Archeology Site of the Month - Sept. 2009

PETRA

The fabled city of Petra is one of the most remarkably romantic archaeological wonders on Earth. It is a "red-rose city half as old as time." Made instantly famous for it's "cameo" in an Indiana Jones movie, Petra is unique and wondrous. So much so that it was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The architecture begun by the Nabateans circa 100 BC incorporates the Greco-Roman influences that came later. The city declined eventually under the Romans circa 300 AD. The word Petra means "cleft in the rock" in Greek.

Located in modern Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea, Petra was re-discovered in 1812 when at that time it's many building facades, features and tombs became an instant sensation that remains so to this day, as Petra is still a well known and must-see popular tourist destination.

The most photographed and well known of the cliff carved buildings are two called "The Treasury" and "The Monastery". Ascetically beautiful, the intricate architectural detailing, decorative bas-relief carvings and exquisite Byzantine tiling make Petra a marvel that is described as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage."

NSFW tile detail in the Byzantine Church



More of the intricate tile detailing found
inside the cliff-side buildings of Petra

The Treasury



The Monastery


The tombs of Petra

Read more:

Wiki Article

Frommers Tourist Guide (Petra)

World Cup Update - Qualifier Rounds 3-5

Qualifying rounds for the World Cup have been underway for 3 years now and things are heating up in a number of groups.

Here's a breakdown of the various divisions:

Africa:
Australia and Japan have qualified from the first group of teams. The 2 Korea's (ha) Korea DPR and Korea Republic have stunned everyone and historically qualified. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are competing in a play-off to face New Zealand for a spot.

Europe:
Out of the 52 teams in 9 groups only Spain, England and The Netherlands have qualified.

North, Central North America and the Caribbean:
No. Qualified. Teams. That includes us. As in the US. WTF? Are we even contenders? Actually, yes, we are still in the lead. By 1 point. Yay..!

Oceana:
No qualifiers yet, but we are rooting for Vanuatu! Jeff Probst was there!

South America:
Out of the 10 teams, only Brazil and Paraguay have qualified. Brazil has been qualified since Pele was The King on the 70's. And look out for the the party of the century when Brazil hosts World Cup 2014.

FIFA World Cup Official Site

Wiki Article - World Cup History

Conspiracy Theory - September 2009

9/11 was Orchestrated

The September 11, 2001 (9/11) conspiracy theories revolve around two basic hypotheses: 1) 9/11 was allowed to happen on purpose by the US government and/or Pentagon for political/nefarious ill-gotten gain or 2) It was done on purpose by the US government and/or Pentagon for political/nefarious ill-gotten gain.

Further complicating matters is the contingent who flatly refuse that an airplane even crashed into the Pentagon. "How does an airplane 125 feet wide and 155 feet long fit into a hole 16 feet across" is their slow and steady mantra.

Conspiracy theories sprang up almost immediately in Europe. They didn't take hold in America until 2004 or so, but when they did, they did. 9/11 conspiracy theories were embraced enthusiastically, dramatically and almost virtually without question in a passionate frenzy to blame G.W. Bush for anything and everything in between.

For those of you who wonder how anyone could question the events on 9/11, we'd like to run through a little, how could you not? Let's jump to the gold standard question in the scientific method of conspiracy theories - who benefited the most from the attacks on 9/11?

Osama Bin Laden? We hardly think so. He's not chilling out somewhere cool like Dubai, living the life.

Al Queda? Who?

The Taliban? Saddam Hussein? Uday and Qusay? It was proven they had nothing to do with 9/11. No WMD's, no box cutters.

But you know what? Bush got re-elected and Dick "Stop saying I look like Dr. Strangelove" Cheney probably got about 2 billion in Haliburton and BlackWater money. Oh, and we lost 9 truckloads of gold in the collapse of Building 7 that was scheduled to be shipped by to China on Sept. 12th, 2011. And then there was the trillion-dollar loss of Pentagon money that Don Rumsfeld announced on Sept. 10th, 2001 that no one will ever care about because people died on 9/11 and we love our country.

Just. Sayin'

The scope and detail of the conspiracy theories go far beyond this sarcastic post.

Read more:
Wiki Article

9/11Truth.org

The Art Gallery - Paul Klee (1879-1940)

Landscape With Yellow Birds; 1923



Early Morning in Ro; 1927


The Messenger of Autumn; 1922



Six Types; 1930


Golden Fish; 1925

News You Should Know - 9/22/2009

China Bans Tourists from Tibet

China has closed the borders to Tibet, so they can celebrate the 60 years of Murder Communist Rule they have imposed granted upon the people.

Read more:
NY Times Article

Sun Microsystems Losing Over 100 Million a month

We aren't sure how this is possible, but while the courts decide if the proposed sale of Oracle to Sun Micro is legitimate and can go through or not, the company is said to be losing money faster than we can imagine. They lost $1 million while you were just reading this sentence.

Read more:
Reuters Link


Gather Round Everyone.

Tim Gunn Can Save the Day!

Marvel Comics Has Officially Made Tim Gunn A Superhero. We couldn't be happier to even type that. Marvel Rules. Make It Work.

Read more:

USA Today Article

Happy AWE-tumn

Today is the Autumnal Equinox - one of the 2 days a year when day and night are equal in length. We think this is the best season of year and we LOVE it.

Author of the Month - September 2009

Happy birthday to

Stephen King!
　

There’s no doubt that Stephen King is the Master of Horror Fiction. With over 40 published books he has cemented a place in the higher echelon of the all-time great writers. And, although the tendency is to look down the nose at sci-fi and horror, these creative genres are more than worthy of literary praise and in some ways raise the bar far above normal by the very nature of their intense and out-of-the-box creativity.

Over a dozen of Stephen King's books have been made into theatrical films and TV movies. Who could forget the blood bath in Carrie? And he's not all about blood and guts horror, either. The Shawshank Redemption, a GREAT film, was based on a Stephen King short story called "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." The period film, Stand By Me, is a classic adapted to the screen by Rob Reiner, who named his film company after the fictional town in many of Stephens earlier books, Castle Rock. The Running Man, is a sci-fi cult classic. The Green Mile, Secret Window and Needless Things are all classic dramas that focus on normal people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.

The books themselves are worth every invested minute. Highly entertaining and riveting, you'll probably remember each and every one. His bibliography is amazing. He has put many lifetimes work into just this one and seems to have so many more stories to tell.

Stephen King has been the recipient of countless book awards, including every award that every writers guild has to offer every year.

His prolific works go far beyond the reach of this post and you can read more at his website:

Stephen King Official Website

Paranormal Article - September 2009

Auras

An aura is the reported field of color emanating from a person, like a glowing halo, only all over.

This is a debated issue. Skeptics of course see this as more mystical mumbo jumbo, completely made up by people probably high on drugs, delusional or both. Scientifically proven to exist, as human beings do emanate an electromagnetic field, auras can be photographed using a technique called Kirlian Photography.

Clairvoyants who can see auras say the color of the aura itself reveals volumes about a person. The colors all have a different emotion or vibrational rate about them.

They tend to correlate with a lot of the sayings we all grew up with:

"He's yellow" (a coward)

Yellow - indicates a timid person, weak willed, possible inferiority complex.

"I feel blue" (sad)

Blue - generally artistic, but tends to be moody

"He's seeing red" (anger)

Red - violent temper, domineering and associated with war and turmoil

"He's green" (a rookie)

Green - symbol of youthfulness

The late, great Edgar Cayce called the aura "The weather vane of the Soul."

A source close to the Omni Report claims to have seen auras twice. Once a dark green around her meditation teacher, another from the Dalai Lama himself!

"During a seminar by the Dalai Lama at George Washington University in Washington, DC, I suddenly realised that he had a bright white glow about him. It was brilliant and I couldn't understand why everyone couldn't see it. He was sitting behind a table, and I could see his entire upper body had a solid white light about an inch from it and was a few inches wide after that. It was AMAZING."

We are part of a bigger picture and even within ouselves we are a complex mechanism that is mind, body and soul. It makes sense that some of this energy would surround us and be a part of the physical world as well.

Read more here:
http://www.thiaoouba.com/seeau.htm

News You Should Know - 9/16/2009

Joint Sea-Shelf Exploration
An American-Canadian expedition exploring the frigid Arctic Ocean has mapped broad swaths of the extended continental shelf for the first time, scientists reported Thursday. For the first time? What took so long?

Follow Article Link Here


Leonard Peltier Statement
Peltier has issued a long rambling statement regarding his parole denial last week. It pretty much covers everything and concludes that he is Barrack Obama’s political prisoner now.

Follow Article Link Here

Mongolian Fun!

What do you do for a good time when you grow up in Mongolia? Well, if you’re a boy, you ride horses for one thing and wrestle, just like they’ve been doing since the days of 'ole Ghengis Kahn.

Follow Article Link Here

And the Winner is...

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO of ARGENTINA!!

What a way to end the 2009 U.S.Open Tournament that was so full of stunning upsets, losses and victories. It was an epic 5-set barn burner last night in the men's final that had Roger Federer on edge, irate, cursing at the chair umpire and eventually losing to the 20-year old REAL DEAL known affectionately as Del Po.

This super-tall giant kid completely beat down Rafa and outlasted Roger. And with an unbelievable forehand shot that looks like something in light speed - the cameras can't even keep up with it.

We are ecstatic that all of our Open predictions went up in flames. The competition level was superior this year and surely one of the best Opens in recent memory. We got to see Sharapova get beat, Serena meltdown, Melanie Oudin took on the entire Russian Red Army and won, Clijsters had an awesome sports comeback - one of the best in history and Del Potro made a name for himself and TOOK OUT ROGER .

We can't wait for next season when Rafa is feeling better and takes on Del Po again. Until then, Good day, Good Tennis!

We Heart Kim Clijsters

Kim and her adorable little Jada with Kim's 2nd US Open Trophy

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Kimmy Clijsters. Sure, she has a j in her name that's pronounced as a y. She's Belgian! Shmoke and a pancake? flapjack and a shigarette? Cigar and a waffle? Pipe and a crepe? Bong and a blintz? No? Then there is no pleasing you.

We think she's awesome. For one, she's the first "mom" to win big since 1980, putting a shining, happy face on motherhood in the new millenium.

Secondly, she beats the Williams sisters, all the time. She's the only player to have beaten both Venus and Serena in the same tournament - twice! YGG!

Last but not least, she was only in this tournament to "warm up" from out of retirement... AND ENDED UP KICKING ASS AND TAKING NAMES!

We send her our utmost happiest congratulations and between us - good riddance Lleyton. Dumping him seems to have the best move of your life - CONGRATS!

EPIC TANTRUM AT THE US OPEN

You cannot be serious!! This is one for the ages folks.

KIM CLIJSTERS ADVANCES TO FINAL AFTER CHAOTIC SEMI...

Serena Williams just had one of the most epic tirade/tantrums in women's sports history. A lines woman called a foot fault on Serena, 2nd set Match Point for Kim Clijsters (Clysters). Serena lost it in amazing fashion. She literally pointed her racket in the lady's face and said "If I could, I would take this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat and kill you" then continued to berate the woman with more sailor-like profanity of epic proportions.

Complete chaos erupted as Tournament Officials ran onto the court - keep in mind, this was Match Point for Clijsters - to "talk" with Serena who yelled audibly in front of everyone "I never threatened to kill her!" Let me tell you, the little lines lady, who made a very bad call, by the way, there was no foot fault, looked scared to death. Serena is a huge athlete with a racket shaking and pointing in her face, screaming at her for a LONG time. Not just one comment mind you. A FULL BLOWN TIRADE.

Never in our lives have we heard or seen such a thing on court. It was like an episode of Cops!

For those of you who aren't into tennis because it's boring. We can assure you the game has changed alot in the last 30 years. This is a fast-paced, exciting, passionate and rocking sport. However, tonight was so over the top we can't even believe what we just saw. Two-time Defending U.S. Open Champion Serena Williams just went wild with anger and was thrown out for court violations and unsportsmanlike conduct on a Match Point for threatening to kill someone. Poor Kimmy Clijsters looked stunned and never got to do a victory dance. She had kicked Serena's ass ALL NIGHT.

Most players have had meltdowns, tirades and tantrums. This one made the old McEnroe, Becker, Roddick and Nastase outbursts look tame. Although all of those are pretty funny and all available on YouTube.

Serena's press conference was total spin because of course she is never at fault for anything, it always everyone elses fault, and even Mary Carillo commented that it should have won an Academy Award. She never apologized to the lines woman, not to the public or the tourney officials. She should be suspended and the women's doubles trophy awarded to the other team. She shouldn't even be allowed to be on the court again this year. What a sore-losing spoiled- rotten but tough bitch! I bet she wouldn't stop at shoving a ball down your throat and would stick a racket up your ass too!

Wow. What a night at the Open!

Read more:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8252971.stm

Causes

The Omni Report is proud to post links to the charities and causes that we feel are well worth the time.

Help People:
Families of September 11th

Help Children:
The Twin Towers Orphans Fund

Help Animals:
The Animal Legal Defense Fund

Help the Planet:
The Natural Resources Defense Council

"The good we do for ourselves, dies with us.
The good we do for others, is and will always be immortal."

Restraining Order on the Court

We clearly remember that day in April 1993, when a psycho German fan rammed a 10-inch knife into the back of Monica Seles, during a match.

Resting, as players do between games, she had her back to the spectators, thinking she'd be safe, in all places, a tennis court packed with people and playing out on live television. Then the unthinkable. A psycho with a knife, jumps into the court and attacks her brutally from the blindside.

You would think that the German courts would have locked this guy up for a long time. Attempted murder in front of 20,000 people and all recorded on tape..? Wrongo. The courts deemed him mentally unstable (duh, he's a psycho!) and LET HIM OUT. Apparently, in Germany, if you are deemed psychotic and attempt to kill someone in public, it's okay.

Seles never played in Germany again.

This year, not just one, but two players were approached ON COURT and touched by a spectator that got past poor or non-existent security. Not just any two players, mind you, but the NUMBER 1 and NUMBER 2 in the WORLD. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Oh, and not just at the Whatchmacallit Tournament in Backwater, but at WORLD MAJORS. Federer, arguably the best tennis player that ever played, was approached by a crazy guy who attempted to put a hat on his head at the French Open. This incident was laughed off and even the commentators joked "Hey Roger, don't forget to use the racket as a weapon and hit the guy next time!" LOL???

At the US Open last week Rafael Nadal, was approached and KISSED by a man yelling, "I love you, Rafa" over and over. Again, this is laughed off. WTF??!!

We've seen the lines at the Open. As the day session ends and the night begins the grounds crew and security have to switch out over 20,000 people in about 60 minutes. They can't possibly be able to check everyone adequately in that time for weapons. Imagine if Rafa or Roger had been stabbed like Seles. What an outrage!! What if that "kiss" had been a punch to the face? What would have happened if that guy broke Rafa's nose or something?

These security breaches are wholly unacceptable, scary as hell and not laughable in any way shape or form. Our most beloved players are at extreme risk. What has to happen to change things? Does one of these incidents have to be fatal? Will we have to actually watch one of our favorite players bleed out on live TV for stadiums to change security procedures?

Let's hope not.

Remember, Remember the 11th of September

Where were you on 9/11 when you heard the news?

We were listening to the radio and heard from Stuttering John that one of the World Trade Towers was on fire. Interested - off went the radio and on went The Today Show and the visual. Wow. It is on fire. Pick up the phone, call retired grandparent. Are you watching this? Yes. On the phone together when the second plane hits. HOLY SHIT! Did you see that? I'll call you back! OMG! Have to call My Boss who is - get this - driving back from Massachusettes this morning heading south on 95 right into NY. Jeez! Turn right - get off 95 - NY is under attack. What? Do not go to NY - get off 95 south now. Call you back. 5 minutes later, detour!

And that's how 9/11/01 started for us...then total chaos.

2,993 lives lost in one day. Every single airplane in North American airspace was immediately grounded and over 500 in bound international planes were turned away. And, as we all know, that was just the beginning.

Every life is worth something, however, risking one's life
to save another is beyond...

R.I.P. NY's Bravest

Art for Art's Sake

Let's Enjoy!

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

(2/25/1841-12/3/1919)

Noirmoutier, 1892

Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1881

Garden Scene in Brittany, 1886

Doge's Palace, Venice, 1881

U.S. Open - Update 9/7/2009

Shocking Saturday - Stunning Sunday - Monday Mayhem

What a weekend of shocking upsets and stunning matches! Seeded players fell left and right. Andy Roddick - Out, Maria Sharapova - Out, Venus Williams - Out, Dinara Safina #1 - Out! Blake, Hewitt, Haas, Davydenko all out.

MELANIE OUDIN (pronounced eewdan), contines to decimate the Russian woman's tennis contingent- known collectively as the "Ovas". She sent Sharapova home Saturday and Petrova home today! This unknown Georgian girl - Everybody's All American - is on her way to making a name for herself and has A HUGE LOUD fanbase already here at the Open. She now faces either Caroline Wozniaki or Svetlana Kuznetsova. We bet it's Ova - She's #6 in the world. So far Melanie has faced an Elena, a Maria and a Nadia. Bring on Svetlana!

A crazed 17-year old Melanie Oudin after qualifying
for the quarterfinals at the US.Open 2009.

U.S.Open - Day 6 Update

2 shocking early round exits. First, Stanislaw Wawrinka, seeded #19, Federer's doubles partner and fellow Swiss, was upset to unranked Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti in the first round.

Elena Dementieva, seeded #4, was completely and totally upset by unranked, 17 year old American Melanie Oudin from Georgia. Oudin coming from nowhere and shocking everyone with this on top of her fourth round run in Wimbledon two months ago. How far can she go? UPDATE: Melanie Oudin just ousted Maria Sharapova today in a 3-set stunner! Another shocking upset! It's making national news and being called an "inspirational win." We couldn't agree more. Oudin is knocking off seeded player after seeded player like a steam roller. WE LOVE THIS GIRL! BYE MARIA, you B****. Next is Nadia Petrova, #13 seed from Russia...

In other early round news...

Robin Soderling, with a huge 2nd round break, when his opponent retired after just two games.

Marat Safin saying goodbye to the game forever for retirement, leaving the way he always played, temperamental and unable to seal the deal. Boy, will we miss his antics on the court!

Taylor Dent in an epic 5 set barn burner Friday night that had the old Open magic flowing and almost palpable. Dent's win leading him to grab the chair umpire's microphone - a first - for an impromptu victory speech and sparked a 2 -lap victory run around the entire court. Classic Friday night Open passion and energy! Patrick Mac called it "goose bump making material." Dent refusing to leave the court until he signed for everyone, laughing and rubbing elbows with the fans long after the match was over.

Most men's seeded players have easily conquered their victims, excepting Juan Carlos Ferrero who fought back down 2 sets to win in 5 yesterday.

Gonzalez, Del Potro, Monfils, Berdych, Davydenko, Blake, Soderling, Robredo, Stepanek, Djokovic, Murray, Federer, Roddick and Nadal all advance...
Look for major changes today as most are playing...now.

In women's tennis - it's all William's sisters. How long can Venus last on her gimpy knee? She looks to be in terrible pain every match.

Kim Clijsters having a hell of a comeback so far, but having to face Venus tomorrow. The 2 champs have met before and it should be fun to see a re-match.

Better times with Marat Safin in 2005 with his
Australian Open Championship trophy.

Bye Marat! We had fun all those years watching you smash rackets and curse at the top of your lungs in Russian. We're sad, thinking about all of our fave players that have retired and that we'll only see on You Tube: Patrick Rafter, Gustavo Kuerten, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Billie Jean King, Martina Hingis, Steffi Graff, Goran Ivanisevic, Jimmy Conners and John McEnroe and now Marat Safin...

News You Should Know - 9/4/2009

LAKOTA BLUES....

Leonard Peltier Once Again Denied Parole

Excerpt from The Examiner:

Six-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, American political prisoner Leonard Peltier, unsuccessful at his hearing on 28 July, 2009, is petitioning President Obama for Executive Clemency. A worldwide outpouring of support for Peltier's release has included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Rigoberta Menchu, the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, the European Parliament, the Belgian Parliament, the Italian Parliament, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Rev. Jesse Jackson plus several American Indian nations and organizations including the National Congress of American Indians and the Assembly of First Nations according to Native Merican Times. Over 500 VIP and celebrity Peltier supporters have requested his release.

Read more:
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6363.shtml


Vietnam Veteran lives in squalor on Indian Reservation

Is it wrong for a Vietnam Veteran, who also spent 16 years as a Fireman, to live in squalor? Herbert Hale is 54 years old, a veteran of two Army combat tours in Vietnam and a member of the Lakota tribe, which today means a level of poverty rivaled only by fetid refugee camps in third world countries.

Learn more:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/13/king.sotu.economy/


CHINA

Lead Weighs Heavier on Children in China

Acceptable levels of lead in human blood is 10 mg's per liter. In China, children in cities have levels measuring almost 60 mg's. In one city alone, over 1,300 kids have levels over 100 and the effects are devastating.

Read more:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/china.lead.poisoning.hunan/

Finally, to end on a light note -

The Beijing IKEA Store

Apparently it's not for shopping. People in China plan their day around going to the Ikea Store, not to purchase a new couch - but to sleep on one! Desperate to escape the noise, pollution and crowds of the city, entire families, go to Ikea to eat, browse, sleep, relax and take pictures. Hysterical!

Read more:

http://www.psfk.com/2009/09/chinese-ikea-shoppers-eat-and-nap-but-dont-necessarily-buy.html

Person of the Month - September 2009

Dr. Robert Ballard

Dr. Ballard is the world renowned oceanographer and explorer that discovered, amongst others, the wreck of the Titanic, this day in 1985.

We’ve named him the person of the month for all his incredible past work at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, using cutting edge technology to discover history’s missing ships and for his unrivaled academic work and continued exploration of the Earth's oceans and seas.

Bob Ballard’s illustrious career began in the 1960’s when he finished University with graduate degrees in geophysics and marine geology. He entered the ROTC program, rising from second lieutenant to Naval Commander before his honorable discharge in 2004 for reaching the statutory age limit.

He’s been with The Woods Hole Institute since the 1970’s pioneering and innovating marine exploration and technology.

He is credited with the greatest marine discovery of all time. The Titanic. Arguably, the world’s most well known vessel lost at sea, it’s discovery made world headlines, history and cemented his place in the pantheon of great and successful explorers.

Ballard’s team had been commissioned by the Navy to locate two sunken submarines. They did and in the process learned valuable lessons from their recovery. The team used this knowledge to locate the Titanic.

They finally achieved this on September 1, 1985, when the team located a debris field and followed it to the hull of the ship.

Ballard is also credited with the discovery of:

The USS Yorktown
The Bismarck
The Lusitania
And ** drumroll** John F. Kennedy’s lost WWII PT 109 boat.

Dr. Ballard has also pioneered sonar and undersea exploration of the Black Sea, discovering many wrecks previously unknown, leading to new theories in the historical trades of earlier peoples in that area. His contributions to the undersea archeology in this previously unexplored region is unparalleled.

We wish him the best of luck on all his future endeavors.