Shine on Harvest Moon

The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays.It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese families celebrate the end of the harvest season with a big feast, traditionally a time for families and neighbors to gather for moon-watching parties and children to carry brightly-colored lanterns.

And the moon cake is something shared at the feast. According to legend, in 1368 the Chinese overthrew the Mongol Yuan dynasty with the help of messages hidden in moon cakes. These tasty disc-shaped flaky pastries, filled with sweetened bean-paste and marked on top with the symbol of the baker, have thus become the food most associated with the August Moon, or Mid-Autumn festival.

The August Moon Festival is often called the Women's Festival. The moon symbolizes beauty and elegance. While Westerners worship the sun (yang or male) for its power, people in the Far East admire the moon. The moon is the 'yin' or female principle and it is a trusted friend.

In fact, many ancient August Moon folktales are about a moon maiden. On the 15th night of the 8th lunar moon, little children on earth can see a lady on the moon. On this magical occasion, children who make wishes to the Lady on the Moon will find their dreams come true.

Other Chinese legends say that the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day. Under this bright autumn moon,friendships are made and renewed. It is perfect for a romantic rendezvous. For many years, Chinese poets write about long lost lovers finding their way to each other on this special night.

Friendship, Family, Love. Can you say that these three words describe those two any better than that?
Make a wish, call a friend, spend time with family. Celebrate the moon tomorrow.

OMG Olympic Moment
Rowing
Rowing is an endurance test that finishes at a speed of up to 10 metres a second. Crews cover the middle 1000 metres at about 40 strokes per minute, but, over the first and last 500 metres, shift up a gear to as many as 47.

The modern master is Steve Redgrave of Great Britain, widely hailed as the greatest rower ever. A six-time World Champion, he won gold medals at the last five Olympic Games and has been loosely crowned Athlete of the Century.

A rower has one oar in sweep rowing, an oar in each hand in sculling. Boats have one, two, four or eight rowers. The eights have a cox, who steers the boat and directs the crew, but, in all other boats, one rower steers by controlling a small rudder with a foot pedal.

Men and women each compete in single, double and quadruple sculls, lightweight double scull, the eight and coxless pair. Men also race in coxless four and lightweight coxless four.

The OMG Olympic Take. Outdoor test of a relationship is rowing a boat or canoing, because you have to work together not against each other or you get nowhere. These two are definitely working together.

What did you think it was? Being able to say cox in J & A post?

All the King's Man

Every good king or prince needs supporters, those in the court who are there for them. It is a lonely job, everyone watching everything you do, many adoring you, more fascinated with who you're with, where you were at, what you wore, and some waiting to see you slip up. Sure you have the riches of the world, the love and adoration of the public, and whatever you desire will be done for you, but it is a lonely job, not sure who to trust, never sure who can see the real you, because any weakness could be exploited for someone else's gain. One life behind the walls and one life for the public. Sounds like Hollywood, doesn't it?

Even the consorts can't be be trusted, as they seek their own advantage by your folly or mistakes. But a supporter, a close confident, a second that is who you lean and rely on. Held close he may not always been see in the public but behind close doors he is the one person the rest of the court acknowledges at being the strongest besides the prince. In fact in a way he maybe stronger because he is the pillar that the prince leans upon.

But this second is definitely first in this prince's heart.


OMG Olympic Moments
Cycling - Road
Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan gave bicycle racing its first big boost back in 1839 when he devised a pedal-and-crank mechanism to power the two-wheeled machines. Until then, bicycles were pushed along by the feet. It rather limited their racing potential.

In the 1880s, cycling took another leap forward with the development of the chain-and-gearing system. With that, bikes evolved from the awkward penny-farthing style to the sleeker shape so familiar today. Since then, the sport's evolution has been a steady climb as athletes and engineers experiment with anything that might shave a few seconds off their times.

The sport's boom in the late 19th century made it a natural for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. That inaugural Olympic road race was held on the marathon course, with riders completing two laps covering a total of 87 kilometres. Almost a century passed before women got their chance to race in 1984, and, 12 years later, at the 1996 Atlanta Games, time trials were introduced.


Of course OMG would use bicycle and not just cycle because it is one of the few times that the prefix bi can get by the spin in the context of Jake and Austin. A sport that is more Jake's it is sweet to see how Austin hopped on a bike and rode sharing it with him. Austin may not be the cyclist Jake is but he was there for him. Gotta say there's something to seeing Austin's protective vibe come out when it comes to his man.

Ready Set and Still Going

Hooray! We're one today!
It was a Sunday morning and Jake hadn't been seen over the summer and by dumb luck, good karma or just being there at the right time, but there it was a picture of Jake in the front of the pack at the Chilmark Road Race. No one else had found it. Put it up on Wicked's Wonderful World -the blog that Wicked had that we were using as another place for Jake and Austin and fans to come and chat. But it was time.

We had been planning for more. A community for Jake and Austin fans, Jaustin fans, and TB'ers to come together. Looking back we really didn't have a clue what we were doing, flying by the seat of our pants, we were learning as we were going.

For weeks, we had been figuring out blogger, (bowing to Wicked), figuring out Photoshop, emailing and calling about our mission, what we wanted it to be, what we wanted say, what we wanted it look like. Would there be anyone who come ? Would anyone comment?

But that on Sunday August 12th, 2007, and a long phone call - we asked are we ready? Do you think? But we knew. This was it now or never this was how we launch our baby - OMG. And we did. And we are here one year and 361 posts and songs and songs later. No one could have imagine what would have happened over this past year. Both for Jake and Austin, but more importantly what happen to OMG and the community that we tried to create. Not everyone sees eye to eye, there are differences of opinion, there are new friends who came, and other friends who sadly have gone, some who have spoken up, others who are quietly waiting, and some trying to figure out what the hell to say anymore, but in the end there for one another, that's community and that's what its all about.

From that day came some great music, crazy posts, poignant moments, laughter and tears, great moments and great finds, lots of great new friends, honest opinions, Out Spotlights and Austin Fridays. Here's to even more. One thing, sadly we've never found many of Austin's lost shirts, but we've found other things.

To everyone who has come to OMG.
Thank you for coming and joining in on this wild ride.
We couldn't have done it without you.

And our first post - Remember this?

"Jake seriously, I don't think that's what
they had in mind when they said beard."

Overheard in Chilmark

One more thing Wicked truly is the Queen of the Player, and even now there are days, where she fixes it - using player voodoo, ok just great skills, with back up players to have music everyday. Without Wicked there would be no music. Thanks Wicked.

OMG Olympic Moment
Track and Field
Athletics (or track and field) is about running faster, jumping higher and throwing further than your competitors. The ancient Games at Olympia began simply with foot races, only occasionally complicated by dressing the runners in infantry armour or making them carry soldiers' shields. Today, athletics remains one of the most popular Olympic sports. From the 100m dash to the 42.195km marathon, from the hammer throw to the high jump, it contains many of the Olympic Games' blue-ribbon events and many of the highest-profile competitors.

The pictures say it all about this OMG Olympic moment. In sync and focused.

From Good Joe to Bad Bro

With the beginning buzz for Brothers gearing up, this the first chance see Jake as we have never seen him before. The Bad Ass, Black Sheep, Bad Boy. Looking to reform.

Looking over his career prior to Brothers, Jake played pretty much the do good nice guy, yes he has his foibles but for the most part he was never the bad guy, misunderstood yes, misbehaving yes, former prisoner no. Not forgetting Donnie Darko. But Donnie was different.

That's not to say that Donnie was a good guy or a bad guy- he was destined to be who he was, what he was, and did what he did. Was Donnie morally corrupt? What do you think?

But Tommy Cahill is different. Tommy is out of prison, and lives on the edge of the law. This is not the boy scout of Zodiac or the government agent of Rendition. He had no higher purpose to do wrong. He's a rule breaker and trouble maker. And this is the first character that Jake has played who is morally compromised but not his last. What drew Jake to Brothers? Is it the story about the reformation of bad into good? Or is a chance just to be bad, someone he isn't? But the question is can he be the bad ass with the good boy face? Will his fans buy into it?

It seems like a smart move to start with a story like Brothers, someone on the wrong side of the law trying to reform. Dipping his toe into the grittier less likable characters pool. As if to ease Jake's fans into seeing him play something different. In a way getting them used to new directions he is taking his acting.

Many times in Hollywood playing against type is what gets you noticed and recognized for your work. Do you think not only fans will do this but the critics and Hollywood as well?


OMG Olympic Moment
Baseball
Baseball's stature in the history of the United States is perhaps reflected more clearly in a simple dictionary rather than in the seven-centimetre-thick baseball encyclopedia.However, just as the game did not begin as a wholly US enterprise, it did not end the 20th century as one either. Baseball's all-time home-run champion is a man named Sadaharu Oh, who hit 868 during a legendary career in baseball-mad Japan. The national team of Cuba overpowered the Baltimore Orioles of the US major leagues 12-6 in a 1999 exhibition game.

Baseball became a full medal sport in Barcelona in 1992.

Three strikes, full count, 4 balls. Grand Slams. This is why its an OMG Olympic sport. And if you grew up in the US, the analogy of 1st base, Getting to Second, Third Base, and rounding third and heading home has nothing to do with baseball.
; )

And just leaving it up to you to speculate about playing catch.
; )

Out Spotlight XXXVI

"Of the 10,708 athletes who will march into Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium on Friday, Outsports is aware of only 10 who are publicly gay, on par with the 2004 Games. There is also a bisexual American softball player.

Of the 10 publicly gay Olympians this year, only one is a man: Matthew Mitcham (Australia, diving). The out lesbians are: Judith Arndt (Germany, cycling), Imke Duplitzer (Germany, fencing), Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg (Norway, handball and a lesbian couple), Natasha Kai (U.S., soccer), Lauren Lappin (U.S., softball); Victoria "Vickan" Svensson (Sweden, soccer); Rennae Stubbs (Australia, tennis) and Linda Bresonik (Germany, soccer)." (From Outsports.com)

Former Olympian Robert Dover,(USA Equestrian team), who is out, told the Associated Press back during Sydney there are scores more not ready to be open. "You spend a day with these athletes, and it becomes obvious that gay people are everywhere," Dover said. "The reason many of them aren't out is because they're focused on their job during this time when sports is the No. 1 thing in their lives."

"Simple math and common sense will tell you that many more gay or lesbian athletes will be competing. If 10% of the athletes are gay, that’s 1,000 people. Too high? Try 5%, which leaves 500. Still too high? OK, 1% still leaves 100. And even one-half of 1% still means there are 50 gay or lesbian athletes. Imagine the public attention if 50 athletes held a press conference to declare their homosexuality." (Outsports.com)

A pair of names looked familiar and remembered Norwegian Girl alerting us to the hardball players and lesbian couple, Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg from Norway a while ago.

Gro Hammerseng was born April 10, 1980 in Gjøvik)she is currently the captain of the Norway women’s national handball team, and plays club handball for Danish club Ikast-Bording. Making her national team debut in 2000 she led Norway to two consecutive victories in the European Women’s Handball Championship, in 2004 and 2006, being voted the tournament’s most valuable player both times.

In the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Hammerseng has joined other Norwegian athletes in an Amnesty International campaign for human rights in the People’s Republic of China.

Katja Nyberg was born August 24, 1979 in Stockholm, Sweden, grew up in Finland and became a naturalized Norwegian citizen. She playes for Danish club Ikast-Bording as well as the Norwegian women's national handball team along with her partner Gro.

Nyberg is the daughter of Robert Nyberg, the first Finnish handball player to play professionally abroad.She was voted Most Valuable Player in the 2007 World Women's Handball Championship, where Norway won the silver medal.

Katja shared her success with her partner Gro twice playing in the Norwegian winning team in 2004 and 2006 European Championships.

They are both competing in the hardball for Norway in the Olympics.

Gro and Katja Clip


OMG Olympic Moment

Basketball
Basketball is played in 4 periods of 10 minutes each at the Olympic Games. Five-minute overtimes follow if a game is tied. Both the Men's and the Women’s basketball tournament is played with 12 teams, except the host country and the reigning World Champion all teams have to qualify through a continental championship a year in advance to the Olympics. A three-point line, or arc, around the hoop allows three points for baskets from beyond 6.25 metres and two points from inside that distance.

How could OMG not love a game that uses words, traveling, pick ups, shirts vs. skins and man to man coverage? Leaving the rest of basketball fun for the OMG'ers to comment on.

With his height and build many assumed Austin for a basketball player but he admits himself he's got no game, and he lied and said he could play for his role in Glory Road. But training camp molded him into a basketball player.

Jake shows no hesitation in his love of basketball, more as an unabashed Laker's fan as well as pick up game player. As much as they like to play. OMG prefers them as fans.

BEEing there

What do you get when you take two superheros, a mistress of a former presidential candidate, an Oscar winner, a prince and a goose? A modern age fairytale? No you have the odd and twisted world of Bret Easton Ellis connections. The superheros who both have had their scandals - you know, the mistress well she was the inspiration for one of Ellis' characters, Alison Poole, the Goose came as an angel to some but acts like a devil to others, he comes with the prince who ganders, and the Oscar Winner well, you can make your suggestions where she fits into this modern day LA tale. But just in case you can't figure out how she does to Easton, remember this?

So what's your best BEE take on this LA tale? Or just your own?



Your OMG Olympic Moment

Equestrian Dressage
Equestrian is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates, and one of the few where men and women compete on equal terms.

It is the ultimate in team sports, a horse and rider working together for years to hone feats of grace, daring, agility and speed.The horse performs set movements, or tests, in response to its rider's subtle aids and signals. The event is conducted over three rounds. In the first two, horse and rider perform a set routine of dressage movements, including passages, pirouettes and piaffes in a walk, trot and canter. The third round is freestyle, with routines individually choreographed and performed to music.

Jake Equestrian Dressage - Third Round FreeStyle Program performing to the Zap Band's More Bounce to the Ounce.

Faster, Higher, Stronger

Today the world begins to watch the best of the best compete in the Olympics. The coming together of all nations not only under the nations flag but together under the Olympic flag in celebration of competition and the human spirit. The flag of five interlocking rings blue, yellow, black, green, and red, "represent the five parts of the world which now are won over to Olympism and willing to accept healthy competition." Despite boycotts, trials, scandals and politics, the modern Olympic games still strive to bring the best athletes together in the world every four years. The Olympics are more than just sports, it changes lives, changes history and changes the world.
This year's summer Olympic games in Beijing are planned to comprise 302 events in 28 sports. But the impact of the world in China will be much greater than who wins and loses.

Of course OMG has their own world class athlete. The man of the day and every Friday. Austin Nichols. Mentioned in bios and interviews many times that it is almost commonplace, Austin was ranked third in the World by the age of thirteen for Water skiing. He represented the US Junior Water Ski Team in the Pan-American Championships in 1997, and was also on the Junior US Olympic Water Skiing team. He gave up his pursuit of a career in water skiing due to a shoulder injury.

Many people water ski as something fun for a day the lake, but competing in water skiing takes it to a new level, and it is not a weekend warrior but a conditioned athlete who competes. Austin's natural athleticism and drive has led him to not only success skiing but to his career in television and film.


During the Olympics OMG will be highlight them in our own unique way. Look for a special Olympic highlight each day with an OMG twist.