Monday, October 31, 2011

The Old Jail in Jim Thorpe, PA

The Old Jail Museum


The Old Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe, PA looms over the street from its location high up on the mountain. Built in the early 1800's the jail served the county until it was closed in the 1970's. It's almost impossible to imagine that men were sent here in modern times. The building sits like a medieval fortress.

One of the paranormal events that takes place here began long ago on June 21, 1877, the day four men were executed at the jail. The hangings were simultaneous - all 4 men died at once. One of the men, Alexander Campbell, left his hand print in his cell, #17, in protest of his innocence. A hand print that is visible to this day. Paranormal because the wall has been painted over and re-plastered and it returned. Today it is preserved and not even photos may be taken of it.

The place has a haunted atmosphere. Upstairs, in the main ward is a replica of the gallows from those infamous hangings. Downstairs, the basement cells which served as solitary confinement are chilling. Each cell a dark gloomy pit of fear and loathing.

Disembodied voices, apparitions and ghostly footsteps have all been reported here at The Old Jail. Omni staffers have first hand experience with something weird at the Jail, including hearing footsteps overhead - when the floor above was deserted - and pictures with orbs.

The Old Jail was open for over one hundred years and in that time saw thousands of men languish, fight, live and die there. Regardless of the validity of the Campbell hand print, we would bet it's haunted.




The Old Jail Museum
Jim Thorpe, PA




The Gallows


A basement cell - what do you see?


An orb floating over the floor

Top Horror Movies

The Omni Horror Movie Pick List
We've split the movies by release year into three catagories:

Classics 1920-1969

Nosferatu, 1922
Phantom of the Opera, 1925
Dracula, 1931
Frankenstein, 1931
The Mummy, 1932
Hound of the Baskervilles, 1939
The Wolfman, 1941
Them!, 1954
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956
House on Haunted Hill, 1959
Psycho, 1960
The Pit and The Pendalum, 1961 (Classic Vincent Price. The ending still scares us.)
The Birds, 1963
Night of the Living Dead, 1968 (We're coming at 1mph to get you, Barbara!)
Rosemary's Baby, 1968

New Classics 1970-1999

The Legend of Boggy Creek, 1972 (One of our faves of ALL TIME)
The Exorcist, 1973
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 1974
Jaws, 1975
The Shining, 1980
An American Werewolf in London, 1981
Wolfen, 1981
Poltergeist, 1982
The Thing, 1982
Creepshow, 1982
Evil Dead II, 1987 (Sam Raimi. Bruce Campbell - The world's greatest B Actor-EVER)
Hellrasier, 1987
Silence of the Lambs, 1991
Dracula, 1992 (We'd watch paint dry and the grass grow if it starred Gary Oldman)
The Blair Witch Project, 1999

Modern Classics 2000-2009

Shadow of the Vampire, 2000 (Three words: Malkovich. Defoe. Priceless.)
Fraility, 2001
Jeepers Creepers, 2001
The Others, 2001
The Ring, 2002
28 Days Later, 2002
House of 1000 Corpses, 2003 (Rob Zombie is a brilliant film maker.)
High Tension, 2003
Alien vs. Predator, 2004 (This movie ROCKS!)
The Grudge, 2004
The Exorcism of Emily Rose, 2005 (Tom Wilkenson is one of the 3 best actors of the modern era. Period. The other two are Viggo Mortensen and Daniel Day-Lewis.)
The Descent, 2005
Hostel, 2005
30 Days of Night, 2007
The Mist, 2007
28 Weeks Later, 2007
The Strangers, 2008
Cloverfield, 2008
The Happening, 2008 (Movie is so-so, but filmed a mile from Omni HQ. Pretty effing cool)
Drag Me to Hell, 2009


What are your picks?

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Eastern State Penitentiary


We could hardly pick a creepier, scarier or more imposing place for our paranormal article this month for Halloween than Eastern State Penitentiary.

A lot of places report to be the most haunted. Eastern State is one and believe us, it's the REAL DEAL. Haunted to the T. Haunted up the wazoo. Pick your euphemism. It has ghosts.

Every manner of paranormal activity is reported here: unexplained noises, disembodied voices, orbs, flashing lights, strange mist, full body apparitions, EVP's, shadow people, abnormal EMF readings...you name it.

This building is so scary it's extremely difficult to walk around and tour it in the broad sunshiny happy light of day. It's long hallways and endless gaping black cells will test the heartiest of people.

It is historically famous as the world's first penitentiary. Prisoners were kept penitent through forced silence, which in effect made every single cell solitary confinement resulting in driving the prisoners stark raving mad from isolation. Doorways were kept low so prisoners would have to bow their heads in penance for their sins. The design for the prison and methodologies of incarceration were copied around the world and hailed as a brilliant alternative to the barbaric conditions of the prison standards of the day.

The prison was in operation for over a hundred years, 1829-1971 and housed a few notable inmates. Bank robber Willie Sutton was here and even staged an escape attempt through a 90 foot tunnel. Al Capone swore to his dying day that a former mobster was haunting him at night and constantly complained of paranormal events in his cell.

As the last of the inmates of the 1970's were transferred out to other local prisons, they complained that the dark shadows seemed to grow as their numbers shrank. They couldn't wait to get the hell out of there.

Several movies have had scenes filmed here, including 12 Monkeys with Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis.

Most of the prison is crumbling, peeling apart and is a mess. It is REALLY SUPER SPOOKY and CREEPY.

Tours are available daily so you can experience it for yourself. Bring your cameras and your digital recorders for an amateur ghost hunt. Odds are you will get something.



This is a typical inmate hood that was used for silence and isolation

A look down an imposing and sinister hallway



Unlike the other dank dark cells, Al Capone lived the life of luxury behind bars.
Lamps, special seating, a desk, a heater. And ghosts...

Eastern State in the 1880's when Philadelphia was still far away and mostly farmland



Have you ever been there? What did you experience?

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Top Mystery Spots

Known as mystery spots or gravity hills, these are places in nature where the laws of physics do not apply as we currently understand them.

In these places, cars roll backwards uphill, brooms stand on end and people are able to balance themselves on a chair 3 feet off the ground perched on a one inch ledge. Amazing stuff.

We went to the Michigan Mystery Spot and witnessed this crazy phenomena for ourselves. Members of our party reported feeling lightheaded and sick afterwards.

We also went to the gravity hill in Moncton, Canada and were in the car when we put it in neutral and took a backwards ride up a hill.

Now, whether or not it's just optical illusion isn't the point. It's pretty awesome to experience it either way.

And, just for the record, some of these places ARE NOT illusions. Even the trees grow in weird, bent unnatural angles. There is definitely a weird force at work.

Take a road trip and see for yourself.

Magnetic Hill in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, CA

Gravity Hill in Bedford, PA

Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock, NC

Mystery Spot in St. Ignace, MI

Top 10 Haunted Places in America

Eastern State Penn - right in the heart of Philadelphia

# 10 Lemp Mansion, MO. This mansion in St. Louis is said to haunted by several members of the family that died there. And by several we mean at least 5. If we owned a kick-ass mansion, we'd never leave either.

# 9 Winchester House, CA - Mad Sarah Winchester built the craziest house in California. It was under construction 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 38 years straight without any kind of letup. It is said the workmen still linger...

# 8 Stanley Hotel, CO - The inspiration for Stephen Kings "The Shining", this gorgeous and strategically placed hotel offers panoramic overlooks of the Rocky Mountains. Strange goings on are reported in several rooms on the 4th floor. Visitor beware...

# 7 Bobby Mackay’s House of Music, OH - A nightclub in the Midwest offering more than just alcoholic spirits. Reported to have a Gateway to Hell in it's basement. Fun!

# 6 Myrtles Plantation, LA - It was built on Indian burial ground, ransacked by Union soldiers during the Civil War and houses the vengeful ghost of a slave woman named Chloe - you know, just another boring bed and breakfast.

# 5 Alcatraz, CA - Al Capone stayed here. Now it's reported to be haunted with unexplained noises scaring the hell out of people to this day...

# 4 Queen Mary, CA - The RMS Queen Mary is a retired luxury liner, permanently docked off the coast off Long Beach. The pool area is said to have several lingering ghosts including a small girl and a woman who dances and dances around the pool. And.. a vortex of energy is said to emanate from the changing area. Last one in's a rotten egg!

# 3 Gettysburg National Historical Park - PA - Every nook and cranny of this small town is haunted. Every inch of the battlefields and woods are haunted and still resonate with the energy of that horrible 3 day battle in 1863. Haunted.As.Hell.Beyond.Doubt.

# 2 Waverly Hills Sanatorium, KY - If you've ever seen a picture of this place, you would automatically know it was haunted. Knowing that well over 5,000 people died here, and that number is rumored to be upwards of 60,000? Than you know. The strange goings on here are downright scary. EVP's, orbs, moving objects, strange noises and voices...Oh and the place has a "Death Chute". Cute, huh?

# 1 Eastern State Penitentiary, PA - This prison from the 1800's is still standing strong and creepy practically in the middle of Philadelphia and is reported to be the most haunted prison in the country. It is almost impossible to walk its long, dark hallways even in broad happy daylight and numbingly terrifying to stay overnight. The last of the prisoners in the 1970's reported that the shadows seemed to "take over" as they were transferred out everyday and as their numbers shrank - the dark sides grew. It reportedly has every single manner of paranormal activity that can be recorded and experienced. Oh and Al Capone stayed here. Some guys have all the luck!

All of these places have Halloween and ghost tours. So go have a scarefully fun time!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Sam Jackson is the Highest Grossing Actor of All Time


Academy Award winning actor Samuel L. Jackson is THE MAN.
He is, of course, awesome in whatever he is in.

His movies have raked in over 7 BILLION dollars.

What movies has he been in, you ask?
Here are some little ones you may have heard of. There are dozens more and that's not even counting his Broadway and TV stuff.

Goodfellas
Patriot Games
True Romance
Jurassic Park
Pulp Fiction
The Long Kiss Goodnight - one of our FAVES
Jackie Brown
Star Wars 2 and 3
Kill Bill v2.
Iron Man
Inglourious Basterds
1408
Unthinkable - <- Best of his career!
Captain America
Thor
(Motherfucking) Snakes on a (motherfucking) Plane
and The Avengers (coming soon)

Here are a few greatest hits and they mostly all contain "Motherfucker"




And thanks to the Internet we now have the Pulp Fiction short version with ALL the motherfuckers!




EW.com article

TAKE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT

What does this look like to you?
Rhymes with...ABUSE, maybe?

In a devastating setback to Animal Rights, yet ANOTHER court, the Appeals Court, has dismissed a case against Ringling Brothers for abusing its elephants.

This is ridiculously sad and tragic.

Obviously the 3-person appeals panel is ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS and/or hiding behind minutiae detail that in another day and age would be looked over. In an age when OJ and Casey Anthony were set free on society and Troy Davis executed, it's extremely difficult to get justice at all.

This lawsuit was brought by 2 independent animal rights groups that came together for the cause. Both the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Animal Protection Institute (API), we think, were in the rights here to make this case.

AND WE URGE THEM TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL,
THE SUPREME COURT.

"Never give up. Never surrender."

Elephants are highly social, emotional and smart animals. Beating them as babies to make them perform for the next 50 years is as unconscionable, cruel and disgusting as it gets. Ringling Brothers is a fucking nightmare. NEVER TAKE YOUR KIDS TO A CIRCUS. NEVER.

HuffPost News Article

CNN News Article

View Cloris Leachman's video PSA to stop circus elephant abuse

PETA - Circus action site

The Art Gallery: Jack Vettriano

The Omni Art Gallery is back! It's been a while.

We've only recently become aware of the fabulous artist, Jack Vettriano. He's been called "The People's Painter" and is apparently one of Britain's most loved living artists.

His works are incredible. We love them. And most are VERY Adult. And those aren't shown here...

You can visit his gallery here at: JackVettriano.com

Here are a only a few faves..

Waltzers


Untitled


The Singing Butler


The Letter


Table for One


Elegy for a Dead Admiral


Dance Me to the End of Love


Return of the Hobbits

As they were ten years ago

Empire Magazine is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.

They invited the hobbits - Elijah Wood, Sean Austin, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd to come back for a photo shoot.


Back in Wellington?



We heart Sean Astin who flashed us a peace sign once...
and his dad, John Astin, is like the coolest EVER



News Article

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Mayor Bloomberg's Response to Carriage Horse Death

Is infuriating! According to Gothamist.com the Mayor of New York in response to a ban on carriage horses, said...drum roll please..." (they) probably wouldn't be alive if they didn't have a job".

Crickets...

Un.freaking.believable.

Oh, and "(they're) part of New York's heritage".

Ok. Let us reply to that, Mr. Mayor.

1) To imply the horses wouldn't be alive if they weren't pulling carriages is ludicrous at best and downright ignorant at worst. He clearly thinks this incident is a joke and part and parcel of being a horse in NYC.

2) To say horse drawn carriages are part of New York's heritage is totally correct, HOWEVER, to quote New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio from this Huff Post News Article:

London, Paris, Las Vegas, Toronto and Beijing -- New York City's chief rivals for tourism -- have all banned horse-drawn carriages in recent years, and with good reason. Our city's carriage horses work strenuous hours throughout the week and unlike the horses that plied the park a hundred years ago, today's horses travel on hard asphalt roads that wear down and damage their feet.

Horse drawn carriages are more of a London heritgage don't you think, Mayor? And yet, they had the mercy and compassion to see that it doesn't belong in a modern urban city. AND BEIJING (!) banned it?! I guess NY isn't as progressive as Beijing.

Get with the program, Mayor Bloomberg.

Necropsy results on the beautiful white horse that died Monday are still unavailable at this time. We WILL be posting an update as soon as its released.

BANHDC.org

SURVIVOR: "Jesus on 3..One..Two..Three..Jesus!"

South Pacific is the 23rd season of Survivor

We've watched Survivor since the show debuted on May 31, 2000. It is widely considered to be on the of the best competition reality shows in history and its suave host Jeff Probst has swept the Reality Show Hosting Award for 4 consecutive years. Yeah, Probst! It has won Emmy's for best sound mixing and others but it won our hearts on Day One from Hello.

There's just something about it. The dynamics of social play, the crazy and ridiculous challenges, the strategies and lengths people go through to not starve and also win and of course the debonair, Jeff Probst.

And after over 300 episodes and over 350 contestants THE SHOW DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. Last nights episode was fucking awesome in every way.

The Redemption Island challenge was a barn burner that went.down.to.the.wire. Christine won her 5th Redemption Island challenge in a ROW, channeling last years Matt who freakin' swept the Redemption Challenges the whole way through.

Christine is in for a surprise though, for at the end of the episode THINGS GOT CRAZY. Like Britney Spears crazy although not Phillip crazy (We loved Phillip, btw).

First, we shall start with Coach "Sometimes you just gotta put a bullet in their head" Wade's Tribe, the Upolo. We kind of like them but like Coach the best. We want COACH to win it all.

However, Coach is saddled with Evil Russell's nephew, Brandon Hantz. We wouldn't mind so much except this boy is all sorts of fucked up. He needs a shrink stat.

Cut to close up of Coach on the beach praying to God that he isn't worthy and doing some kind of made up Tai Chi - but it looked good and Coach is a stand up guy. When he goes all "Jesus Freak" on you it's bearable because he does it right. Not hell and damnation, red neck Jesus Freak per se, but an Almighty Creator, pray to God the Father tolerable one. Anyway, it works and isn't too annoying and its gets even better.

Of course, everyone wanted to win the tribal challenge for both immunity and reward. Almost the lamest reward ever - a screening of a new Adam Sandler movie - but after being sensory deprived for weeks it seemed funny to the winners. We would have been more interested in the hot dogs and candy but oh well....

The producers had all of the Survivors make themselves up...we're not even going there (see the pics below to know why). So the challenge is underway and you see and hear Coach on the bench fervently praying out loud to God: "God almighty, father in heaven give us the strength to win this. I swear to God if we win we will get on our knees and thank you right here in front of everyone" or something to that effect...it was hilarious.

So....Coach's team wins! And before anyone can celebrate Coach literally grabs them and pulls them into the sand yelling "on your knees. Right now!" or something like that...it was hilarious. So they gave a very public thanks to God right on the beach. Yay...God! "Jesus" on 3..One..Two..Three..Jesus!

So, Ozzy's tribe loses and Ozzy does something no one in the history of the show has ever done. This is going to spark debate on whether or not he is the most brilliant Survivor EVER or literally the dumbest. And remember, Ozzy holds the record for being voted out of the game while holding TWO IMMUNITY IDOLS. It's hard to top that level of stupid but he's damn sure going to try.

Ozzy is convinced the tribes will merge next week. So he gave his Immunity idol to Cochran to hold for him so he could GO TO REDEMPTION ISLAND ON PURPOSE.

Yes, folks, Ozzy had the Tribe DELIBERATELY VOTE HIM OFF, so he could "win" at Redemption Island, come back into the game after the merge and then his tribe, the Savaii, should have "the numbers going into the merge".

Probst was literally stunned. "Let me offer another argument,” he said. “If you don’t win the duel, you go out a bigger fool than last time.”

Reiterating here - This is either in-your-face genius or stupid-as-shit.

And he was voted off. To go to Redemption Island. And not lose. Wow.

As far as Cochran, the lovable nerd/geek/underdog on Ozzy's tribe, he had ALL THE BEST LINES LAST NIGHT after losing the challenge and getting blamed for it. His tribe, Savaii, told him to his face he had to go...wishing him well at Redemption Island and to "come back soon". Although it didn't happen, Ozzy fell on his sword or "sacked up" as he so eloquently put it.

Cochran said this: "I'm used to being the odd man out but this is whole new level of ostracism" and "I don't get this kumbaya rationale" and "I feel like the court jester." Oh, you silly Cohran! You had us at "Call me Cohran" on day one.

Seriously, Survivor just gets better and better. It's must see TV.

Savaii all made up
the looks on their face say it all...
Its the look your dog has when you put him in clothes.
And that's Cochran on the right, the pasty white little one ;)


Upolo all made up and yes,
men wearing bikini tops FOR NO REASON


Wiki Survivor: South Pacific Page. Great stats and updates on all challenges, remaining players and much more.

EW.com's 3 Q's for Jeff Probst

Official Survivor site at CBS.com



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

We Absolutely LOVE Katy Perry

A Knockout

Besides being a great singer, songwriter, kick ass performer and knockout, she also has a heart of gold.

Katy turned 27 yesterday and asked everyone to donate to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA) in lieu of birthday presents.

Katy's ASPCA Donation Page

Thanks, Katy. And congrats on tieing Michael Jackson's record for having the most #1 singles off the same album.

From Billboard.com
"Katy Perry becomes the first woman, and second artist overall following Michael Jackson, in the 53-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 to send five songs from an album to No. 1, as "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" becomes the fifth chart leader from her Capitol Records set "Teenage Dream."

So listen to the girl and donate!
Katy's ASPCA Donation Page



Requiem for a Carriage Horse

This horse dropped dead yesterday

"Healthy horses do not drop dead on the street."

Do you believe that carriage rides are just innocent romantic ways to spend the time? Not really. Not in this day and age of car pollution and traffic.

Did you know that the average carriage horse in NYC has to travel 2 miles to get to Central Park and then work 9 hours a day (on average it's more) and then walk the 2 miles back to their stable before repeating 7 DAYS A WEEK - 365 DAYS A YEAR?

No, carriage rides are not innocent or romantic. They are money making machines for greedy owners that prey on gullible tourists and people that just don't get it.

"Stacy Wolf of the ASPCA said: 'The life of a carriage horse on New York City streets is extremely difficult and life threatening and the ASPCA has long believed that carriage horses were never meant to live and work in today's urban setting,'"

This horse in question was beautiful. How did the owner not see he was in distress?

Necropsy results are expected today to determine what killed him.

Directly or indirectly the work on the street is what killed him. It's so sad.

According to Gothamist.com carriage horses have been seen working illegally in inclement weather, drinking from filthy street puddles to slake their thirst and are at risk of and do get hit by buses.

What's worse is that this news - from the streets of New York City - wasn't reported in the mainstream US news. It came from England. WTF?

Kudos to Lea Michele of Glee fame who is furious over this senseless death. She filmed a PETA PSA to encourage the ban just in the last few days and tweeted this yesterday: "Just woke up to the saddest news about one of the carriage horses dying the midtown Nyc. This has to stop! Please," Lea Michele tweeted.

We couldn't agree more.

Daily Mail News Article

Gothamist.com News Article on NYC's silence over carriage horse death

Go toBanhdc.org to learn how to ban this stupid practice from big cities like NY. Caution: Graphic images that will immediately affect how you view the next horse drawn carriage. Not so innocent and romantic after all.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sean Lennon Occupies Wall Street...With Song!

His father John. Unarguably one of NYC's most famous residents. Ever.

Flashback 1971 - a young John Lennon moves to New York City to live with his love Yoko Ono. It's 4 years before little Sean was born to them. In England, little Julian is only 9 years old. John is about to start his new life by protesting the injustices of the world.

Flashforward 2011 - Sean Lennon regales the Wall St. Occupiers with his rendition of Madonna's Material Girl.

We always loved Julian the best, but yesterday (no pun intended), Sean showed all of us what a cool fucking cat he really is.

Sean Lennon and Rufus Wainwright, NYC 10/23/2011




Julian, wrote one of the greatest songs in history. We know if John had heard this song and its environmental message he would have been so f'ing proud. You nailed it here, dude. This song was released in 1991. Wow.




We are a rock revolving Around a golden sun
We are a billion children Rolled into one
So when I hear about The hole in the sky
Saltwater wells in my eyes

We climb the highest mountain We’ll make the desert bloom
We’re so ingenious We can walk on the moon
But when I hear of how The forests have died
Saltwater wells in my eyes

I have lived for love But now that’s not enough
For the world I love is dying (and now I’m crying)
And time is not a friend (no friend of mine)
As friends we’re out of time And it’s slowly passing by
Right before our eyes

We light the deepest ocean Send photographs of mars
We’re so enchanted by How clever we are
Why should one baby Feel so hungry she cries
Saltwater wells in my eyes

I have lived for love But now that’s not enough
For the world I love is dying and now I’m crying)
And time is not a friend (no friend of mine)
As friends we’re out of time And it’s slowly passing by
Right before our eyes

We are a rock revolving Around a golden sun
We are a billion children Rolled into one
What will I think of me The day that I die
Saltwater wells in my eyes



Best. Halloween. House. Ever.

We're not sure who these people are but they are rockin' it big time for Halloween. They went with "party house" for Halloween and not "haunted house" but because they did it right, we'll let it pass. WTG, people!


Friday, October 21, 2011

Defending the History Channel


From Bad Archeology News Article

"I find it incredible and frightening that a worldwide distributed television channel that bills itself as ‘The History Channel’ can broadcast such rubbish as Ancient Aliens....it is the implied authority of the channel (‘The History Channel’, not just any old ‘History Channel’) that makes the broadcast of this series so potentially damaging.... A channel that is making claims for its authoritative status, which offers educational resources, has a responsibility not to mislead its viewers (no doubt its executives think of them as ‘customers’). That responsibility is one that all makers and broadcasters of supposedly factual television have, but one that few of them take seriously: the responsibility to check facts."

We don't know where to begin with this because we're way more open minded than this anonymous blogger at Bad Archeology.

They are not just lamenting the fact that the History Channel even exists, he/she is very upset at The Ancient Astronaut Theory itself and all of the "customers" that watch the show "Ancient Aliens."

Let's begin.

The History Channel is a Television Network not an accredited course in history. It is there first and foremost to make money for the network and it's investors. So...what do you really expect? It's a money making enterprise not a teaching course.

On this note, we have news for this person. The Learning Channel doesn't teach anything either nor does The Discovery Channel actually discover things or even showcase things that have been discovered. MTV doesn't play music and Bravo! has nothing to do with theater or the stage of any kind.

Moving on to the Ancient Astronaut Theory (AA).

As far as we are concerned, this theory is a valid one for a number of reasons not the least of which is this: the Earth's age. By conventional standards, our planet is at least 4 billion years old. That is long enough to have had numerous visitations by other planetary life forms over and over again long before homo sapiens became a blip on its radar and long afterwards, too.

The main reason this AA theory pisses off so many accredited archaeologists is 1) there aren't any alien skeletons or advanced technology laying around as smoking guns 2) it irks them to no end that the world's monuments are supposedly alien made instead of designed and built by plain old human ingenuity.

This second reasoning is a main misconception by mostly everyone and the ultimate reason that mainstream society and science dismisses the AA theory. No one really wants to believe that these engineering miracles and genius monuments aren't man made.

The sad fact is though, and we'd argue to the author of the BA report, is that the evidence of ancient alien visitation is all over the world, right in front of your eyes. It's truly a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees.

AND, we might add, it's an insult to every culture and every civilization on the planet to summarily dismiss the written words, star traditions and oral legacies left by our ancestors.

For the main streamers, even the Bible implicitly states that life here began out there. God himself, is not an Earthling. He is an Extra terrestrial.

Most religions, and by most we mean EVERY SINGLE ONE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, state that everything we are, everything we have and all of our cultural laws and society were given to us by the gods. Gods not from Earth but from the heavens.

We are not going to ignore all of this because today's society poo-poos it and we are not going to cave in to ignorance and arrogance because most people cannot fathom these facts.

The author of the BA report cannot distinguish fact from stereotypical AA reporting. They dismiss all of it because in their mind, there is no smoking AA gun nor is there any refutable proof that monuments such as the Great Pyramid were built by anyone other than humans.

However, the facts are this:

* There are monolithic structures throughout the planet that defy our modern day engineering skills.

* Cultures and religions every where on Earth, to this day, outright worship Gods in "Heaven", the sky, the stars and other planets.

* "Smoking Gun" advanced technology in antiquity DOES exist, if you can open your eyes and see it for what it is. "Ancient Aliens" is merely showcasing these examples and asking questions. Cases in point:

- The Antikythera Mechanism

This was raised from the seas of Greece in 1901


It's an ancient "computer"


Wiki Article on Antikythera Mechanism

- The relief at Abydos depicting submarine and helicopter in ancient Egypt. These are written off by the main stream. They've "debunked" it by saying that some of the original carvings have fallen away leaving what looks to be a helicopter, a submarine and a blimp, etc...True, it looks as if some of the wall is chipping but come on! It chipped in such a precise way to expose these things in exact detail. It boggles the mind.

Even when its right in front of their eyes they refuse to see it for what it is.

How much advanced technology do you see in this one 5,000 year old carving?


Wiki Article on Abydos

* There is even evidence of ancient nuclear warfare in Libya, North America, The Sinai Peninsula, India and Scotland. This evidence includes, written legends, vitrified glass and high radioactive signatures not to mention abandoned cities thousands of years old.

Vitrified remains of ancient ruin in Death Valley, CA

The author of the article gives 6 examples of archaeological sites and why he's upset with the "Ancient Aliens" show's portrayal of them.

Let's discuss the first one.

Here is the quote:

"The Nazca Lines are one of von Däniken’s favourite bits of evidence, so it’s little wonder they show up here. Situated in southern Perú, they consist of lines, geometric shapes and animal representations etched into the surface of the desert by the simple expedient of removing the oxidised pebbles on its surface to reveal the contrasting colour of the sand beneath. The designs are thus shallow, on average only 0.15 m (5.9 inches) deep. The History Channel’s website repeats the claim first put forward by Erich von Däniken that “the lines served as runways” for the gods’ spaceships; this conveniently ignores the fact that anything with any weight, such as a spaceship, landing on the plain would disturb the pebble surface and reveal the lighter sand underneath, thus creating new lines and effacing any designs it might pass over. This has clearly not happened. The lines – whatever their origin – can never have been used as runways."

The mysteries of the Nazca plain extend far beyond the lines there. But we'll start with the lines themselves. Van Daniken actually raises the question of them being runways. He does not definitively say they were runways. They are described as runway-esque so to speak.

Basically, the archaeologist is right in this case. The weight of alien spacecraft, not to mention any exhaust or engine output, would have destroyed these carefully scraped artworks and comprised the plains themselves.

HOWEVER, one of the most intriguing mysteries of Nazca plain are not the lines but the very mountains themselves. Van Daniken, as far as we know, was the first person to point out that some of these mountains surrounding the plain have been leveled from the very top. We mean completely sheared off.


You can see in the picture, that the mountain in the forefront is completely leveled and smoothed out. There isn't any rubble at the base of the mountain either.

Also, you can clearly see that is NOT a natural formation. Every other mountain is peaked or sloping...like normal. And in the distance you can see other sheared off mountains, particularly a very long narrow one.

How and why this was done remains a mystery. Yet the guys and gals at Bad Archeology will laugh you off if you suggest it was made by aliens or even an ancient unknown human civilization.

Why such a vehement response? They weren't the ones that sheared it off. Why so defensive? Ok. We know that one. It's the very same reason we are writing this in defense...It's our passion and belief.

We truly do not believe we are alone or ever were. We feel it deep inside our hearts and minds that - to quote Hamlet - "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." And to quote Hamlet again "To thine own selves be true." We just feel it.

The show "Ancient Aliens" does a fantastic job of showcasing archaeological sites and is a great History Channel show because of this alone. They are presenting alternative theories that are welcome to the open minded and obviously irritating to anyone else.

Kudos to Eric Van Daniken, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, Phillip Coppens, the GREAT David Hatcher Childress, Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock, George Noory, John Anthony West, William Bramley and all the pioneers in this field, as well as The History Channel for airing it.

Someday History will prove you all right.

AA site at History Channel.com

THEY'RE COMING HOME!



From President Obama:

"After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over. The coming months will be another season of homecomings. Across America, our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families … This December will be a time to reflect on all that we've been through in this war...with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops. With our diplomats and civilian advisers in the lead, we will help Iraqis strengthen institutions that are just, representative, and accountable. We'll build new ties of trade and of commerce, culture and education that unleash the potential of the Iraqi people. We'll partner with an Iraq that contributes to regional security and peace, just as we insist that other nations respect Iraq's sovereignty. I would note that the end of war in Iraq reflects a larger transition. The tide of war is receding."

FUCKING A!

World Heritage Sites in Grave Danger

The World's Heritage Sites are in grave structural danger.

Notably, India's Taj Mahal and China's Great Wall, two of the most iconic and well traveled tourist sites on Earth.

It was reported last month that the Taj Mahal could COLLAPSE within just FIVE years due to a rotting wooden structural beams.


"...believe the foundations have become brittle and are disintegrating.

Cracks appeared last year in parts of the tomb, and the four minarets which surround the monument are showing signs of tilting."


That's right, the 358 year old tomb is already cracking and tilting. The Taj was built near the Yamuna river, which has now run dry due to overpopulation, over building and deforestation. The foundation beams have been exposed and are now dry and brittle. Experts fear that if the foundation isn't shored up immediately the entire thing is going to collapse upon itself into a heap of rubble.

Astonishingly, NO ONE has been permitted to explore the foundations of the building for over 30 years. So for THREE DECADES, there hasn't been any maintenance at all in an age and era when maintenance would have to be a constant job at all times. It's no wonder the thing is going to perish. So sad.

This article has caused an uproar in India and inquiries are now underway to determine the exact state of the monument.

You can read more about this here: Taj Mahal News Article

Omni Report: Taj Mahal - August 2009

The Great Wall of China is falling victim to both legal and illegal mining operations which are undermining the foundation in various spots of its vast length.

Experts are warning that the Wall is crumbling away in sections. Since some of the mining is legal with permits to boot, conservationists can do nothing but sit and watch the ancient monument disintegrate before their eyes.


Green Diary reported back in 2007 that the Wall was suffering from great dust storms caused by over erosion and soil degradation from over farming - exactly the conditions that caused the American dust bowl in the 1930's - as well as over tourism.

These monuments are gargantuan and yet as delicate as flowers. Although they are protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they are at the mercy of local governments, the environment itself, natives and hordes of tourists.

You can read more here: Great Wall News Article

Green Diary article

Omni Report: Great Wall - January 2010


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Happy Birthday, Viggo!


Hollywood's hottest actor, Academy Award nominee Viggo Mortensen, turns 53 today.

Viggo starred in dozens of movies before hitting it big as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings. He was The King in Return of the King. The movie that took 11 Oscars in 2004.

You've known Viggo since his fist movie "Witness" with Harrison Ford, or maybe you saw "A Perfect Murder" where he starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Douglas, or "Carlito's Way" with Al Pacino and Sean Penn or "Crimson Tide" with Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman or "Portrait of a Lady" with John Malkovich and Nicole Kidman or "GI Jane" with Demi Moore or "A Walk on the Moon" with Diane Lane and Liev Schreiber or "28 Days" with Sandra Bullock or "Hildago" with Omar Sharif or "A History of Violence" and "Appaloosa" with Ed Harris or "The Road" with Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pierce...

You kind of get the picture here. Viggo has been in everything with everyone and is highly sought after.

He will star next in "A Dangerous Method" as Sigmund Freud and has 2 other movies in the can, as well.

We've met Viggo, hugged and kissed Viggo and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet in the business, not to mention the most talented.

Did we mention he's also a published poet, musician, photographer and painter? All of the paintings in "A Perfect Murder" were his. And his photos are super-artistic. You can find ALL his books at Amazon.com HERE.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIGGO!

Viggo's IMDB profile

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Happy Birthday John Lithgow


One of our favorite actors, John Lithgow, turns 66 today.

Everything John is in is great. He was utter perfection in "Third Rock", the most deliciously evil villain in "Cliffhanger" and an absolute riot in "Buckaroo Bonzai".

And the other 10,000 movie and TV roles he's been a part of.

Did anyone else love "Harry and the Hendersons"?

He's been nominated for the Oscar twice - and should have won - and has more than 20 other acting awards. He rocks.

John Lithgow's IMDB profile

20/20's Children of The Plains


20/20 ran a report last Friday night about the Lakota kids on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

It was the most bittersweet thing we've seen in ages and hands down one of the most horrifying.

"Squalid conditions" does not even come close to describing how these people are living at Pine Ridge. Children in Haiti and for God's sake, Bangladesh seem to have more.

The Reservation, one of over 500 in the U.S., has a staggering unemployment rate upwards of 80%, an adult alcoholism rate of over 70%, one of the highest teenage birth rates and high school drop out rates in the U.S. and last year alone the local cops answered over 17,000 calls related to alcohol.

To top it off, ABC reported that although the Reservation itself has no liquor stores, the closest town has 4 and they alone sold over 4 million cans of beer last year to a tune of $7 million dollars profit.

It's actually ridiculous that this is happening in the United States.

The Reservation practically runs as a sovereign nation (in fact, it is), so it's not as if no one has tried to help or to intervene. People's hands are tied when it comes to the laws, red tape and regulations regarding the reservations. You can't just walk in and open up a McDonalds or even put in a grocery store. You just can't. The most successful business on the reservation, Tanka Bar (.com) is more regulated than a nuclear power plant. They have to file papers every five minutes to continue operations. And they live there!

Without cell towers and access to Internet, cell phones and technology, there are very few .com entrepreneurs that can operate from the homes there.

This may well be changing as the 20/20 report has generated interest and sparked the imaginations of people who want to get in there and either help outright or help get the people there on the Internet to sell homemade Native American made items.

There's talk of mobile health clinics and the children profiled just last Friday have had trust funds set up for all the donations pouring in as well as been offered financial tuition aid. That alone is amazing.

One of the teenagers profiled, Robert Looks Twice, has captured the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere. He has a new page on Facebook, that someone set up for him, and has been receiving advice on how to get to college and fulfill his dream of being the first Native American President. And he is, quite frankly, an amazingly talented person that we can't even wait to vote for.

If you haven't seen the report click the link below to watch it. It's fascinating. And follow the other links to see how you can help the children of the plains.


20/20 Episode in full

Robert Looks Twice Facebook Page

Wounded Knee School District Foundation

Wounded Knee School Wish List - Books!

Donate $ to the kids featured in the special



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Occupy Sesame Street


Things have gotten serious!

Did you know that 99% of the world's cookies are devoured by 1% of the monsters?



OMNI-FIED

The World Scrabble Championships was the scene of some heavy drama this weekend when a G tile went missing prompting demands of a strip search.

A player from Thailand accused a British player of hiding the tile in his clothing and demanded officials take the Brit to the loo and search him for the tile.

Officials denied the request and the Brit went on to win that match by one point.

Those two did win the tournament however. That honor went to a Kiwi named Nigel Richards who won with the word Omnified. Which makes him one of our favorite people.

Urban Dictionary Definition of Omnified (we aren't making this up!):

Omnified - originated from the word omnia, which is a eupehmism for awesomeness; a ranking of awesomess, the highest.

i.e: George and Jane are the awesomeness of awesome. They must be omnified.
i.e Jake's dating Jemma! That's omnified

How freaking awesome Omnified is that?! We think it's fucking Omnifying!

News Article

Monday, October 17, 2011

DURAN DURAN IN PHLLY TONIGHT

Roger, John, Nick and Simon - Fabulous as always

EVERYBODY'S Favorite 80's band is playing The Tower tonight.

They have been busy since releasing their debut album in 1981.

"Since the 1980s, they have placed 14 singles in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and 21 in the Billboard Hot 100 and have, according to the Sunday Mercury, sold more than 100 million records."


That's right. They ROCK and they don't stop!

They are touring right now to support their newest LP, All You Need is Now.

LONG LIVE THE FAB FIVE FOUR!

Here's a few faves:

Ordinary World




Sunrise




Chauffer - (live at Coachella April 2011)




Duran Duran.com

Thursday, October 13, 2011

"Time Lapse Trifecta"


Amateur photographer Tommy Eliassen had this to say about his photo capturing a meteor, the Milky Way and the Northern Lights all in one time lapse shot:

"I quickly went and took some pictures in a regular spot of mine, and thought to myself that I had got some good aurora shots and also some separate good milky way shots. But just as the clouds started to come in over the mountains I noticed this faint aurora lining up perfectly beside the milky way. Normally the lights from the aurora is much, much stronger than the lights from the stars, so getting the right exposure on both is difficult. But it was ideal conditions - almost once in a lifetime."

Pretty amazing!

News Article


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

We Remember Matthew Shepard


13 years ago today, the world lost Matthew Shepard, a young college student...and gay man. Only we didn't lose him, he was brutally taken from us.

Matthew was murdered by homophobic men in one of the most vicious anti-gay hate mongering ways possible. He was brutally beaten and left for dead in a Wyoming field tied to a fence post.

Matthew's legacy is one of hope. We hope that one day, young men like Matthew aren't beaten, tortured and killed for just being what they are. We also hope that the LGBT youth stop killing themselves for being bullied.

If you are a religious person who feels that being gay is evil, then you have to realize it is YOUR problem. Work on your on soul and leave others to their own. Keep it to yourself, your web blog, your little world. Do not go forth and try to purposefully ruin other people's lives because you don't believe in it.

We need to stop the hate.

Matthew's mother, Judy, wrote something beautiful to remember her son. Please read it. We are posting it in entirety and including a link to the original.

"October is very hard for me.

It's not that the early autumn in Wyoming isn't beautiful. If you haven't experienced the crisp air as the nights come earlier each day, or the last few cricket chirps of the season that follow the brilliant orange sunsets, you can't really know the peaceful, quiet contemplation this time of year brings those few of us fortunate to make our homes here.

But it's those cues, these turns of the calendar pages, that remind me of the tragedy that autumn brought us 13 years ago, and start us reflecting on what our family, and our society, have learned from it.

Thirteen years ago this week his father, brother and I were at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo., with our firstborn son, Matthew Shepard. He was 21, and dying. Just days before, he had been just like millions of American college students whose names are not known to the world -- getting the hang of his new classes, adapting to a new campus, making friends. His father and I thought his biggest challenges were keeping money in his checking account and getting his homework in on time.

But here he was in intensive care, the victim of a terrible, senseless attack at the hands of two other young men who, at some point in their lives, learned it was OK to hate others for being different, to victimize them, to disregard their humanity.

Matt passed away quietly in the early morning hours of Oct. 12, 1998, with his family at his bedside. He died because of violence fueled by anti-gay hatred. For a lot of reasons, some of which we will probably never quite understand, the world had been watching, praying for him, and voicing their outrage.

October cannot go by anymore, and never will again, without us wondering what might have been, for us and for so many other families, if hatred of gay, and lesbian, and bisexual, and transgendered people, and all those whom others simply think might be, had been rooted out long ago.

In the painful months that followed Matt's death, we came to understand a lot of things we never knew before: about hate crimes, and how shockingly many there were every year; how they are characterized by obvious signs, like excessive violence, and the denial that surrounds them; and how hard they were to prove, and prosecute, and appropriately punish, with sensitivity to the victim's loved ones and the wider community.

We learned about the LGBT community and its long struggle for acceptance and equality. We learned how easily LGBT people could be fired from their jobs just for being themselves, how they couldn't serve their country openly, couldn't marry, couldn't adopt kids in some states. And most of all, we learned about the fear so many otherwise good people had in their hearts about their gay neighbors, coworkers and family members.

We set about creating a legacy for Matt. He had always been interested in politics, human rights and LGBT equality -- he had in fact been at a Coming Out Week meeting at the University of Wyoming on his last night. With the support and sympathy of the thousands who wrote us and the millions who were touched by his death, we decided to try to make a difference in his name.

Thirteen years later, the Matthew Shepard Foundation stands up for the LGBT community and its straight allies, in Matt's memory. We are a modest organization, but we do our part and persuade others to do theirs, as well. We pushed -- for a long, long time -- for federal hate crime legislation that includes LGBT people. That finally happened in another chilly October two years ago -- one more step forward. We go to schools and companies and community groups to implore everyone there to embrace diversity. We try to give young people hope, despite their parents' or peers' rejection of them, that they have a bright future. We keep Matt's story alive and look to turn bystanders into activists.

It's been such a long, sometimes tiring journey, but a rewarding one, as well. The coming out stories that young people tell me, slowly, almost imperceptibly, got better. More and more, the story ends not with a young person being turned out of the house, but affirmed, and accepted, lovingly. Every time I speak at a college somewhere in America, I am hoping I will hear another one like that.

Marriage equality is coming slowly, state by state, and military service has finally been opened to all, regardless of sexual orientation. This is progress. But we have a lot of work left to do, in employment discrimination, in family law and, most of all, in people's individual lives.

We all have a role to play. We all have our story to tell. When we all finally stand up and demand equality, the scourge of hatred will wither and disappear. And maybe we can all have our Octobers back to enjoy for what they're meant to be -- a season to see, celebrate, change."

Judy's letter

Matthew Shepard.org



A DREAM COME TRUE

They walk free

We heard about this possibility yesterday but held no hope for it. Could Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, really release "prisoners of conscience"?

YES. YES!

Over 300 prisoners were released yesterday to cheering crowds.

Myanmar has certainly taken the right steps in the last year. Elections, freeing Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi after 15 years of house arrest, overturning controversial plans for an environmental disaster of a dam and now this.

Many in Myanmar are disappointed by the small numbers of people released. Just 300 out of 2,100. But all of this was unthinkable just LAST YEAR.

We'd say that they've turned the corner and that things can only get better from here.

However, the political powers that be in the Western world will not ease sanctions on Myanmar until it has released all 2,000 people. Probably rightly so in a sense, but the only people hurt by sanctions are the people themselves not the junta cronies.

This is an amazing step forward.

President Thein Sein, a former military commander is the first civilian (if you can call him that) to rule the country in over 50 years. He is really making progress here and is to be commended. He just needs to keep it going now.

Amnesty Internation is not at all impressed and thinks the reforms are slowing down actually. We think they are out of their minds. This alone is super-impressive. The country was a hell hole for over half a century and its going to take a while for it to be all right again. Amnesty needs to cool down and congratulate this guy not get him all fired up again by insulting him. Baby steps, motherfuckers. Baby steps. But steps in the right direction.

300 today, maybe 300 tomorrow? And 300 after that?

This is why Amnesty is still angry. 300 is a drop in the bucket.
LET THEM ALL GO!



News Article

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

National Coming Out Day


We celebrate all of our friends in the LGBT community and cheer for those who have had the courage and fortitude to "Come Out".

We absolutely love you and how fabulous you are and how freakin' fabulous you make the world.

Nothing would be the same without you! Nothing.


To all the "newbies" - congratulations for coming out today and showing or telling the world...even it's one person...that you are what you are. A beautiful human being.

Your courage is contagious.

Be Loud. Be Proud.

Human Rights Campaign - National Coming Out Day

October 20th is "Spirit Day" - click here to learn why you should wear purple!
Bullying is not "just a right of passage". It's systematic, targeted harassment. It wouldn't be tolerated in the workplace and it should not be tolerated in school. It is a hate crime.

GLAAD.org

Occupy Wall Street






Occupy Wall St.org

Occupy Philly.org

October 15.net

Suze Orman's Approval

Jesse Jackson Reminds us of Dr. King's Message - "Don't Sleep Through the Revolution"

The 7 Snappy Comebacks to Anti-Occupy Talking Points

Friday, October 7, 2011

The Raven Trailer is HERE


We've been psyched about this movie since we first heard they cast John Cusack as Edgar Allen Poe. Check out the above pic and know that Cusack is going to nail this one to the fucking wall. We're outright-sight-unseen calling for him to get an Oscar Nom.

Here's the official trailer released TODAY.




Best "Occupy Wall St." Protest Sign Yet


+ a smiling Tim Robbins.

"Weed, not Greed"

Protestors Rule.