology class, Kabul University."
In the 1950s and '60s, women were able to pursue professional careers in fields such as medicine. Today, schools that educate women are a target for violence, even more so than five or six years ago.

"Student nurses at Maternity Hospital, Kabul."
When I was growing up, education was valued and viewed as the great equalizer. If you went to school and achieved good grades, you'd have the chance to enter college, maybe study abroad, be part of the middle class, and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. Education was a hallowed value. Today, I think people have become far more cynical. They do not see the link between education and a better life; they see instead that those who have accumulated wealth and power have not done so through legitimate means.

"Most hospitals give extensive post-natal care to young mothers."
This infant ward in a Kabul hospital in the 1960s contrasts sharply with one I visited in 2004 in Mazar-e-Sharif. There I found two babies born prematurely sharing the same incubator. That hospital, like many in Afghanistan today, did not have enough equipment.

"Infant ward at feeding time."
In the 1960s, about half of Afghanistan's people had access to some level of medical care; now a much smaller percentage do. Today's hospitals are crowded, the facilities limited; nearly one in four babies born in Afghanistan today does not reach its fifth birthday.

"A laboratory at the Vaccine Research Center."
Above is a vaccine research center attached to a Kabul hospital in the 1960s. Today, medical care across the country is limited by several factors, including lack of electricity. Less than 20 percent of Afghans have access to electricity; many homes are lit by kerosene lamps, with only fans running to combat the heat.

"A villager welcomes visiting nurses to his compound."
The central government of Afghanistan once oversaw various rural development programs, including one, pictured here, that sent nurses in jeeps to remote villages to inoculate residents from such diseases as cholera. Now, security concerns alone make such an effort nearly impossible. Government nurses, as well as U.N. and NGO medical workers, are regular targets for insurgent groups that merely want to create disorder and terror in society.

"Hundreds of Afghan youngsters take active part in Scout programs."
Afghanistan once had Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. In the 1950s and '60s, such programs were very similar to their counterparts in the United States, with students in elementary and middle schools learning about nature trails, camping, and public safety. But scouting troops disappeared entirely after the Soviet invasions in the late 1970s.

"Park Cinema, like many others, provides the needed entertainment."
This movie theater was located near where I once lived, and we could even see Hollywood movies there. (I remember seeing Spartacus, The FBI Story, and The Dirty Dozen.)

"Mothers and children at a city playground."
I also remember a playground a few hundred yards away from the theater, where mothers used to take their children to play. Now, only men loiter in the city parks; it is unsafe to bring children outside.

"Skilled workers like these press operators are building new standards for themselves and their country."
Light and medium industry, like this metal shop in the Kabul suburbs, once held great promise for Afghanistan's economy. But today, how could you run such an operation without ample electricity? Now there are only small shops, people who work at home -- no major industrial centers. Currently, Afghanistan's chief export is opium.

"Sarobi hydro-power plant on Kabul River is one of the country's foremost power stations."
With German assistance, Afghanistan built its first large hydropower station, pictured here, in the early 1950s. At the time, it was state of the art. It is still in operation, but unfortunately, in the last eight years, Afghanistan's government has not been able to build a single large power plant of any kind. The only sizable accomplishment has been the expansion of a transport line to Uzbekistan so that power can be imported from the north.

"Gulbahar Textile Plant is one of the most modern in Asia."
When I was growing up, Afghanistan did have medium and light industry, such as the textile factory pictured here. There was a sense then that Afghanistan had a bright future -- its economy was growing, its industry on par with other countries in the region. Back then, most of the cotton processed in a plant like this was grown locally. But three decades of war have destroyed industry and the supply chain.

"Kabul is served by an up-to-date transportation system."
Compared with the 1950s and '60s, fewer women work outside the home, and their outfits are much more conservative than what you see here.

"Central control panel at Radio Kabul transmitter. Transmitter can be heard as far distant as South Africa and Indonesia."
If you flipped through the radio dial in the 1960s, you would hear broadcasts of world news, local news, music programs, funny skits, political discourse, maybe an art program, a children's show. Radio Kabul, a state-run station whose old offices are pictured here, was launched in the 1930s.

"Recording room pre-records many interviews, special service programs for delayed broadcast."
Modern Afghanistan actually has a greater number of private radio stations, as well as broadcast and satellite television shows. This is one bright spot. But access to radio and TV depends on electricity, and so in a practical sense, the audience is therefore limited. Only the most well-to-do families have private generators to ensure uninterrupted electricity to power electrical devices.

"International trade fair at Kabul."
During the annual commemoration of Afghanistan's independence, Kabul was lit up at night in late August and early September for nine evenings in the early 1960s. Now the city is dark. Even driving at night gives an eerie feeling. There are hardly any lights on; the streets are desolate, and there is no night life.

"Textile store window display."
Clothing boutiques like these were a familiar feature in Kabul during my childhood.

"Phonograph record store."
So, too, were record stores, bringing the rhythm and energy of the Western world to Kabul teenagers.

"Furniture display room."
Today, furniture stores like this one are a rarity. Most furniture is manufactured outside Afghanistan, and only a small percentage of Afghans now have even simple furniture like this in their homes.

"Fresh fruit bazaar."
When I visit Kabul today, it is only the fruit bazaars that still look the same.

"Cabinet in session." The education level of Afghanistan's cabinet today is far less than it was 50 years ago, when this photo was taken. Back then, most high-ranking government officials would have had master's or doctoral degrees. Western dress was the norm. These days, government meetings in Kabul are conducted among men, many with long beards, big turbans, and traditional garb.

"In the absence of dependable international peace, national defense plays an important role in the affairs of the nation."

Afghanistan's once strong and functional defensive forces are today only a memory. After the Soviets left, Pakistan was instrumental in destroying the country's armed services. Since the 1990s civil war, the subsequent Taliban takeover, and the U.S.-led intervention, domestic security forces have proved extremely difficult to build, even as security remains a top concern.

Super Heroes vs. the Westboro Baptist Church

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:24:00 +0000

Amazing Design Ideas (123 Pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:44:00 +0000

11 Abandoned American Hospitals and Asylums

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:23:00 +0000

1. Henryton State Hospital, Marriottsville, Maryland

During the 1920s and 1930s, segregated hospitals and paltry health care left Maryland’s African American population four times more likely than whites to contract deadly tuberculosis. With the disease running rampant in the African American community, this massive complex was opened in 1922 to serve the under-represented and very sick population, and was named the Henryton Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

In 1963, with the decline of TB, the hospital became the Henryton State Hospital, charged with treating severely and profoundly mentally handicapped patients. Since the original building was not constructed to confine patients and had almost no security or confined enclosures, it could only house those that would, or could, not leave the property. Given the trend of placing non-violent mental patients in homes and taking them out of large institutions, the Henryton State Hospital had fewer and fewer patients until it finally closed in 1985.

Since Henryton’s closure, the hospital has become the place to see and be seen for drug addicts, drifters, arsonists, and people who love to break things. Given the hospital’s massive size, relatively rural location, and the large number of years since being abandoned, its current “residents” have given it a pretty nasty reputation. In addition, an intentionally set fire in 2007 burned down a major section of the hospital.

Urban explorers be careful! This abandoned hospital’s tenants are definitely more dangerous than those that lived there when it was a mental institution.

2. New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum/Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Morris Plains, New Jersey

Opened in 1876 with the infamous name “New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum”, this hospital was constructed to relieve the immense overpopulation of New Jersey’s only other mental health hospital in Treton. Built on over 700 acres, the first asylum building were capable of housing 600 patients, but were already significantly over-capacity only 4 years later with 800 residents. As the years went by, the hospital became increasingly overcrowded, even with the construction of new buildings. In 1914, 2,412 patients were squeezed into hospital, which then had a maximum capacity of 1,600.

After World War II, the situation worsened. An influx of soldiers returning from the war with PTSD ended up at the Asylum, as the hospital (which had been renamed Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital) was one of the only facilities capable of treating the returning men. Insulin shock therapy and electroconculsive therapy was administered to the Vets, and in 1953 the hospital had 7,674 patients packed into its facilities.

Greystone hosted one very unexpected resident and another famous visitor. In 1961 Bob Dylan came all the way from Minnesota to visit his idol Woody Guthrie, who was living in Greystone asylum, suffering from the late stages of Huntington’s Disease. This degenerative illness slowly attacks the nervous system and brain, and almost nothing was known about the disease at the time. Sadly, as Guthrie’s mental and physical state began to deteriorate, it was assumed he was either a drunk or had Schizophrenia, and he was placed in the institution for treatment.

Today, only a few of the 30 buildings on the grounds are currently occupied, and the rest have been left in total disrepair. Since parts of the hospital are still in use, urban explorers should be cautious when exploring the grounds, since there have been reports of high security.

3. Santa Fe Railroad Hospital/Linda Vista Community Hospital, Los Angeles, California

Originally established in 1904 as a hospital for Santa Fe railroad workers and their families, the Santa Fe Railroad Hospital was located in a sought after neighborhood and meticulously maintained. By 1937, the hospital had expanded and become the Linda Vista Community Hospital and started accepting all types of patients. Though the Boyle Heights neighborhood in East LA, where the hospital stands, was once a wealthy part of town, the Great Depression took its toll and the area began to fall out of favor.

Fast forward to the 1970s and ’80s, and Linda Vista had crumbled into complete disrepair. Almost all of the facility’s patients were victims of gang violence like gunshot wounds and stabbings, and most didn’t have health care. With paltry financial support from the state, the quality of care offered at Linda Vista became deplorable, and in 1991 the hospital shut down due to unusually high death rates and accusations of mistreatment and abuse.

Although most other hospitals like this were torn down or became overrun with vandals and arsonists, Linda Vista had the ‘good fortune’ of being built in Hollywood. Instead of being demolished or left for the taking, Linda Vista is now the scene for hundreds of Hollywood movie and TV shoots. Parts of “Outbreak”, “End of Days”, “Pearl Harbor” and the pilot episode of ER were filmed there.

With such a tragic history and plenty of people coming in and out, it’s a relatively safe and exceptionally interesting spot for urban explorers. One of the most bizarre rooms rife for exploring is the hospital’s filling room, which one urban explorer reported is overflowing with years and years of medical records.

4. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum/ Weston State Hospital, Weston, West Virginia USA

Work began on the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum at the end of 1858. Constructed by prison laborers, building was interrupted when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Although the money allocated for finishing the asylum was stolen and used for war efforts, the hospital was completed with funds from the newly reorganized US government and it accepted its first patients in 1864. The hospital was designed to be completely self-contained: it had a dairy and farm, a cemetery, and water system. It was also a segregated hospital, with separate facilities for blacks and whites.

Like most asylums of the era, it became horrendously overcrowded soon after opening. Designed to house 250 patients, 717 patients lived there by 1880 – and things only got worse. By 1938, there were 1,661 registered residents and by 1949 the asylum was home to a ghastly 2,400 people. One of its most famous patients? Charles Manson spent time in this facility during the height of its over population.

Although the staff must have been terribly overworked, the administration wasn’t innocent – documented acts of torture by the wardens read like a horror movie. Rudimentary full frontal lobotomies were performed with ice picks, patients were placed in solitary confinement for weeks upon weeks, vicious inmates were left to terrorize other patients, and tens of thousands died over the years, many from unnatural causes, buried in mass graves in the hospital’s cemetery.

By 1994 the asylum was in such horrific condition that it was deemed completely uninhabitable and closed for good. In 1999, the hospital was home to a policeman’s paintball league – the cops were subsequently fired from their positions.

The property was purchased in 2007 by a local contractor, Joe Jordan. He paid 1.5 million for the 242,000 square foot building and has begun fixing up the grounds, capitalizing on the hospital’s terrifying past. He offers ghost tours, including an overnight stay on Saturday nights! Perfect for urban explorers who like to explore, legally.

5. Overbrook Insane Asylum/Essex County Hospital, Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Built 20 years after Greystone in response to the issues there, Overbrook Insane Asylum was supposed to offer relief for hundreds of patients who had been suffering at the hands of overcrowding and abuse. Unfortunately, Overbrook could not offer the kind of care it promised.

Since the asylum was self-contained, with its own power plant, farms, and bakery, it had limited contact with the outside world. So in 1917, when the asylums boiler broke down, the hospital was without heat for an astonishing 20 days. During that time, 24 patients died, freezing to death in their own beds.

Like many similar institutions, once WWII vets returned from the war, the influx of PTSD patients into the asylum was overwhelming. The institution was completely unequipped to treat so many sick people, and suicides, starvation, horrendous neglect, and escapes were reported. With improvements in psychiatric medicine, most of the patients were transferred out of the hospital in the ’80s and ’90s and it was officially closed in 2006.

After being featured on multiple urban exploration websites, the popularity of this spot has skyrocketed. In response, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning saying they are monitoring the grounds carefully and will arrest anyone “trespassing”. Although the law has spoken, the eerie beauty of this place is irresistible.

6. Renwick Smallpox Hospital, Roosevelt Island, New York, USA

Although a vaccine for smallpox did exist in 1856, New York’s steady stream of unvaccinated immigrants lead to a hellish outbreak of the disease. Given how contagious the disease is, New York needed an isolated place to house, and hopefully treat, the masses of people infected. Blackwell Island (now Roosevelt Island) was picked. Located in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, the narrow island provided a perfect location for the new hospital since it was isolated from the rest of New York but easily accessible by ferry.

James Renwick, a favorite New York architect who also designed Grace Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, was commissioned to design the building. The hospital accepted charity patients which they housed in communal rooms on the first floor as well as paying patients who had private rooms on the floors above. During the epidemic the hospital was full to capacity, but as the epidemic waned the hospital was no longer necessary and the building was turned into a nurse training college in 1886. By 1950 the nursing school had shut down, and the once grand building was left completely to ruin – which is pretty much exactly how it stands today.

With no roof, inside walls, or floors, Renwick Smallpox hospital has been left to deteriorate for the past 50 plus years. While what’s left of the building has been declared a national historic monument, it wasn’t until 2009 that money was set aside to stabilize the condition of the hospital and allow it to open for public tours.

7. Old Mercy Hospital, Liberty, Texas

This hospital was built on one of the main streets in Liberty, Texas, though there is almost no public information about who built it and when. After serving as a Catholic hospital for many years, the building was converted into a nursing home. In the 1980s the hospital was fully abandoned and has been sitting empty and rotting for the past 30 years. Have any more information on this intriguing spot? Let us know!

8. Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Long Island, NY

This massive hospital compound was built in 1885 on what is now Long Island (but was then called Kings Park) and attempted to offer mentally ill patients an oasis from the stress of Manhattan. When it was built, Kings Park Psychiatric Center was intended to revolutionize psychiatric care. Instead of massive institutions, this hospital was built as a “Farm Colony”; treatment involved sick patients working on a self-sustaining farm.

Although this philosophy worked on the small scale, as the institution became terribly overcrowded in the 1930s, a decidedly un-farmy hospital building was constructed. Named “Building 93″, this gigantic new wing was 13 stories high and towered ominously above the other structures. Even though the new Building 93 was huge, it was barely enough….by 1954 the population at Kings Park had soared to 9,303.

With the discovery of new mental illness drugs, the population at Kings Park slowly declined until the last patient left through its doors in 1996. Today, much of the grounds have been turned into parkland and the train tracks that used to bring patients and staff to the hospital are now hiking trails. But building 93 still remains as a brutal reminder of what this park used to be. Lucky for the adventurous, it’s open for exploration!

9. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, KY

Opened in 1910, this hospital accommodated the growing number of tuberculosis patients in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The original structure had a 50 person capacity, but by 1924 there were over 140 people living in the sanatorium. In an attempt to house even more victims of the TB epidemic, a massive, Gothic hospital was built in 1926 on the top of Waverly Hill where the old hospital used to stand. Although at the time it was considered one of the most advanced treatment centers, the procedures used there to “cure” patients seem torturous by today’s standards.

It was believed fresh air was good for curing TB, so ill patients were forced to spend all their time outside, even sleeping in open “sun rooms” in the middle of winter. The conditions were so extreme, electric blankets were invented to alleviate some of the suffering for this kind of “treatment”. In addition, doctors experimented with painful procedures including partially collapsing patients’ lungs, removing sections of infected lungs, and surgically removing up to 8 ribs of very sick patients, which was done two at a time.

Even with all the “advanced” medicine practiced here, over 66,000 patients died during their stay. Since the doctors didn’t want living patients to have to see to bodies of those who had lost their fight with the disease, a “body chute” was installed for a quick transportation of dead bodies from the ward, to a waiting cart in underground tunnels, to the graveyard.

With the discovery of antibiotics, the need for the hospital diminished and, after passing through multiple hands, it was sold in 2001 to a couple who are attempting to restore the sanatorium and currently hold ghost tours in the hospital to fund the restoration. Again, urban explorers who like to do it the legal way, this one’s for you!

10. Athens Lunatic Asylum/The Ridges, Athens, Ohio

Built in 1874, this hospital attempted to house the large Civil War veteran population suffering from PTSD. The Athens Lunatic Asylum was built with the philosophy of Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride in mind, who believed in designing asylums in the shape of real houses to bring familiar comfort to its patients. Although the intentions for a fine institution were sound, as the patient population grew from 200 to 2000 in the early 1900s, proper care wasn’t remotely feasible.

In an attempt to make its massive mentally ill population more manageable, lobotomies were regularly performed in the ’50s. Dr. Walter Jackson Freeman, Ph.D., aka “The Father of the Transorbital Lobotomy”, performed over 200 lobotomies alone.

Today, some of the buildings of this hospital compound are in public use, but many others have been left to decay. Reportedly, one of the most interesting structures for urban explorers is the asylum’s TB wing.

11: Byberry Mental Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Byberry has one of the most tragic histories of any mental hospital on our list. Constructed in 1906 as a small work farm, the institution was soon inundated with patients, many of whom had been kicked out of their respective hospitals and sent to Byberry as a last resort. With patients ranging from mentally challenged to criminally insane, the hospital could not deal with the huge spike in sick patients coming through their doors daily. Most of those admitted were never well enough to leave, and stayed for the remainder of their lifetimes. Even after three decades of reports of horrendous abuse and extremely unsanitary conditions, the state authorities did nothing to fix the systematic problems at Byberry.

It wasn’t until Charlie Lord, a young conscientious objector to WWII and a Quaker, was sent as punishment to work as an orderly at Byberry that the outside world was given a glimpse of what life was like there. Lord was appalled at the conditions he saw; most patients were naked and huddled together in barren concrete rooms, defecating on the floor, with no mental stimulation or humane treatment of any sort. Unable to convince reporters of what he saw, Lord snuck a Agfa camera into the hospital and took three roles of 36 exposure film, capturing some unbelievable scenes. One of the first people who saw the images was Eleanor Roosevelt, who vowed to end the horrors at Byberry. Lord’s photos were published in the May 1946 edition of Life magazine and single handedly helped bring about reform to mental health institutions across the country.

The horrors of Byberry continued for many years. After failing inspection after inspection through the 1980s, stories continued to emerge about patient abuse, including one who claims he was shackled to his bed for 14 months straight. Another claimed that a female patient was murdered by another patient, who dismembered her body and hid it around the hospital. The killer escaped and was never found.

After investigators deemed the hospital “atrocious” and “irreversible”, it was finally abandoned in 1990. Since then, asbestos concerns have left it intact, and it has become a magnet for looters, vandals and arsonists. In 2006, almost all of the hospital was torn down to make way for new construction developments.

Sandrine Estrade Boulet

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:38:00 +0000

The Roles They Should Have Taken (20 pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:56:00 +0000

These stars turned down great roles.

Sir Sean could have made a fortune had he accepted a lucrative profit-sharing deal to play Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings series. But the normally canny Scot turned down the offer, saying he'd read the script and "never understood it". Ian McKellen would eventually play the wizard role.

Paltrow was James Cameron's first choice to play Rose in Titanic but turned it down. Claire Danes was also offered the role, but passed because she had just worked with Leonardo DiCaprio on William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Kate Winslet begged to be cast in the film and was.

Anne-Hath was originally given the lead in Knocked Up but pulled out when she discovered Judd Apatow intended to use footage of an actual child birth in the scene where her character has a baby. Katherine Heigl had no qualms about it and ended up securing her career-making role.

Pitt was lined up to play Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity but pulled out to play another secret agent in Spy Game, opening the door for his Ocean's Eleven co-star Matt Damon. Bourne Identity director Doug Liman would eventually work with the Pittster on Mr and Mrs Smith.

Hannah turned down the role of Vivian because she thought it was "degrading for the whole of womankind. They sold it as a romantic fairytale when in fact it's a story about a prostitute who becomes a lady by being kept by a rich and powerful man". It also made Julia Roberts a huge star, of course, but good on Daryl for sticking to her guns.

Big Russ was offered the Wolverine role in the first X-Men but demanded too much money. Scottish actor Dougray Scott was then cast, but had to pull out when filming went over schedule on Mission: Impossible II. So Hugh Jackman stepped in, sticking around for two sequels and a prequel.

Matt had discussions with James Cameron about Avatar but could not accept the role of Jake Sully (eventually played by Sam Worthington) due to a scheduling conflict with The Bourne Ultimatum. "He was a gentleman about it," Matt shrugged later. "Clearly my not participating cost the film a lot."

Former indie star Jake also had the chance to muscle up and star in action epic Avatar. Instead, he chose... er, Prince of Persia. Big mistake. Avatar went on to be the biggest movie of all time, and put Sam Worthington at the top of Hollywood wish-lists. Prince of Persia was, well, Prince of Persia.

Roberts was lined up to be the female lead in Shakespeare in Love in the early 1990s but abruptly pulled out when Daniel Day-Lewis, her boyfriend at the time, refused to play the Bard. Some years later, Gwyneth Paltrow played the role and scooped an Oscar for her trouble.

Hackman originally owned the rights to The Silence of the Lambs and at one stage intended to play Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. When he got cold feet, the film was offered to Sean Connery and Jeremy Irons. Both turned it down, allowing Anthony Hopkins to bag his Oscar-winning part.

Travolta was offered the role of Forrest Gump in Robert Zemeckis' picture but turned it down as did Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. Tom Hanks ended up playing the part and winning his second Oscar for it, beating Travolta, nominated the same year for Pulp Fiction, in the process.

Big Will was handed the Matrix script on a platter but promptly passed. "In the pitch, I just didn't see it," he says. "I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix... Keanu was smart enough to just let it be. Let the movie and the director tell the story and don't try and perform every moment." Hmm, backhanded compliment there?

Basic Insinct could have made Kelly Lynch a household name instead of a, "Who?.. oh, the one from Drugstore Cowboy?" But recent interviews claim Lynch turned down the role as it wasn't a balanced portrayal of bisexual women. She went on to star in lesbian film Three Of Hearts and The L Word. Kelly is married with kids, just in case you're wondering.

Ian Fleming had Grant in mind for the role of the superspy but Grant met the Dr No offer with a resounding... "no". At 58, he thought he was too old for the role, and also didn't fancy being tied to a film series. Grant starred in just three movies after that - wonder if Bond would have kept him going well past his pension?

Kidman won an Oscar for The Hours and was all set to reunite with director Stephen Daldry on The Reader. When the Australian star became pregnant, though, she swiftly withdrew, allowing Kate Winslet to get the role that won her the Oscar she had previously been denied five times.

Oh the irony - the future star of The Sixth Sense thought "playing a ghost would be detrimental to his career" so he declined to star in Ghost, a huge box office smash and career highlight of Patrick Swayze and Willis' then-wife, Demi Moore. Must have made for interesting pillow talk.

The Cage was pumped to play Randy "The Ram" Robinson in The Wrestler but pulled out over fears he would not have enough time to hone the necessary physique. His departure was good news for Mickey Rourke, who ended up with a Bafta, a Golden Globe and Iron Man 2.

Julia again. This time she was first choice for the real-life do-gooder in The Blind Side. But it turned into Sandra Bullock's very own Erin Brockovich when the "serious" role won Sandy her first Oscar. Meanwhile Roberts appeared in the atrocious Valentine's Day. Still, it was Sandy's turn, right?

Selleck was offered the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark but had to turn it down because he had already committed to appearing in TV show Magnum PI. With just three weeks to go, director Steven Spielberg persuaded George Lucas to cast Harrison Ford.

Photographic Height/Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:36:00 +0000

5'3" height, 135 pounds weight

5'3" height, 140 pounds weight

5'4" height, 100 pounds weight

5'4" height, 110 pounds weight

5'4" height, 120 pounds weight

5'4" height, 135 pounds weight

5'4" height, 150 pounds weight

5'5" height, 90 pounds weight

5'5" height, 100 pounds weight

5'5" height, 130 pounds weight

5'6" height, 92 pounds weight

5'6" height, 120 pounds weight

5'6" height, 130 pounds weight

5'6" height, 140 pounds weight

5'6" height, 150 pounds weight

5'7" height, 110 pounds weight

5' 7" height, 120 pounds weight

5'7" height, 130 pounds weight

5'7" height, 142 pounds weight

5' 7" height, 150 pounds weight

5'8" height, 120 pounds weight

5'8" height, 130 pounds weight

5'8" height, 140 pounds weight

5'8.25" height, 153 pounds weight

5'8" height, 160 pounds weight

5'9" height, 112 pounds weight

5'9" height, 122 pounds weight

5'9" height, 140 pounds weight

5'9" height, 154 pounds weight

5'9" height, 160 pounds weight

5'10" height, 110 pounds weight

5'10" height, 130 pounds weight

5'10" height, 140 pounds weight

5'10" height, 150 pounds weight

5'10" height, 162 pounds weight

5' 11" height, 110 pounds weight

5'11" height, 140 pounds weight

5'11" height, 150 pounds weight

5'11" height, 160 pounds weight

5'11" height, 170 pounds weight

6'0" height, 120 pounds weight

6'0" height, 134 pounds weight

6'0" height, 143 pounds weight

6' height, 148 pounds weight

6'0" height, 160 pounds weight

6' 1" height, 130 pounds weight

6'1" height, 160 pounds weight

6'1" height, 170 pounds weight

6'1" height, 180 pounds weight

6'2" height, 130 pounds weight

6' 2" height, 150 pounds weight

6'2" height, 160 pounds weight

6' 2" height, 170 pounds weight

6'2" height, 180 pounds weight

6'3" height, 145 pounds weight

6'3" height, 150 pounds weight

6'3" height, 170 pounds weight

6'3" height, 180 pounds weight

6'3" height, 190 pounds weight

6'4" height, 115 pounds weight

6'4" height, 140 pounds weight

6'4" height, 155 pounds weight

6'4" height, 160 pounds weight

6'4" height, 170 pounds weight

6'5" height, 173 pounds weight

6' 5" height, 200 pounds weight

6'5" height, 210 pounds weight

6'5" height, 250 pounds weight

6'5" height, 260 pounds weight

6'6" height, 185 pounds weight

6'6" height, 210 pounds weight

6'6" height, 220 pounds weight

6'6" height, 230 pounds weight

6'6" height, 335 pounds weight

6'7" height, 300 pounds weight

6' 8" height, 240 pounds weight

6'8" height, 260 pounds weight

Easy PB&J Jar

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Peanut Butter: it's the greatest invention ever. The only downside to it, though, is the jar that it comes in. How many times have reached the bottom of the jar only to be frustrated at not being able to get those last few bits? Well, too often for me.

The Easy PB&J Jar is a jar with two lids that allows you to access all of your peanut butter easily without having to resort to breaking open the jar. As you near the end on one side, simply flip the jar over to get the rest. The straight and smooth internal walls also ensure that no peanut butter is ever left behind a nook or cranny like existing jars.

This jar is useful for more than just peanut butter. Use it for almond butter, cashew butter, pistachio butter, macadamia butter, hazelnut butter, or any other nut butter you can think of. It's also good for mayonnaise, jams, jellies, fruit spreads, honey, pâtés, and other pastes. Never waste a single morsel ever again!

Nuclear Explosions

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:13:00 +0000

Ice diving in Kazakhstan

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:09:00 +0000

The Original GOOGLE Computer Storage [Page and Brin] (1996)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:26:00 +0000

8 Brilliant Artists from Deviant Art!

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Artgerm: Pepper

The artist started experimenting with drawing and illustrations about 5 years ago giving birth to a fictional character called “Pepper”. Now its become a full fledge project where other artists contribute several drawings and styles to the

Cellar-FCP:Two Prostitutes

This is a work of art was part of a book cover project. The lightning and brush strokes bring this art to life. Simply brilliant!

JPRart:Captain Jack Sparrow

It looks like a picture, doesn’t it? This 3D art has won several awards, featured in magazines and decorated the book covers.

Arcipello:Colours in the Dark

The artist took about 8 months to finish the design (on and off). The image tries to depict how a visually impaired person feels the colors instead of seeing them.

JerryCai:Summer Girl

Great work! Clear face and brushed/blurred surroundings give it a distinct effect.

Leonidafremov: CORRIDA

I’ve never seen this technique before, it looks awesome. I strongly recommend visiting this artists profile to view all of the work.

EIFEL TOWER

j00nk1m110:Art is a Creation

Artist took about 7 hours to finish this image. It was also featured on Daily Deviation. The image literally looks like the artist is bringing the character to life as he completes the pencil work.

SpaceCoyote:Zuko’s Cover Art

This image was created as part of the book cover project for “The Last Airbender”. Look brilliant, the lightning and color composition are great!

Stars before and after plastic surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:46:00 +0000

Heidi Montag

Ashlee Simpson

Paris Hilton

Fergie

Courtney Love

Joan Rivers

Jenna Jameson

Jennifer Grey

Pamela Anderson

Halle Berry

Dolly Parton

Lil' Kim

Lisa Rinna

Sylvester Stallone

Kenny Rogers

Tara Reid

Priscilla Presley

Ashley Tisdale

Donatella Versace

LaToya Jackson

Mickey Rouke

Chalk Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:43:00 +0000

What Goes Around Comes Around

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Historic LOL (100 Pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:47:00 +0000

Face it

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:15:00 +0000

Why Isn't It Working? (9 pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Fiona) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:22:00 +0000

A client brought an APC Back-UPS 600 to a service center because it wasn't working. Now imagine the surprise of the service center workers when they disassembled it.