Readers’ Choice
Twins Jared and Justin Serovich, age 8, of Gables Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio, made it to the finals of a state inventors’ competition this year with their special boxer shorts. The twins’ knickers used fabric fasteners to hold the seams together thus making it nearly impossible for the wearer to be given a “wedgie.”…
People Different From Us
Australian Wayne Scullino, 30, quit his telecom job in Sydney in early 2007, and, after convincing his wife, they sold their house and moved to Wisconsin for the sole purpose of rooting for the Green Bay Packers, about which he had enjoyed an almost inexplicable fascination since age 15. Said Scullino, “At some point, you’ve…
Least Competent Criminals
Not Ready for Prime Time: Francis Rocca, 24, was arrested in Pittsfield, Mass., and charged with robbing a gas station in November after being identified by his victim, who pointed out that Rocca’s distinctly pimpled face was easily visible underneath the clear plastic bag he wore as a “disguise.” Michael Chatman, 35, and two others…
The Bourne Ultimatum
2007 Amnesiac superspy Jason Bourne finally learns who he is and how he learned how to karate-chop all those bad guys with lightning speed in “The Bourne Ultimatum,” the third and presumably final entry in the franchise (if one is to believe statements by star Matt Damon, and not the enormous box-office returns). Prompted by…
Police Blotter
Least Competent Florida Police: Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cynthia Hunter, 38, in Brandon, Fla., in October, and she remained in jail for 50 days until a lab finally concluded that the “methamphetamine” in her purse was really dried cat urine that she had legally purchased for her son’s science project. Deputies arrested Andrew Johnson, a white…
Girls Gone Wild’ founder wants Broken Bow winery to use a new business name
Joe Francis ” “a millionaire,” wrote The Oklahoman ” must have a lot of free time in jail, because the “Girls Gone Wild” founder’s film company had a cease-and-desist letter drawn up, demanding that three Broken Bow women stop selling their “Girls Gone Wine” beverage under that name. So they responded by filing suit…
The Continuing Crisis
In January, Jerome Felske was fired as a truck driver for the city of Chicago when investigators learned that he had 22 criminal convictions on his record. Felske appealed, and in September, the city’s Human Resources Board reinstated him, noting that Felske had actually disclosed six of them on his original application and, as to…
AutoVaughn hones celestial sound in home base of Tennessee
Despite being based in Tennessee, the indie-rock foursome AutoVaughn has more in common with atmospheric Eighties bands like U2 and celestial Seventies performers like David Bowie than floor-walkin’ Ernest Tubb or honkytonk man Lefty Frizzell. The band’s debut, “Space,” was released in 2006, but while they continue to tour in support of “Space,” they’re also…
Point: Gaming improves standard of living
Indian gaming benefits Oklahoma in many ways. Oklahoma tribes operate about 95 gaming facilities, with gross revenues of nearly $2 billion in 2006. This revenue directly or indirectly supports more than 50,000 jobs in the state. Treasurer Scott Meacham recently estimated that the state receives between $60 million and $70 million annually from the tribes,…
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly) is a fictional amalgam of former biopic subjects like Jim Morrison, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and many others. Growing up in the Forties, he experiences a familial tragedy similar to those of Johnny Cash and Ray Charles, and vows to live “double good.” Hit songs, groupies, drugs, kids, divorces, fights…
Oklahoma’s Congresslady gains Capitol Hill admirer
We knew it was only a matter of time, but the wolves of Washington have caught scent of our own Little Red Riding Hood, Rep. Mary Fallin. According to a recent issue of the Washington, D.C., newsletter The Hill, a young North Carolina Republican representative, Patrick McHenry (no, really), is sorta denying but not…
Oklahoma City officials cancel Christmas
Finally, the answer to navigating the politically correct morass that is “the holidays” of December ” brought to you by: the city of Oklahoma City. Religious holidays (we’re looking at you, Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, et al.): Consider yourself vaporized. Or, maybe, “memo”-ized. A November memo to city department heads from City Manager Jim…
Adelante! Gallery presents annual “Virgen de Guadalupe and Other Sacred Images Exhibit”
Get in touch with your spiritual side for the final days of the fifth annual “Virgen de Guadalupe and Other Sacred Images Exhibit” Wednesday through Saturday at Adelante! Gallery, 3003 Paseo. The exhibit includes more than 50 pieces of spiritual artwork created by Cynthia Daniel Wolfe, Jo Vanden and 10 other Oklahoma artists. “We all…
New consumer protection award named after the late Brad Edwards
Trying to carry on grassroots consumer advocacy, the state attorney general has created an award in the name of the man who essentially established private consumer protection in Oklahoma. For a quarter century, Brad Edwards hunted down scam artists and warned the public about frauds through his “In Your Corner” segment on KFOR-TV Channel 4.…
Hinder lead singer cited for drunk driving
Hinder front man Austin Winkler was arrested in Arkansas on a drunk-driving complaint, the Associated Press reported. An Arkansas patrolman pulled over a sport-utility vehicle spotted driving with no headlights at 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 21, the AP reported. The patrolman later identified the driver as Winkler, 26, lead singer of the Oklahoma City…
Retired Norman sports editor worthy of hall of fame
I have but one sports-related item on my holiday wish list this year: I would like to see the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame committee take a serious look at inducting Jim Weeks. Weeks spent almost 30 years as sports editor of The Norman Transcript. During that time, the Muskogee native built a reputation as…
Don’t Never Shoot Short – Kent F. Frates
Bridgeway Local attorney Kent F. Frates delivers a contemporary crime novel/legal thriller with strong Western overtones and lots of Oklahoma City references “? including Penn Square Bank, Chesapeake Oil Co. and Oklahoma City Zoo “? in “Don’t Never Shoot Short.” In short, smooth chapters, the story of Cordell’s Deputy Sheriff Ken “Snake” Frasier (note the…
State economic forecast for 2008 hinges on oil
Economists and budget directors recently laid out preliminary figures and forecasts for 2008 to the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. The only thing everyone agreed on was that Oklahoma’s well-being rises and falls with the price of oil. “Oklahoma’s economy is not diversified enough to soften a blow from (an) oil (bust),” said Oklahoma State…
Music for all tastes on tap for Opening Night
As 2007 gives way to 2008, downtown Oklahoma City may never sound sweeter, given the wide array of Sooner State musicians and bands performing at Opening Night on New Year’s Eve. Aside from that evening’s special Flaming Lips concert at 9 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center, all Opening Night performances Monday can be witnessed…
Rush Hour 3
2007 Easily the weakest of the trilogy, “Rush Hour 3” is presumably the final entry in the action-comedy series teaming Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as mismatched cop partners. But “weakest” doesn’t necessarily mean “avoid” so much as “proceed with caution.” Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) hits the beat again with Detective Carter (Tucker) when the…
Wormy Dog to host eight acts at ‘Hangover Ball’
Pulling yourself out of bed on Tuesday just to head back out to Bricktown might not seem like the ideal way to recover from New Year’s Eve, but the Wormy Dog Saloon is serving a healthy dose of acoustic red dirt to help soothe your throbbing head in its “Hangover Ball.” Singer Mike McClure said…
Year’s best local theater productions had staying power
Memorable theater grabs you emotionally and holds you even after you exit your seat. Not listed in any order, these picks for 2007 were made with this in mind. These five shows reeled me in emotionally, kept me there, and fed my thoughts long after I’d left the theater. First, “The Pillowman” by Martin McDonagh…
Ryan Adams tops list of year’s best albums
Even with slumping sales, 2007 was still a great year for new music, much of which never would have met my ears, were it not for the Internet. Here are seven for ’07, detailing my of my picks of this year’s album peaks and pits. No. 1Ryan Adams“Easy Tiger” The always restless and brash Adams…
Government in Action!
It’s Good to Be a British Prisoner (continued): The Portland Young Offenders’ Institute in Dorset recently began holding classes, for up to 30 inmates, in pole-vaulting (but reassured critics that even the most athletic inmates would only get about 13 feet high, whereas the prison walls are 20 feet tall, topped by razor wire). Psychologist…
The Crimes of Dr. Watson – Duane Swierczynski
Quirk The idea behind Philly crime novelist Duane Swierczynski’s “The Crimes of Dr. Watson” is that he’s been given a lost manuscript of Dr. John H. Watson, sidekick to master detective Sherlock Holmes, written from the confines of prison. Watson has been arrested for burning down Holmes’ famed 221B Baker Street office, but pleads his…
Opening Night welcomes new year with kids’ activities
Kids cramping your party style, parents? Worry not! You still can celebrate New Year’s Eve and take the young ones along, as Opening Night 2008 has lots of family activities planned. Produced by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, the annual celebration will take place 7 p.m. to midnight Monday, through downtown and Bricktown. Inside…
Oklahoma house spokesman plans move to Oklahoma City University
CFN just can’t help but shed a tear that one of our favorite foils, Oklahoma House spokesman Damon Gardenhire, is departing the palace, while the eunuchs remain behind to whisper rumors among themselves. The Associated Press reported that Gardenhire will become the assistant dean for communications and marketing at Oklahoma City University Jan 1.…
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority sets public-television viewing record
Celebrating the state’s 100th birthday turned out to be more popular than handing out hot chocolate to people standing in line for a free Wii video game system. According to John McCarroll, executive director of the Oklahoma Education Television Authority, the live broadcast of the state’s centennial celebration on Nov. 16 garnered the largest…
Only one Oklahoma congressman votes to suspend controversial interrogation technique
Respected war correspondent Joe Galloway, in a recent column for Editor & Publisher, called the interrogation technique of “waterboarding” a form of “torture.” In waterboarding, a victim has a rag placed in his mouth and is inverted head-down, as water is poured over the cloth, making it difficult to breathe. However, four members of Oklahoma’s…
Atonement
Keira Knightley and James McAvoy star in this adaptation of Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel about lies and betrayal ruining three lives, set just before and just after the outbreak of World War II. What begins looking like a stuffed-shirt movie about a veddy, veddy upper-class English family and its relationship with the college-educated son of…
Jackass 2.5
2007 Keep your expectations mild for “Jackass 2.5,” a semi-sequel to last fall’s high-grossing (in more ways than one) hit “Jackass Number Two.” Premiering online and DVD rather than theaters, it’s not so much a feature film as a 64-minute collection of footage they didn’t use in “Two.” And that would be all fine and…
Balls of Fury
2007 With a name like “Balls of Fury,” movie critics had their knives sharpened before they even saw it. Attack they did, but really, who’d expect highbrow snobs to like it? For those who can appreciate a few mindless laughs in less than 90 minutes, this disposable comedy will provide that. Newcomer Dan Fogler (“Good…
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
What an audacious, funny, terrifying movie this is. Johnny Depp stars as a barber in Victorian London who seeks revenge against the men who framed him for a crime and then took advantage of his absence to ruin his wife and steal his baby daughter. When his first attempt at vengeance fails, he begins slashing…
Counterpoint: A gamble for all
Laugh or cry ” your choice. A key, fast-growing industry in Oklahoma operates largely under rules of its own creation, with oversight by its own employees, for the benefit of some, but not necessarily the majority of state residents. That industry is comprised of gambling casinos built and operated by Oklahoma’s American Indian tribes. …
Juno
Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is a rambunctious, says-what-she-wants high schooler who, after a brief easy-chair session with nerdy Paulie Bleeker (“Superbad”‘s Michael Cera), finds a little plus sign on a dozen or so pregnancy tests. Her family is bothered, but accepting, and Paulie does whatever the more aggressive Juno tells him to do. She doesn’t…
