Stella's Magazine » lifestyle

Children Soldiers

stela — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:22:36 +0000

Awil Salah Osman is an ordinary boy in Somalia. He looks like so many other boys in the world, with ripped-up cloths and eyes eager for attention. But he is different. Awil is carrying a fully loaded Kalashnikov rifle, because he works for a military that is financed and armed by the United States of America. He is only 12 years old, but he is already responsible for his checkpoint and stops the drivers who are trying to sneak past it.
It’s a well-known fact that radical Islamist insurgents in Somalia pluck kids off soccer fields and turn them into fighters. Awil isn’t a rebel. He works for Transitional Federal Government in Somalia and is paid only $1.50 a day. But hundreds of other children come on the front lines in Africa in the age of 9. It’s normal here for children to carry a gun, as they have no other option.

Regrets, Regrets: Career-Changing Roles That Weren’t

stela — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:50:12 +0000

Being a successful actor is more than looking good on screen and being able to bring a script to life. Recognizing a good thing when you see one can be the crucial twist in their carriers. Bad luck and poor choices are a big part of Hollywood lore. Careers have been made or broken based on an actor’s inability to look at a part and envision the possibilities, or by scheduling issues that prevented a thespian from taking on a juicy role. Some films would have been quite different had the original choice not declined, been forced out by a prior commitment, or fallen victim to a director’s change of heart. One actors misfortune and missed opportunity is another big chance to shine. Here are some famous films, and the actor or actress who turned down or didn’t get the chance to shine:

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 Hathaway 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.

Bred 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 Damon 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.

Julia 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.

John 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.

Will Smith 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 Instinct 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?

Nicole 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 sweet 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.

Nicolas 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.

Fighting With a Heat Wave

stela — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:21:23 +0000

It is a very topical issue today when the summer heat came in force. These pictures were taken in New York in 1953 and show children having fun with a fire hydrant and fighting with a heat wave back then. I guess, not much has changed since then, I would love to do this too. It feels good, plus it is fun.

Happy 130th Birthday! The Oldest Woman In The World

stela — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:49:58 +0000

Antisa Khvichava from western Georgia was born on July 8, 1880. The woman, who lives with her 40-year-old grandson in an idyllic vine-covered country house in the mountains. She retired from her job as a tea and corn picker in 1965, when she was 85, records say. Her age couldn’t immediately be independently verified. Her birth certificate was lost – one of the great number to have disappeared in the past century amid revolutions and a civil war which followed the collapse of the Russian Empire. The organization is yet to examine Khvichava’s claim. hvichava has a son, 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and six great, great grandchidren.Khvichava’s 70-year-old son Mikhail apparently was born when his mother was 60. She said she also had two children from a previous marriage, but says they died of hunger during World War II.

Yummy, yummy, yummy Around the World

stela — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:37:48 +0000

This is a project of a photographer Peter Menzel from The USA fro is working for the National Geographic and made one interesting book from all around the world where he presents the national cuisines and how much money does a average family from one country is spending per week to put some food on the table. Here you get to learn about eating habits from all around the world. Maybe this will bring some idea how to improve your own style of eating as well as style of living. Enjoy these photos and bone appetite!

Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Favorite foods: sashimi, fruit, cake, potato chips

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11
Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticks

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat

Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City
Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45 Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken

China: The Dong family of Beijing
Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $155.06
Favorite foods: fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Family recipe: Okra and mutton

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Family recipe: Potato soup with cabbage

United States: The Caven family of California
Food expenditure for one week: $159.18
Favorite foods: beef stew, berry yogurt sundae, clam chowder, ice cream

Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar
Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02
Family recipe: Mutton dumplings

Great Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis
Food expenditure for one week: 155.54 British Pounds or $253.15
Favorite foods: avocado, mayonnaise sandwich, prawn cocktail, chocolate fudge cake with cream

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
Favorite foods: fried potatoes with onions, bacon and herring, fried noodles with eggs and cheese, pizza, vanilla pudding

Australia: $ 376.45 per week
Family Recipe: Marge Brown’s Quandong (an Australian peach) Pie, Yogurt

India: $39.27
Family Recipe: Sangeeta Patkar’s Poha

USA: $242.48
Favorite Foods: Shrimp with Alfredo sauce, chicken mole, barbecue ribs, pizza

Mali: $ 26.39
Family Recipe: Natomo Family Rice Dish

France: $419.95
Favorite Foods: Delphine Le Moine’s Apricot Tarts, pasta carbonara, Thai food

Greenland: $ 277.12
Favorite Foods: polar bear, narwhal skin, seal stew

Turkey: $ 145.88
Favorite Foods: Melahat’s Puffed Pastries

The Philippines: $49.42

China: $57.27

Bosnia and Herzegovina: $ 167.43

Cuba: $ 56.76

Australia: $ 303.75

Guatemala: $ 75.70

Celebs: Once We Were Young with Stupid Hair Styles and Now We Are Old with Stupid Hair Styles

stela — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:54:55 +0000

Once these celebs were young with stupid hair styles and now things haven’t changed a lot they are old with stupid hair styles. these are one of the best musicians ever, but also the ones with the worst hair styles. Times do change as well as their faces, most of them needed some help from the magical cosmetic surgery and youth elixir called Botox, but the hair remains the same, maybe not as big as it was in the 80’s but still there.

Michael Philip Jagger, The Rolling Stones

Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones

Steven Tyler, Aerosmith

Debbie Harry, Blondie

Bret Michaels, Poison

Johnny Rotten, Sex Pistols

Vincent Damon Furnier, Alice Cooper

Iggy Pop

Patti Smith

Ozzy Osbourne

Bob Dylan

David Lee Roth

Pat Benatar

Rod Stewart

David Bowie

Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin

Stevie Nicks

Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones

Tommy Lee, Motley Crue

Meat Loaf

Axl Rose, Guns N’ Roses

Joan Jett, The Runaways

Motley Crue

Ron Wood, The Rolling Stones

Eddie Van Halen

Tom Petty, The Heartbreakers

Nancy and Ann Wilson

Ted Nugent

Nikki Sixx, Motley Crue

James Hetfield, Metallica

Steve Perry, Journey

Cherie Currie, The Runaways

Sting

David Crosby

Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden

David Coverdale, Whitesnake

Neil Young

Grace Slick

Bono, U2

Slash, Guns N’ Roses

Jon Bon Jovi

Joe Elliott, Def Leppard

Richie Sambora

Gene Simmons

Linda Ronstadt

Annie Lennox, Eurythmics

The Boss

Courtney Love

C. C. DeVille

Sad Wedding For The Bride And Groom

stela — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:44:25 +0000

Gypsies live a very strange way of living. They are pretty different and most of the things they do are not comprehensible to us. For example, they get married very early. Here on these photos, the bride is not older than 15 as well as her husband to be. I am not sure how these marriages last, but most of them are arranged by the older ones and there is not a lot for them to do but to obey the wishes of their parents or sometimes their grandparents. As you get to see this is one happy occasion for everyone except for those who are to be married. Life is sometimes sad, maybe they’ll find a way to make it better. Maybe the poverty makes them do this, who knows.

WTF-Guinea Pigs Dressed Up To Be Eaten

stela — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 07:16:36 +0000

This is a crazy world, and no doubt what may be for some a tradition, or just interesting, or funny for some will be shocking, cruel or something third. This festival photos are just the proof that we are all different. The celebration of the ‘cuy’, as guinea pigs are known in the Andes, also included contests for the biggest, fastest, best-dressed and, finally, tastiest animal of all. While the lucky guinea pigs at the festival escaped with only the indignity of being turned into kings, miners and Peruvian peasants for the day, the less fortunate ended up on a plate. Guinea pigs are native to the high Andes and their low-fat meat has been an important source of protein for thousands of years. The tradition is that these guinea pigs are being prepared and served whole, with paws and head. When in Peru act like Peruvian. You can taste these rodents through the whole year, not only on the festival, because it is their traditional meal, but they will be dressed up only for the festival. It is estimated that the Andes eat about 65millions of rodents per year. One more thing, for those who are curious to taste this meat, be careful when there, look if the guinea pig served has tale, because natives like to serve sometimes a rat instead of the guinea pig.

If These Two Lady Gaga Would Meet

stela — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:12:40 +0000

I know that when you have an idol you want to look as much as possible but this is just funny! Except the nose I am sure that everybody can see that this is not Lady Gaga. I don’t know if this was just an attempt to get a bit of the fame, just to collect some golden dust from the golden “goose”. I was pretty amused when when these photos have appeared on the web, this is just a laugh, but who knows maybe this will be a a new Lady Gaga.It is left for us just to sit back and see what will happen. The interesting thing would be if these two “Gaga’s” should meet, that would be something.

Breathtaking Cliff House

stela — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:34:21 +0000

The famous Cliff House of San Francisco was built in 1863 by Senator John Buckley and C. C. Butler.Later it was turned into a restaurant with a breathtaking view. The Cliff House had survived the 1906 earthquake with little damage but burned to the ground on the evening of September 7, 1907. These are the photos of some tourist who were enjoying the attraction. With a view like that it was hart to resist it and not to come and see it with your eyes. These photos are what is left of this wonderful hotel.