Undignified Deaths
A 21-year-old man fell to his death in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in April when he leaned a little too far over on a hillside rock in order to write his girlfriend’s name on an available space on the surface. (Her name is Kaylee and not, unfortunately, just Kay.) A 43-year-old man suffered a fatal heart…
Least Competent Criminals
Crime Time in Wilmington, Del.: Jesse Dale, 42, was arrested and charged with cocaine possession in Wilmington in June during a routine traffic stop after he attempted to throw his stash out the passenger window as the officer approached. (However, the window was up, and the package bounced back into the seat in “plain sight”…
Awesome!
Shafique el-Fahkri, 19, had the leg of a chair jammed completely through his left eye socket during an attack in Melbourne, Australia, in January. Five surgeons, operating for three hours, saved his life, and three months later, he had regained 95 percent of his vision (and said, of the attacker, “I forgive him, totally”). As…
Billy Bob Thornton cancels Oklahoma concerts
Actor-turned-country-crooner Billy Bob Thornton had to cancel two Oklahoma casino performances because of problems with his band’s road crew, his publicist said. The tattooed star of “Bad Santa” and “Friday Night Lights” was set to play the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami on Friday and the Riverwind Casino in Norman on Saturday. Both shows…
Creme de la Weird
Robert Theriault, 49, a courthouse security officer in Concord, N.H., was convicted in April of persuading a couple that he was a tester for an insurance company and would pay them $20 to have sex in front of him so he could evaluate a certain bedsheet and condom. Aaron Meinhardt, 37, was arrested in Riverside,…
Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition awards grants to four Oklahoma artists
The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition supports visual artists living in Oklahoma and promotes public interest and understanding of the arts. Through their unique grants program, OVAC is able to invest $15,000 annually directly to individual Oklahoma artists to help begin or complete projects that can be instrumental in the advancement of their careers. …
Unclear on the Concept
Jenny Brown, 62, entered her sponge cake in a contest sponsored by an organization in Wimblington, England, in July, was informed by judges that she had won “second place,” and was only later told that she was the only entrant (but was also told that she could not have first place). According to U.S. government…
News that Sounds Like a Joke
A star athlete at Brigham Young University was arrested in Provo, Utah, in June after police saw him angrily dueling with a street cleaner using the man’s mops. The cleaner had crossed a street slowly, provoking driver Kyle Perry to leap from his car, grab a mop and swing it at the cleaner (who parried…
Ethnic Cliches
The registrar of Nigeria’s university entrance exams reported in May that almost 2,000 of the students had been caught in cheating scams. Arab researchers writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported in June, not surprisingly, that Middle Eastern women who dress covering all or nearly all their skin may have significant vitamin D…
Rush Hour 3
Reviewer’s grade: C In a summer that has seen trilogies conclude for spider-bitten superheroes, Caribbean pirates, obese ogres and CIA assassins, the continuing adventures of Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) and Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) also come to a close with “Rush Hour 3.” This time out, the near-assassination of a Chinese ambassador sends them…
Ten selected for Higher Education Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society President John Parrish announced the 2007 inductees to the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Parrish also revealed the 2007 ceremony and dinner will be held in the Oklahoma History Center in cooperation with the Oklahoma Historical Society. “The move to the History Center is appropriate for us since we relocated our…
HHS secretary touts safety of U.S. food supply during OKC visit
With a pineapple in one hand, and a banana in the other, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services proclaimed America is the best place to eat. “The reality is we have the safest (food) supplies in the United States,” Sec. Michael Leavitt said. “To maintain safety, we have to improve.” Leavitt is…
Free county fair offers cash prizes for kids
Running Thursday through Saturday, the 93rd Oklahoma County Free Fair isn’t just for adults. Kids that compete in the fair just may win some cash, too. The fair invites youth 5-19 years old to enter into the Open Youth category, with cash prizes awarded for: ” photography, ” woodworking projects, ” baked goods, ” computer…
Biker babe’s brassiere brings in bucks for Oklahoma charity
OK, CFN readers, which of these items probably brought in the most money from a recent benefit auction? Tickets to an Oklahoma RedHawks baseball game, a one-night stay at the Courtyard Marriott hotel in downtown Oklahoma City, a golf-outing package or a bra autographed by a television show host? If you answered any…
Oklahoma schoolteacher falls short of million-dollar prize
An Oklahoma schoolteacher gave it his best shot, but fell just short of winning a $1 million prize for using his mind and creativity. Rick DeRennaux, who teaches special education students at Bethany High School, made the finalists’ stage of the ABC program “American Inventor.” He was among three finalists; however, DeRennaux was the…
Inexplicable
According to police, Derrick House and another man planned to kill four people in a 1985 Chicago drug hit and needed a stranger to knock on the door so that House and his companion could gain entry. They paid teenager Charles Green $25 to do that, and House completed the mission. Green was convicted and…
El Cantante
Reviewer’s grade: C+ Genre films are difficult to pull off, but with the right person in the lead of a musical biopic, for example, that genre can, well, sing. Think of “Walk the Line,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Funny Girl” and even, reaching back even further, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Those…
Annual cycling event benefits Children’s Center
Cyclists can enjoy a ride Saturday at the 11th annual “Spin Your Wheels Bicycle Tour,” complete with food, coffee and refreshment stops. The tour benefits The Children’s Center, a private, nonprofit hospital that provides medical care, therapy and education to children with special health needs. For a $30 registration fee, teams or individuals can ride…
Pollard parodies lots of literature in ‘All the Great Books’
. References feel fresh and in the moment. They also manage to keep the humor clean and almost apolitical. By the way, having no knowledge of any of the books will not mar the gut-tickling humor for anyone. For college students, this should be a hoot, whether the heavy literature classes are ahead of you…
Episcopalians still grappling with gay bishop issue
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, or ECUSA, appears to have avoided expulsion from the worldwide Anglican Communion over the issue of the consecration of gay bishops and the performance of same-sex blessing ceremonies. The ECUSA held its triennial convention in Columbus, Ohio, June 13-21, and delegates to the convention worked…
Can’t Possibly Be True
Sweden’s English-language news outlet reported in June that the government’s employment service had granted Roger Tullgren, 42, supplemental income benefits based on his illness of addiction to heavy-metal music. Tullgren (with long, black hair, tattoos and skull-and-crossbones jewelry and who said he attended nearly 300 concerts last year) said he had been addicted for 10…
Hot Rod
Reviewer’s grade: D Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Chris Parnell. Who are these people and what have they done with motion-picture comedy? Most of them are pickpockets of gags, working under the evil influence of Lorne Michaels, the not-ready-for-prime-time Fagin of the cathode ray tube. Samberg makes a bid for…
Dozen bands to play at Okie Twist-Off concert, car show
Saturday’s first-ever Okie Twist-Off concert is an all-day event featuring:” a car show, ” 10 different bands, ” bowling and” a pinup girl contest. Okie Twist-Off will blast off at 66 Bowl, which organizer John Manson said will bring a certain nostalgic atmosphere since it’s an historic, landmark bowling ally. “For what we’re doing it,…
Architect fuses worlds of sculpture, furniture
have otherwise made,” Carroll said. “There is a lot of architectural influence in my design. Form and function “? that’s what architecture is all about.” “?Charles Martin For the full story, pick up a copy of Oklahoma Gazette.
Rocker goes gospel, gives away free album
Going gospel is a tricky proposition for any secular songwriter, especially for one who isn’t planning on making a permanent career shift to the Christian market. Tulsa rock veteran Philip Zoellner went into the studio to do just that, and emerged with “Ride into the Sky,” a full-length album that goes down just as smoothly…
Global warming in the Himalayas
A New Delhi, India, glaciologist said in June that global warming in the Himalayas is at least partly responsible for the melting of the stalagmite in the Amarnath cave in Kashmir, which is one of Hindus’ holiest pilgrimage sites because the giant icicle is said to symbolize Lord Shiva (the god of destruction and regeneration),…
Oklahoma golf patron Jimmie Austin passes away
The University of Oklahoma family lost one of its most generous supporters and visionaries this past weekend when Jimmie Austin passed away at age 90. Austin, a native of Sasakwa and longtime Seminole oilman, donated $1 million of the $4 million needed to redesign the OU course in 1996. “Mr. Austin meant so much to…
Is our children learning’ the right things?
Through last week’s headlines, you can mourn the loss of a great newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, which will go the way of FOX News, with Bill O’Reilly doing guest editorials. Or, you can argue over whether Michael Moore’s “Sicko” is over the top (of course), instead of whether its message is on target (yes,…
Downtown meeting to bring together housing developers, potential residents
Housing options for downtown Oklahoma City will be discussed at the Thursday night meeting for Urban Neighbors, downtown’s housing association, to be held 5-7 p.m. at Brew Ha-Ha, 222 E. Main in Bricktown. A number of residential developers and leasing agents have been invited to attend the meeting to answer questions and discuss options with…
Underdog
Reviewer’s grade: D+ Well, here’s another collection of tired poop, pee and vomit jokes. That’s right: a children’s movie. Jason Lee provides the voice of Shoeshine, a seemingly normal beagle in the home of Dan and Jack Unger, a father and son who are drifting apart due to the death of the wife/mother. …
Inhofe with Corn or Rice?
When you say “James Inhofe,” you get an opinion. The senior senator from Oklahoma invites controversy. He is the core conservative critic of the climate-change movement, an advocate for the recreational pilot and a staunch defender of national defense. He is also less than diplomatic in his opinions, vicious in his political campaigns and occasionally…
Dweezil Zappa breathes new life into father’s songs
Dweezil Zappa has put together “Zappa Plays Zappa,” a show to celebrate the vast catalogue of music of his father, rock icon Frank Zappa, who died in 1993. “If you want to gain an audience, you need exposure,” Zappa said. “Frank won’t ever be on the radio like Beyoncé. (After seeing the show), hopefully, the…
Graffiti art exhibit opening at downtown club
Some people see graffiti and street art as vandalism “? something that should be punished with a fine “¦ or worse. But for Oklahoma City University students Clinton Dean and Adam Jones, the tagging on trains, trash cans and park benches provides the inspiration for their upcoming exhibit, “Graffitto.” Opening Friday at LiT Lounge, 209…
OKC woman shoots to top of figure modeling world
A year ago, Melissa Pearo didn’t even know what a figure model competition was. Recently, she turned pro. “It’s never happened. I’ve been doing it for 25 years and I’ve turned seven of them pro, but I’ve never seen it in 10 months,” said her trainer, Howard Huddleston. “That’s nuts.” Ironically, all Pearo wanted to…
Matt Damon offers advice to assassins hiding in Oklahoma
Actor Matt Damon dropped by the Harkins Bricktown Cinemas in Oklahoma City on July 31 to promote his new action/assassin thriller ” The Bourne Ultimatum,” and to host a charity screening of the film for Bethany’s The Children’s Center. Along for the walk down the red carpet was the film’s producer, Frank Marshall, whose credits…
Texas metal band Upside lives to party
Upside just likes to get wasted and party, said the band’s lead singer, Sid Goldsmith. “It fits in the lifestyle. I think it’s definitely part of our everyday life,” he said. “It shows on stage, on record or whatever. I’m not saying you can’t have great rock ‘n’ roll if you’re sober, but I think…
Oklahoma’s congresswoman listed among Capitol Hill’s most beautiful
No longer languishing in Oklahoma’s backwater dating scene, U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, finally is getting a chance to let her hair down, according to a Washington, D.C., insider publication. According to the July 24 issue of “The Hill,” Fallin, 52, is listed as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol…
The Bourne Ultimatum
Reviewer’s grade: A Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is starting to get the picture: He is a CIA-controlled, government kill puppet who has given up his life to serve his country. What he doesn’t know “? his real identity, past life, past loves and program particulars “? are starting to come into focus. Too…
Purse exhibit examines handbags through history
For function, fashion or both, purses have been a part of women’s culture for decades. “The Purse and the Person: A Century of Women’s Purses” is showing through Sept. 30 at the Edmond Historical Society & Museum. The exhibit, comprised of 170 bags and more than 300 artifacts of collector Anita Davis’ original 3,000-purse collection,…
Celebrated jamsters Green Lemon return home for Bricktown show
Can the “jam band” tag can be fairly applied to Green Lemon? “That’s kind of what we get portrayed as, but it’s pretty different in a lot of regards,” said guitarist Steve Schaben. Green Lemon’s brand of danceable jams are big on slow-building, sparse grooves; progressive rock; electronica; and solos that have a point. In…
Oklahoma County District 1 candidates weigh in on budget board issue
Prior to Tuesday’s primary, Oklahoma Gazette asked each Oklahoma County commissioner candidate, “Do you support the reinstitution of the Oklahoma County Budget Board?” The board, comprised of all county elected officials, determines the county’s budget each year. It was eliminated two years and reinstated this summer. RESPONSESBart Bates, Democrat (top left)“I support the Budget Board. That…
Chesapeake CEO part of anti-coal campaign
In February, a plan to build 11 new power plants operating on coal in Texas ran into a slick, hard-hitting and savvy campaign against it ” the “Clean Sky Coalition.” Although several companies are said to have funded the million-dollar campaign, the one that garnered much of the focus was Chesapeake Energy Corp. In a…
Talk to Me
Reviewer’s grade: B+ There probably aren’t a lot of actors who could inhabit the role of Petey Greene, a real-life radio personality who dominated Washington, D.C., radio in the Sixties and Seventies with his ghettoized gab and no-frills candor. To play the man, you need someone who can dazzle with bona fide charisma and…
Unique water creature wreaks havoc on Oklahoma golf course’s lake
Nothing like an aquatic creature to completely ruin your golf game. That’s the problem right now at Claremore’s Heritage Hills Golf Course. Officials say an invasive species, the zebra mussel, muscled its way into the golf course sprinkler system via Lake Oologah, clogging it up, according to stories in The Claremore Daily Progress. …
Public schools to put $250M bonds to vote
The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education approved putting nearly $250 million in bonds before voters this fall during its Monday night meeting. If passed, the effort ” the 2007 Capital Asset Maintenance and Improvement Plan ” would not raise taxes, according to district officials. The bonds would go toward preserving and enhancing work…
