Video Game Forests

Forget Crystal Lake. These are the forests you should be worried about skinny dipping in. That being said, anyone up for a picnic?

World of Warcraft - Terokkar Forest

Although much of Terokkar has been restored, it still houses Auchindoun: the city of the dead. No matter how much you restore this forest, those ghosts are still going to get you.

Castle Crashers - Thieves' Forest

This forest is not only home to greedy thieves. It is a gathering for trolls. Once you kill the momma troll, the only way to escape poppa troll's wrath is to hop on a poop-propelled deer rocket and hope for the best

Far Cry 2 - African Savannah

Did you know the word "jungle" comes from the word "jangala" which means forest? The African Savannah can be a ruthlessly dangerous place, especially when you have an army after you and you already have malaria. If you go to an African Savannah, try not to have malaria.

Bioshock - Arcadia

It may be under water, but it's a living forest that supplies Rapture with all of its oxygen. It's also infested with a teleporting splicer gang that burst into a cloud of blood whenever they change locations. You should probably just stay out of all of Rapture just to be safe.

Metal Gear Solid 3 - Sokrovenno

Although Snake Eater is basically one giant forest, there's one section that you should probably avoid at all costs. Sokrovenno is where the legendary sniper, The End, sits dormant, waiting for his prey. There's probably also snakes and stuff on the ground which are pretty gross too.

Killzone 3 - Kaznan Jungle

We're still discovering new species of creepy crawlers in our forests. What do you think you'll find in another planet's jungle? The stuff that goes on in this place is absurd. Don't piss of any Cadaver Beetles. Just think: alien scarab.

Minecraft - The Entire World

When the sun goes down, Minecraft stops being fun and becomes get the %^$# inside and shutup! Zombies, skeletons, spiders, and ghosts all come knocking on your little wooden door. Then, you hear it. "Sssssssssssssss."

Mortal Kombat - The Living Forest

These trees are hungry. No, really. There's a stage fatality where they eat you. Don't get too close.

Super Mario World - Forest of Illusion

The only way to get out of this forest is to find the secret exit in stage 3. What's with Nintendo and creating forests that you get lost in? This isn't the Blair Mario Project.

Red Dead Redemption - Tall Trees

Although there's only a small section of Red Dead Redemption's take on the western border states of 1910 that isn't a big desert, Tall Trees is one dangerous place to go hiking. One hit kill cougars and giant grizzly bears walk around like they own the place and will even come charging at your horse. Giddy up!

Final Fantasy 7 - Ancient Forest

I don't care how much materia you have. You're not getting out of the Ancient Forest without a few battle scars. I don't know about you but I'm not part of S.O.L.D.I.E.R. and I definitely can't hold a buster sword.

Alan Wake - Bright Falls

The people of Bright Falls are possessed by a dark energy that seems to be a manifestation of Alan Wake's inner demons. This turns them into shadowy ghost zombie killers who destroy anything that enters the woods. Bring some energizer batteries and a Verizon cellphone. This is not product placement.

Zeno Clash - Zenozoik

The forest of Zenozoik is chock full of tribes that want to kill you. Your only defense? Hand-to-hand combat until the very brief moments of the game that you find another weapon. Even then it's only things you can bludgeon people with. I'm too pretty to be bludgeoned!

Resident Evil 4 - Rural Europe

Leon survives this lonely, rural part of Europe because he can jump out of second-story windows without getting hurt. I'm pretty sure I would cut myself all over, becoming a walking zombie megaphone.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Shambhala

The road to Shambhala was a bit confusing in Uncharted 2. We thought we were in the alps, then we were in a city, then there was more snow, but when we finally got to Shambhala we found a lush rain forest. It was infested with mythical warriors who have become immortal due to the tree of life, but don't let that stop you from soaking up the scenery.

Pitfall! - Jungle Maze

You can fall. In pits. How is this appealing?

Left 4 Dead - Blood Harvest

Zombies are bad news. When zombies can hide behind trees, they become bad news bears. Throw in that the undead of L4D can run and I can tell you where I'm not going to be anytime soon: this forest.

Ocarina of Time - Lost Woods

When you get lost in the Lost Woods, you become a Stalfos; a skeleton warrior under Ganon's control. The only way to avoid these affects is to be of Kokiri descent or have a fairy guide to protect you. No, your Navi plushy doesn't count.

Castlevania III - Mad Forest

This is Dracula's forest, and it's mad. Not meaning, necessarily, mad as the emotion of anger towards you. Perhaps its name refers to the mental stability of the forest as a whole? Or is it implying that it causes madness in the people that enter it? Or maybe in the pre-existing occupants? Whatever the case may be, don't go in there.

Pokemon Red/Blue - Viridian Forest

When you reach Viridian Forest for the first time, your life as a trainer has just begun. Some old dude just showed you had to use Pokeballs and you only have one Pokemon. Your entrance into the forest isn't celebrated. It's dark, there are bugs and rodents everywhere, and there are trainers who won't let you pass until they beat your pet half to death. Just close your eyes and run.

Lindsay Lohan to play mob daughter?

Lindsay Lohan to play mob daughter?

Actress Lindsay Lohan, 24, has been handpicked to play Victoria Gotti in a biopic  about the mob family  Lohan reportedly beat out Sienna Miller and this actress for the role. There are also rumors she is auditioning for a part in this super hero flick.

Amazing Artistic Trees

 
Curtis tells us about his art: "I paint dead trees in bright colors in the mountains of Colorado as public art.

 These trees have been featured in many local and regional newspapers and magazines and have really taken on a life of their own. I am now receiving requests from the community to provide my work on their properties."




"Nature is already so beautiful and full of such depth and grace... and it is NOT my intention to mask or enhance it in any way. Much in the way that we paint each other's skin out in the desert, the intention is bring out the beauty which is already there."




"I have a "thing" for trees and see the relationship between humans and trees to be an ever evolving idea which continues to inspire. The trees that I paint are long dead and weathered by hundreds of years. What I do is bring "life" back to the tree in a completely new way. This tree which was once dead is now vibrantly alive to be noticed by all, no longer blending in with all the other dead trees."




"It is this rebirth which I wish to impart to the participants. We as humans all have dreams, visions and ideas which for most of us are what make us uniquely who we are. It is those dreams, visions and ideas that we are to see in each other and breath back to life, no longer dead - and blending in with the other dead dreams we have stored in our lives."



This unique artist's motto is "Always Giving Gratitude". We find it significant that he finds hidden beauty even in dead trees - and brings it out in bright psychedelic colours!




Another painted dead tree - this time at Mount Annan Botanical Gardens, close to Sydney, Australia (more info):




Spot a dead tree sticking in your countryside like a sore thumb? Well, turn it into art - ask Curtis to paint it!

Stars who Dropped from School

 

Today, Johnny Depp - one of the most successful and highly paid actors in Hollywood

 

. He has almost everything - not only of the diploma. And not just him. We offer a look at the people who to achieve fame and place in the profession had to "sacrifice" in school.

Johnny Depp was expelled from school when he was 15. At age 16 he finally gave up school study and play music and work in film.

One of the most highly paid actresses in Hollywood, Nicole Kidman was forced to quit school because of serious illness of the mother. To support the family she had to work masseuse, but she continued study art and work in the theater. For the first time on television, Nicole Kidman appeared when she was only 15 years old.

John Travolta, left school at age 16, to school work does not interfere with his work in modeling business and study acting.

The winner of an Oscar for her role in "Monster" Charlize Theron, left school when she was 16. On the advice of her mother, she took part in the competition models. After winning the first contest, Charlize Theron participated and won in several competitions, has not yet signed a lucrative contract with a model agency in Milan.

Early career of one of Hollywood's highest paid comedians Jim Carrey was very difficult. Family was always short of money, some time they even had to live in the camper, and his first appearance in the comedy club was a flop. The school had to quit to do work at a steel plant.

Sir Michael Caine was nominated for an Oscar every decade from 1960 to 2000. At school, he studied very bad and threw it when he was 15. Acting career initially was too hard. Today recognition of the actor received only after 30 years.

The winner of the Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and three Golden Globe Cher dropped out of school at age 15. Because of the dyslexia school education was given to her with great difficulty, but the music lessons and acting skills did not cause difficulties.

Nominated for three Academy Award Australian actor Russell Crowe left school at age 15, more time to devote to music and acting work, and thus help his family.

Oscar winner and Golden Globe Award American actor Robert De Niro made his stage debut in age 10, playing the Cowardly Lion in a school production of "The Wizard of Oz." True, the school he never finished, leaving it in 16 years to become a professional acting.

The world-famous director Quentin Tarantino dropped out of school at age 15. By day he worked as ticket collectors in one of cinemas, and in the evening attended acting classes.

Star of films "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill" Uma Thurman is also the age of 15 left school studies to dedicate themselves to studying acting.

American actor and director Al Pacino at school very badly, and in 17 years after the "failures" of almost. All examinations have been certified. Because of this, he quarreled with his mother and was forced to work in various low-paying works to gain money for the actor's education.

One of the highest paid TV American actors Charlie Sheen was expelled from school for academic failure and poor discipline, just before the release.

Australian actress, nominated for an Oscar "Toni Collette at age 16 left school and enrolled in theater school.

Actress and TV host Whoopi Goldberg for dyslexia has experienced great difficulties in school and at age 16 finally given up their studies. In late 1960 she left home to live with the hippies, then there was a difficult struggle with drug addiction and a set of heavy and low-paid work, while in 1974, Whoopi Goldberg could not get a job in the theater.

Keanu Reeves at the school managed to cope with dyslexia, but at 15 he still dumped her and started her acting career.

Actress Rene Russo, along with her sister brought up a single mother. In the tenth grade, the school had to give up and go work. Before she was lucky in the modeling business, Rene Russo changed a lot of low-paid jobs.

One of the most successful British actors Ewan McGregor threw a school study in 16 years and found work in theater.

Actress Demi Moore grew up in the so-called "dysfunctional family" - her parents were abusing alcohol. In 16 years, the future actress dropped out of school and began working at a modeling agency. To become an actress Demi Moore persuaded her friend, Nastassja Kinski.

British stage and film actor Jude Law in 17 years, dropped out of school for filming the television series "Family."