Recurring Themes
That Sacred Institution (as practiced in villages in India): To prevent mysterious illnesses in the village, two 7-year-old girls were married, separately, to frogs (Pallipudupet, Tamil Nadu state; January). To bring prosperity to the village, an elder married off two trees to each other (Subhasnagar, West Bengal state; February). To overcome the effect of a…
Undignified Deaths
A motorist survived a crash on Feb. 4 near Los Banos, Calif., though his car fell down a 200-foot cliff. After he climbed back to the highway and sought help, he was accidentally hit and killed by another driver. A 60-year-old man, celebrating his retirement from a transportation company in Ritto, Japan, in December, was…
U2 tickets to be available early to site subscribers
Oklahoma fans eager to be the earliest ticket holders for U2’s fall concert in Norman will have to shell out for a subscription to the band’s official Web site. Although tickets for the Oct. 17 concert at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium go on sale April 17, pre-sale tickets will be…
The Day the Earth Stood Still
2008 The remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” retains many of the basic plot elements of the 1951 classic and the overall message of its source material. But these days, our source of apocalyptic dread has shifted from Soviet A-bombs to a corrupted, dying environment. This version begins with microbiologist Helen Benson (Jennifer…
Police Blotter
Police were called to the Aliso (Calif.) Town Center on March 15 after a woman telephoned 911 to report being attacked near the center’s fountain by another woman, who had flung her dog’s feces at her and her infant. The flinger was said to be upset about complaints from passersby about the enema she was…
Doubt
2008 “Doubt” has formidable talent behind it, but don’t let its impressive pedigree throw you. Forget for a moment that it’s an adaptation of a Pulitzer- and Tony-winning stage play. Forget that it stars two heavyweight actors in Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Forget that it is bathed in the occasionally claustrophobic hues of…
Fine Points of the Law
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal agreed in February to hear the charge brought by Roxanne Stevenson that she was turned down illegally for a clerk’s job by the city of Kelowna because she smokes. “Smoking,” itself, is not covered by the law, and a city official said Stevenson frequently used sick leave at a…
The Miracle Drug
Alcohol Was Involved: A 19-year-old University of Colorado student required emergency assistance in March after spending all evening badgering fellow partygoers to hit him in the face. Finally, at 2 a.m., someone complied, resulting in a broken nose and massive bleeding. A National City Bank in downtown Pittsburgh was broken into on March 7, inadvertently,…
Rose State College seeks aid for wildfire victims
Rose State College in Midwest City will be accepting donations for wildfire victims. “Our hearts go out to the community we serve, to those who are injured or who lost homes in this fire. We are trying to locate and help any faculty, staff or students whose lives are affected by this tragedy,” Terry Britton,…
Walkabilty expert presents findings to Oklahoma City
A nationally recognized urban planner hired by Oklahoma City to assess its lack of walkability said two major projects are unsustainable as envisioned, unless changes are made. Jeff Speck said a massive boulevard, slated to eventually replace the Crosstown Expressway, is a colossal mistake in design that needs to be changed before it is built.…
Three master’s degree candidates open Norman gallery exhibit
our third year,” Pitt said. “We’ve done it mostly because they didn’t have a professional space for the master’s degree candidates to exhibit, and OU also wanted them to go through the process of dealing with a gallery and to go through that learning experience.” LIVE ART During the opening, Wilson will use her mobile…
The Homeland Is Secure
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration ruled in January that a post-9-11 federal maritime law, which requires comprehensive background credentials for mariners holding U.S. Coast Guard authorization on U.S. waters, applies even to the two “mule skinners” who work, in tourist season, dressed in colonial costumes at the Hugh Moore Historical Park in Easton, Pa. The…
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Quirk Books Yes, it’s exactly what you think. Two of those above words I am all about. The other? Not so much. I stay far away from scary, as a rule. And I definitely don’t do paranormal scary. But, I’ve made an exception for “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” Elizabeth Bennett faced her share of…
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
At a Buddhist sanctuary in Khun Han, Thailand, monks have used a million beer bottles and soft drink bottles to build their temple. Bottle caps have come in handy, too, serving as the raw material for numerous mosaics portraying the Buddha. Your assignment, Sagittarius, is to draw inspiration from these geniuses. How could you take…
DJ AK1200 takes aim at Oklahoma City audiences
Everything you need to know about the sound of drum-and-bass pioneer Dave Minner is in his pseudonym. Minner was dubbed DJ AK1200 because his Technics 1200 turntables are used like AK-47s. Manic drumbeats and rumbling bass drown samples struggling to keep afloat amidst his torrential storm of sounds. EMERGED FROM JUNGLE DRUM ROLE The Orlando,…
Expo deals with the business end of game design
Having a hard time selling Mom on the idea that video games are a legitimate use of time? Want to show that the hours spent pouring attention over every detail in “Halo” or perfecting technique in “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” will pay off in the job market? RICH CAREER FIELD CONVERT PAPER DESIGNS Head to…
Orwellian society
Canadian filmmaker Rob Spence said recently that he would install a prosthetic eye with a camera and wireless transmitter (of the size now used for colonoscopies) into the socket from which one of his eyes had been removed as the result of a childhood accident. He hopes to control the prosthetic eye in the same…
Why the lottery is failing
Using gaming revenues to prop up a fundamental tenet of state government is foolish. I voted against the lottery. With that said, we need to change the way the lottery operates both to get our money’s worth and to restore trust in flawed promises by politicians who made bold statements to get elected. We have…
Museum screens documentary about Garrison Keillor
When a show ” take “ER,” for example ” has been around for a long time, it’s easy for people to start thinking it has more cultural significance than it really does. “A Prairie Home Companion” is a radio show that has been broadcast from St. Paul, Minn., for almost 40 years. While the show…
Mack Brown not about to let facts, reality stand in Texas’ way
Mack Brown knows no shame. Just ask the Texas coach who won the Big 12 Conference title this past football season. He won’t even have to vocalize his answer ” he can simply point to one of the walls adorning the Longhorns’ training facility. There in big, bold letters it lists the Longhorns as 2008…
Sex, scandal are well-served by brave direction, skillful acting in ‘Measure for Measure’
A director must have a definite point of view about Shakespeare’s dark comedy “Measure for Measure,” currently being staged by Oklahoma City Theatre Company at Civic Center Music Hall’s CitySpace theater. It may be played as a light comedy or a love story, and is what is known as a “problem play.” The problems include…
Oklahoman learns to wear pants when police approach
Hey kids, here’s a tip about greeting police officers: Always have your pants on. Greg Fagan of Ardmore found out what happens when you forget to put on the bottom half of your clothing. It leads police to search in areas you probably don’t want them looking. According to a story in The Daily Ardmoreite,…
Junebug Spade – Junebug Spade
shot” is probably the most radio-friendly track on the new record. It opens with a bouncing trumpet melody that leads into verses layered with driving guitar riffs. The cut is capped-off by an upbeat and memorable chorus. However, “Awake “¦ Slow Down” might be the album’s most noteworthy track for its interesting stop-and-go structure. Long,…
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
If you ever wanted to learn how to do lucid dreams or out-of-body travel or shamanic explorations that help you retrieve lost portions of your soul, this is an excellent time to begin. You’re in an astrological phase when the veil between this world and the other side is thinner than usual, and that means…
Electric Six transform the Opolis into ‘Gay Bar, Part 2’
Electric Six has been described as possibly the least sincere band in current rock ‘n’ roll ” fighting words in an industry not particularly known for earnestness. The sextet’s genre-bending blend of disco, post-punk and hair metal has framed a sonic canvas for lead singer-songwriter, Dick Valentine ” real name Tyler Spencer ” to serve…
Government in Action
Artist Beth Grossman created her wall exhibit, “Seats of Power,” to encourage citizens to greater activism in local affairs around Brisbane, Calif. (just south of San Francisco Bay). The “Seats” are upholstered cushions individually tailored with the buttprints of each of the 10 city council members, who allowed Grossman to photograph them from behind, clothed,…
Oklahoma City archbishop criticizes Notre Dame
The Most Rev. Eusebius J. Beltran, archbishop of Oklahoma City, recently sent a letter to Notre Dame President John Jenkins accusing the university of turning against the Catholic Church. It wasn’t an April Fools’ Day joke. And it wasn’t in response to the Fighting Irish breaking the University of Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak in 1957.…
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
During my daily bicycle jaunts, I have on occasion ridden by a certain construction site, observing as workers took several months to erect a home where once there was dirt. It turned out to be too monstrously big for my tastes, but I admire its craftsmanship, and the landscaping is impeccable, too. Today I saw…
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Sneezes and yawns rise up in you without your conscious bidding. You can try to stifle them, but they have a will of their own. Just imagine if you were also visited at unexpected moments by the need to howl. Suddenly and without warning, you felt an irrepressible urge to unleash bellowing sounds — simply…
Sister has been constant OKC presence since 1973
When the subject is Midtown, the City Council can expect to have a habit-wearing nun sitting in the gallery. Even when she doesn’t speak up, which is often, Sister Veronica Higgins attends the meetings to support new businesses in Midtown and to petition the council for safety measures for the area and for Villa Teresa…
Author, music critic visits to lead analytical media discussion
Celebrated rock critic Chuck Klosterman will be in Norman next week to speak about his experiences working in the media and share his observations on pop culture. STUDENT-ONLY PROGRAMS RIGID FOCUS After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1994, Klosterman worked as a journalist in Fargo, N.D., and later served as an arts…
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Your role model for the coming week is George Garratt, a British guy who legally changed his name to Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined. Like him, I hope you will be extravagant as you re-imagine your self-image . . . and be playful as you take serious…
Buildings are chosen for an annual architectural tour
Larry Herzel and Andrew Stevens of HSE Architects, the Lofts at Maywood Park were built to encourage residents to live their lives outside. Exterior walkways, pedestrian paths and sidewalks link public green spaces with the nearby center of the city. Central Avenue Villas, 444 N. Central: The gateway to a contemporary urban rebirth, TAParchitecture’s Anthony…
OKC women escalate April Fool’s pranks
Two female pranksters an OKC seafood restaurant took a joke too far ” and then even farther ” according to a video and news story posted locally. According to the Web site of The Oklahoman, Samantha Foytlin, owner of Bob’s Fish and Seafood, and co-worker Sherry Hickey called friends and family members, joking that each…
Is Oklahoma headed for another oil bust?
urity blankets. “I believe our economy is more diversified since the ’80s,” Meacham said. “Look at what a big player aerospace is in Oklahoma City and Tulsa versus what it was in the ’80s “¦ biosciences. I don’t think we’re as diversified as we need to be yet, but certainly more than the ’80s.” “?Scott…
Cycling enthusiasts take to the streets for art show
Oklahoma’s car culture is a force to be reckoned with, but bicycle enthusiasts and Dreamer Concepts Studio & Foundation are hoping that an art show focusing on pedal power will urge Normanites and local governments to work toward a more cyclist-friendly community. MILE AND A HALF SPOKE CARD Friday’s “Bicyclette” event will feature performance and…
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
“Men build too many walls and not enough bridges,” said Isaac Newton. I agree with that assessment in general, but I’m going to amend it a bit for your use. In my astrological opinion, you would benefit from constructing one more wall before embarking on a bridge-building campaign. In fact, it won’t make sense to…
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
For a few dollars a month, you can have a computer’s synthesized voice utter a prayer for you three times a day. Informationageprayer.com promises to contact the Creator with incantations designed just for you. On the other hand, there’s a prayer warrior on my staff who will pray for you at no cost. Her name’s…
Zoo hosts egg hunt featuring brunch, Easter Bunny appearance
Children will uncover hidden Easter eggs at the Tiny Tots Egg Scrambles egg hunt Sunday afternoon at the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th. Following the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Easter brunch in the zoo’s Canopy Restaurant featuring the Easter Bunny, the zoo will hold four egg hunts from 1 to 3 p.m. for…
Fast & Furious
Yes, it’s the third sequel to a picture that was pretty much junk and that was also a remake of a picture that was almost entirely junk. It’s about fast cars, hot babes in tight shorts and street toughs with more attitude than a 12-pack of old gangster movies. Its plot exists at the single-cell…
Death Cab for Cutie sells out Tulsa show, proving confidence of its indie-rock audience
The members of Death Cab for Cutie see their chart-topping rock band as something of a strange fit. Despite having racked up fiercely loyal fans, Grammy nominations and a gold-certified record with last year’s “Narrow Stairs,” the four-piece outfit remains uncomfortable with the notion of mainstream success. Death Cab for Cutie bassist Nick Harmer is…
Baby’ births performances more than just a mother can love
“Baby: The Musical” focuses on three couples struggling with the news that they are each expecting a child. The youngest of the couples, Danny and Lizzie, are still in college and have just moved in together. They both want the baby, but are have different ideas about marriage. Another is Pam, a former tomboy, and…
What happens between lines starts between ears
As the Oklahoma City Thunder close out the final week of the season, a few things are certain: the Thunder won’t make the playoffs, will finish well below the .500 mark and will have taken both a physical and emotional beating this season. PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL MOMENTUM Nicki Moore, who holds a doctorate, knows a thing…
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
It took him 48 hours, but a British soldier has broken the world’s record for number of seats sat upon. Terry Twining warmed his butt, if ever so briefly, on a total of 40,040 chairs in a football stadium last August. I suggest you do something comparable, Aquarius: Be simultaneously well-grounded and energetic. Keep your…
Adventureland
From the trailer, “Adventureland” seems like a fun ride. It’s a coaster worth waiting in line for, but don’t expect a “Superbad”-esque laugh-and-vomit comet. Having been a good boy in high school and college, nebbish James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg, “The Squid and the Whale”) is totally psyched for European adventure abroad with his buddies “?…
Novelist speaks at Literary Voices 2009 Author Dinner
Award-winning novelist Ann Patchett will lead an evening of stories and laughter Tuesday as the featured speaker at the seventh annual Literary Voices 2009 Author Dinner. The Metropolitan Library System Endowment Trust’s largest fund-raiser, the dinner hosts a different author every year. Patchett, a Los Angeles native who now lives in Nashville, Tenn., has published…
University of Central Oklahoma dives into child programming
Based on Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 classic children’s book, “The Wind in the Willows,” “The Mad Adventures of Mr. Toad” focuses on the titular character and his frequent mishaps brought about by his poor driving and arrogant attitude. The musical also shows how Toad’s friends “? Ratty, Badger and Mole “? attempt to keep him out…
The Oklahoma spirit
“Anything can have happened in Oklahoma. Practically everything has.” I underlined those sentences when I read them because this is the state I know, love and have such hopes for. Not because it’s perfect ” probably precisely because it isn’t. It is still a work in progress. And we all get to participate in creating…
Local artists move beyond canvas to find medium to publicly display designs
As street art seeps into galleries, alternative methods of marketing art to the public are increasingly popular. Now, skateboard decks, shoes and clothes are legitimate canvases. Located at 1705 N.W. 16th in the Plaza Arts District, dna.galleries incorporates the new art forms by introducing limited-edition T-shirt runs designed by artists showing at the gallery. FIRST…
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
I once had a girlfriend who was tormented by her demons. As brilliant an artist as she was, as much good as she did in the world, she couldn’t get those jerks to stop whispering curses like “You’re a fraud” and “You’ll never make any money from doing what you’re good at” and “No one…
Oklahoma lawmakers advance slowpoke bill
Finally, some common sense coming out of the Oklahoma Legislature. According to a small story in the Tulsa World recently, a Senate committee voted to advance a measure dealing with slowpokes. Specifically, drivers who hang out in the left lane and can’t even drive the speed limit on a four-lane highway. Did you hear that?…
Updated: Tickets for U2 Norman date go on sale April 17
LiveNation announced April 7 U2 and The Black-Eyed Peas will perform in Norman on Owen Field Oct. 18. Tickets will range from $33 to $253 will go on sale April 17 via their site, the U.S. Army Box Office at Ford Center, all Ticketmaster outlets including participating Homeland, Suncoast and FYE stores, charge by phone at…
