Australian Open Update - 1/26/10

WoW! Marin Cilic (Chill-ich) is a kid on FIRE! He took out Roddick in 5 sets. We think he would be a serious contender if he hadn't had to go 5 sets in his last three matches(Blake, Del Potro & Roddick). As Mary Carrillo put it "He's tenderized. He's been softened for his next opponent." He'll be too drained to fight Murray or Federer. Then again, he's a kid and may have energy and fitness levels that can get him through it. He's Goran Ivanisevic's protege so we LOVE him now, even though he looks like Martin Scorsese did in 1801 when he was young...

Poor Andy Roddick! What a freaking choke artist he is! He cannot, cannot, cannot complete the deal..any deal...in a grand slam major. The guy cleans up in every other tourney all year. He's a GREAT Player. He just cannot seal a slam, ever. He's almost 29 now and will only have a few more seasons to do it. If he can't win another now in his 20's, he'll never do it in his 30's. Andy Roddick was a former World Ranked #1 and it's a shame he's only won 1 Grand Slam (2003 U.S. Open) in his career. He's lost to Federer 4 times in other finals including the Epic Heartbreak at Wimbledon which will live in Infamy (You WON that, Andy!). We'll have to see how he does the rest of the season. It's not too late!

Rafael Nadal. **SIGH** We're upset. He retired injured in 3 today against the other Andy. We've learned the reason he looks so anemic is that he lost a ton of weight to rehab his knee. His knee that he re-injured today. Poor Rafa. The only reason anyone ever questioned whether or not Federer was the best in the sport was because this kid, Rafa, came from nowhere and seemed unstoppable for a while - giving Federer a real run for his money every slam. Now, at only 23, his career may be over. Look for him to make a comeback at Wimbledon and the French - softer surfaces.

Andy Murray, is a ROCK STAR in England, they can't get enough of him. And we don't want to bash Little Timmy Henman, the UK's last "star" but it's no wonder the UK loves Murray. He's animated and passionate and for a pasty white boy from Scotland, he's got Game. Look for him to give Federer a challenge this year.

That leaves our favorite - Novak Djokovic (Joke-o-vich). He's beaten Alfred Tsonga before so we're hoping for a great rematch today.

Stay tuned!

Aussie Open Update - 1/25/10

Happy Australian Day to our Friends Down Under!

There were some BIG men's matches this weekend. Big Juan Del Potro lost in a 5 set barn burner to Marin Cilin. Verdasco and Davydenko also went 5 as well as Tsonga and Almagro. Davydenko and Tsonga were victorious and will move on to play against Federer and Djokovic.

Round of 8:
Roger Federer v Nikolay Davydenko
Novak Djokovic v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Andy Roddick v Marin Cilic
Andy Murray v Rafael Nadal

Look for Federer to advance to the finals. We're hoping for Roddick to beat him this time!

In the women's round, the Williams sisters are going to end up head to head in the finals. Serena will probably win if she can resist shoving a racket down a linesman's throat.

Robert E. Howard

Author of the Month - January 2010

All fled--all done, so lift me on the pyre;
The feast is over, and the lamps expire.
- Howard's suicide note 6/11/1936

Robert E. Howard

On June 11, 1936, Robert Ervin Howard, The World's Greatest Writer of Fiction, killed himself by a self-inflicted gunshot. The above prose was found on his person at the time of death. Today is the 104th anniversay of his birth.

We firmly believe that Robert E. Howard was the greatest pulp fiction author, creator and literary genius that ever lived. He was a tortured person and that self-depth and imagination led to a lifetime's work of literary characters and world's that up until then had never before been penned.

We can thank him for creating such fantastic and awesome literary characters like Conan the Barbarian and Solomon Kane. He wrote in a surprising number of genres including detective stories, westerns, horror, historical fiction and of course his grand opus and gift - sword and sorcery. A genre he created and perfected.

Rivaled only by J.R.R. Tolkien in his lifetime, Howard enjoyed financial success having his short stories published in dozens of high paying magazines. His first Conan story, "The Phoenix and the Sword" was published in 1932. Like Tolkien, Robert E. Howard invented an entire world for his protagonist, Conan - the mythical land of Cimmeria in the Hyborian Age. It's an amazing place and one we enjoy visiting every now and again.

Robert E. Howard has continued to influence entire generations of writers including: Michael Moorcock, L. Sprague de Camp, Fritz Lieber and John Jakes to name a few.

Although most well known for his novels and stories, Howard's poetry is also just as hauntingly beautiful, creepy, powerful and amazing. Not exactly sunshiny happy stuff, due to the fact the Robert was a lifetime depressive, but remarkable just the same.

Here are a few verses from some of his best poems:

The mighty poets write in blood and tears
And agony that, flame-like, bites and sears.
They reach their mad blind hands into the night,
To plumb abysses dead to human sight;
To drag from gulfs where lunacy lies curled,
Mad, monstrous nightmare shapes to blast the world.
- "Musings"


What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?
I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky.
The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing;
Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king.
- "The Road of Kings"


Who are you?" I asked the phantom,
"I am rest from Hate and Pride.
"I am friend to king and beggar,
"I am Alpha and Omega,
"I was councilor to Hagar
"But men call me suicide."
I was weary of tide breasting,
Weary of the world's behesting,
And I lusted for the resting
As a lover for his bride."
- "The Tempter"


From wild red dawn to wild red dawn we held our iron line,
and fought till the blades broke in our hands
and the sea ran as red as wine.
With arrow, spear and heavy mace we broke the dragon's pride,
Thigh-deep in the roaring sea we fought and crimson ran the tide.
- "Diombar's Song of the Last Battle"

Bonus: Special Prayer to Crom, Supreme God of Cimmeria

Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that two stood against many. That's what's important! Valor pleases you, Crom... so grant me one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!

Conan.com
REH Wiki Article
Crossplains,TX Offical REH Site

Famous Frank Frazetta renditition of Conan the Barbarian


Arnold as Conan - Amazing!

Get Burned!

The 4th season of Burn Notice begins tonight!

16 new episodes of Mikey and Fiona blowing things up!
16 new episodes of BRUCE CAMPBELL!.

USA tonight at 10pm EST

UPDATE: Last night's episode is scoring a 9.6 out of 10. We agree!

Who do you think burned Michael?

Wes Studi

Check out this great interview by Brad Balfour with Native American Legendary Actor Wes Studi on his role as tribal chief Eytukan in the mega-hit Avatar:

HuffPost Article - Wes Studi

Studi as "Magua", the Bad Ass Motherfucking Huron warrior in The Last of the Mohicans

And as CGI tribal chief - Eytukan, in Avatar

No Cognac and Roses For Poe....

This year marks the first time since 1949 - 1949! - that the Poe Toaster failed to arrive to drink and leave the three red roses and half bottle of cognac for America's Greatest Writer.

Speculation is running high as to why the mystery man known as the Poe Toaster didn't show. Rumours run the gamut from "Did he die?" to "Maybe he has the Flu this year" to "it's over." It is believed that since last year was the 200 anniversary of his birth this would've been the perfect time to end the tradition.

50 people showed up at the cemetery this year to catch a glimpse of the man in black with the wide brimmed hat who makes this annual gift to Poe's grave. In other years, up to a hundred people have shown, some from as far away as Japan. This Poe Toaster thing has grown big and is/was a magnificent "literary" tradition. The people of Baltimore were shocked and saddened that he didn't show this year. It's a quirky thing that has turned into an elegant (albeit it COLD)ritual.

If it's over, we're sad to see it go. Something tells us though that someone will pick up the mantle next year and keep the yearly pilgrimage alive.

"New" lithograph reveals a happier looking Edgar Allen Poe

Hear the mellow wedding-bells,
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight
From the molten-golden notes!
And all in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gust of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells--
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells--
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!

2nd verse - "The Bells" - E.A. Poe
Not so Doom and Gloomy - eh?

Australian Open 2010 - Update

Australian open.com

SHARAPOVA UPSET in FIRST ROUND!
After a more than 3 hour battle, Maria Sharapova lost and is out to friendly rival Maria Kirilenko (our new fave!). Bye Maria! We'll try to enjoy the rest of the tourney without you!

For the Men - Murray, Nadal, Del Potro, Gonzalez all breezed through to the second round and for the Women - Clijsters, Henin, Safina and Kuznetsova are all also heading to the second.

What's wrong, Maria?

Golden Globes 1/17/2010

Golden Globes Official Site

THE 67th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS
HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION

UPDATE: Winners in Bold!

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
AVATAR
THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
UP IN THE AIR

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
EMILY BLUNT - THE YOUNG VICTORIA
SANDRA BULLOCK - THE BLIND SIDE
HELEN MIRREN - THE LAST STATION
CAREY MULLIGAN - AN EDUCATION
GABOUREY SIDIBE - PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
JEFF BRIDGES - CRAZY HEART
GEORGE CLOONEY - UP IN THE AIR
COLIN FIRTH - A SINGLE MAN
MORGAN FREEMAN - INVICTUS
TOBEY MAGUIRE - BROTHERS

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
THE HANGOVER
IT’S COMPLICATED
JULIE & JULIA
NINE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
SANDRA BULLOCK - THE PROPOSAL
MARION COTILLARD - NINE
JULIA ROBERTS - DUPLICITY
MERYL STREEP - IT’S COMPLICATED
MERYL STREEP - JULIE & JULIA

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
MATT DAMON - THE INFORMANT!
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS - NINE
ROBERT DOWNEY JR - SHERLOCK HOLMES
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT - (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
MICHAEL STUHLBARG - A SERIOUS MAN

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS
CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
UP

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
PENÉLOPE CRUZ - NINE
VERA FARMIGA - UP IN THE AIR
ANNA KENDRICK - UP IN THE AIR
MO’NIQUE - PRECIOUS
JULIANNE MOORE - A SINGLE MAN

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
MATT DAMON - INVICTUS
WOODY HARRELSON - THE MESSENGER
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER - THE LAST STATION
STANLEY TUCCI - THE LOVELY BONES
CHRISTOPH WALTZ - INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
KATHRYN BIGELOW - THE HURT LOCKER
JAMES CAMERON - AVATAR
CLINT EASTWOOD - INVICTUS
JASON REITMAN - UP IN THE AIR
QUENTIN TARANTINO - INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
BIG LOVE (HBO)
DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
MAD MEN (AMC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
GLENN CLOSE - DAMAGES
JANUARY JONES - MAD MEN
JULIANNA MARGULIES - THE GOOD WIFE
ANNA PAQUIN - TRUE BLOOD
KYRA SEDGWICK - THE CLOSER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
SIMON BAKER - THE MENTALIST
MICHAEL C. HALL - DEXTER
JON HAMM - MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE - HOUSE
BILL PAXTON - BIG LOVE

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 ROCK (NBC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
GLEE (FOX)
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
THE OFFICE (NBC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
TONI COLLETTE
COURTENEY COX
EDIE FALCO
TINA FEY
LEA MICHELE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ALEC BALDWIN
STEVE CARELL
DAVID DUCHOVNY
THOMAS JANE
MATTHEW MORRISON

Causes

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

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

Help People
Red Cross Haiti Relief

Help Children
UNICEF Haiti Relief

Help Animals
ASPCA Animal Rescue FUND - HAITI

The Art Gallery - Claude Lorrain 1600-1682

Pastoral Landscape, 1648

Landschaft mit der Nymphe, 1669

Harbourview at Sunrise, 1637

Coast Scene with Europa and the Bull, 1634

Aeneas, 1671

Haiti

Haiti's Presidential Palace before the 1/12/10 earthquake and after.

Please donate to the Red Cross and help.

The Great Wall of China

January 2010 - Archaeological Site of the Month

The Great Wall of China is an amazing monument of human achievement and one of the most famous landmarks on Earth. Whether or not is can be seem from space is in doubt, however, at over 4,000 miles in length, it is a awesome work.

It was designed an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Although it's over 2,000 years old, parts of the wall are in remarkable shape, a testament to the masonry and craftsmanship that went in to the building of the wall. You can see from the pictures below, the watchtowers and ramparts could be usable today to repel an invading army.

Great Wall Tour Groups

Wiki article

R.I.P. Stephen Huneck

This is so sad.

The world lost a fabulous guy yesterday when artist and all-around-nice-guy Stephen Huneck killed himself.

Stephen who was famous for his superior artistry in wood carvings, of dogs!, was despondent over having to lay off staff at his Vermont art gallery called Dog Mountain and fearful over losing the establishment altogether.

From the AP:
"A native of Sudbury, Mass., he started out whittling wooden sculptures and later dog-themed furniture, like the wooden pews eventually installed in the chapel, which he built in 2000, a miniature version of the 19th-century churches that dot Vermont's landscape.

Built of wood harvested from his 175-acre Dog Mountain property, it had vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows with images of dogs pieced into them.

"Welcome all creeds, all breeds. No dogmas allowed," says the sign outside.

"When dogs pull up in here, they may never have been here before, but it's like they saw the 'Disneyland' sign," said Huneck in a 2008 interview with The Associated Press. "They just get so excited, so happy," he said.

Anyone who goes out his way to make dogs happy is aces with us.
Our condolences to his family, friends, supporters and staff.

Picture from Stephen's website. Stephen and his dog's Artimus, Molly and Heidi in front of the Dog Chapel on Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

Dog Mountain Art Gallery
Abc news article
Dog Chapel Story Wonderful!

The King is Dead - Long Live the King!

Who loves ya, Baby?

Elvis reached the Billboard #1 in 1956 for a little ditty called "Heartbreak Hotel" and followed that up with gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards for about 150 singles and albums, not to mention a bunch of Grammy awards. Today he would've turned 75 years old.

75th B'day Party at Graceland

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians Cast Reveal

The All Star Heroes vs Villians Survivor cast was revealed during The People's Choice Awards last night.

One word: Colby! Two words: Russell Hantz!

Here we go:
Heroes
Rupert Boneham (Previous seasons: Pearl Islands, All-Stars)

James Clement (Previous seasons: China, Micronesia)

Colby Donaldson (Previous seasons: The Australian Outback, All-Stars)

Cirie Fields (Previous seasons: Panama, Micronesia)

Amanda Kimmell (Previous seasons: China, Micronesia)

Jessica “Sugar” Kiper (Previous season: Gabon)

Stephenie LaGrossa (Previous seasons: Palau, Guatemala)

James “J.T.” Thomas (Previous season: Tocantins)

Tom Westman (Previous season: Palau)

Candice Woodcock (Previous season: Cook Islands)


Villains

Tyson Apostol (Previous season: Tocantins)

Randy Bailey (Previous season: Gabon)

Sandra Diaz-Twine (Previous season: Pearl Islands)

Danielle DiLorenzo (Previous season: Panama)

Russell Hantz (Previous season: Samoa)

Jerri Manthey (Previous seasons: Australian Outback, All-Stars)

“Boston” Rob Mariano (Previous seasons: Marquesas, All-Stars)

Parvati Shallow (Previous seasons: Cook Islands, Micronesia)

“Coach” Benjamin Wade (Previous season: Tocantins)

Courtney Yates (Previous season: China)


Rupert! Colby! Russell!
Jerri Manthey is back. People hate hated her, but what can she do now?

3 things:
Coach again? NOOO!
It's another season of Jeff yelling Poverty instead of Parvati, which is actually quite funny.
And.....Boston Rob...

War at Sea!

War at Sea!

The war between The Sea Shepard Conservation Group and Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean near Australia escalated yesterday with a series of incidents leading to the sinking of one boat, extensive damage to another and the anti-whaling vessel, Bob Barker, coming to the rescue!

A Japanese whaling ship rammed the super high tech stealth boat, Ady Gil, operated by The Sea Shepard Conservation Group. Smashed into pieces the Ady Gil crew was evacuated and rescued by the crew of THE BOB BARKER, the newly renovated former Norwegian whaling vessel.

Where the fuck is the Royal Australian Navy?

Protesters are pissed. "This is Australian Antarctic territorial waters and I see the Japanese whalers doing whatever they want with impunity down here without a single Australian government vessel anywhere to be found..."

They have a valid point and one that isn't being taken seriously by their own government. Australian officials have basically told the Sea Shepards "to exercise restraint in the name of safety." WTF?

The other Sea Shepard vessel, Steve Irwin, has also been involved with this, pursuing the Japanese whaling fleet for weeks and avoiding Japanese "security ships" that threaten the Sea Shepard's daily. It was one of these security ships, The Something or Other Maru, that critically disabled the Ady Gil.

Learn more:

Sea Shepard.org

Bob Barker ship

Pic of the ruined Ady Gil

News - 1/4/2010

America's Most Wanted strikes again.
Way to go John Walsh!

Hungarian Rhapsody
In the "you can't make this shit up department" - the next time you find yourself living in a cave, you might just be the next multi-billionaire...

The Turkish Zahi Hawass
Not another one!

Uganda is messed up!
And these guys sure didn't help. Why is it that the people most drawn to Christ and his desire for love and peace - HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE? Dont they know that they have to die a horrible death for eating shrimp?! It's in the bible, right next to the whole "gay thing". Oh wait, they missed that part...oh! That explains it.

Top Archaeological finds of 2009
Great slide show at msnbc.com