CFN Quote of the Week
“It’s also an economic development issue. As we recruit companies like Boeing and others, trust me, there are large amounts of gay and lesbian employees in all of these organizations, and they want to know that Oklahoma City celebrates its diversity, that Oklahoma is going to protect all of its population. And I think that…
PR BS
—“Roseanne Barr’s New Series on Lifetime to Premiere July 13” —“Principal Solar, Inc. (OTC Pink: PSWWD) Welcomes Thought-Leaders, Strategists, and Global Business Experts to Advisory Board” —“RETURN OF LIFETIME’S DROP DEAD DIVA BECOMES SERIES’ MOST-WATCHED SEASON DEBUT IN KEY DEMOS” —“MVD to Distribute German- Made In-akustik AV Cable, Etc.” —“Announcing: Mike Peterson Promoted to Vice…
Much ado about ‘nothing’
A one-word sound bite’s worth is more debatable. “TMZ” video from last week shows Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant confronted by paparazzi. “Yo, yo, Kevin, man!” shouted an unknown man. “What’s there to do in Oklahoma though for fun though, player? Anything?” “Nothing,” KD replied. Was this a big deal, or was the All-Star…
Devon debris
On the night of June 20, a large piece of metal is believed to have come dislodged from the skyscraper, thanks to high winds in the area, falling and crashing through the Phillips Murrah law office in the neighboring Corporate Tower, according to The Associated Press account. No one was hurt, but the metal left…
Ignorance isn’t bliss
If I seriously have to see another story about Sally Kern, I may puke. You are doing these hacks a service by publicizing their hatred and their agendas. You are doing their faithful a disservice by validating their words. Please save those stories for the Chicken-Fried News where they can be short and sweet. As…
Reader: ‘Hitler was a progressive’
First, Kurt Hochenauer (Commentary, “Not fit for fitness”), English professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, is worried because a fitness report recently ranked the Oklahoma City area as “dead last.” Could the problem be that many in OKC eat too much and exercise too little? Of course not. The problem is our lack of…
‘Respecting teachers’
Like most people with little or no experience in the classroom, regardless of their position or intention, she obviously works on the basic belief that the enemies to education are the very people in the rooms with the students, the teachers, and that the only people interested in students are the administrators, who are employed…
Wish fulfillment
It’s not too late for children from first to sixth grade to sign up to do these and other fun activities, during two more five-day summer camps at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 N.E. 52nd. The science camp, “Did You Ever?,” includes activities with speakers and exhibits to teach children about chemistry, biology and other kinds…
Death of a Sooner
Burleson said Box just smiled at the joke. “I am hurting,” Box told him. Burleson, a self-described “friend of the family,” relayed the anecdote at Box’s memorial service May 27 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, where he serves as senior pastor. “I know that some of you have heard or read about his prescription…
‘God calling us’
Freshman Oklahoma U.S. Rep. James Lankford recently offered his thoughts on several issues of national importance, ranging from U.S. military involvement in Libya to changes in Medicare under a Republican-backed budget plan. The congressman spoke June 20 at the Edmond Republican Women’s Club “Sundaes on a Monday” event, which also featured singer, gay rights opponent…
Kill the Reflection — 3EP
On the group’s “3ep,” the standout “Cold” calls for the vocalist to deliver his notes in a low, forceful way that aspires toward the dominating control of Ian Curtis. The Oklahoma City-based three-piece musically churns behind him, channeling the energy of punk (especially in the drums) through tight, restrained rhythms. The tension of vocals versus…
‘String’ it out
The 7:30 p.m. show is being held in conjunction with the holiday weekend at the relatively new Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant in Edmond. Although O’Connor delves into a number of styles with his compositions, Shane Granger, Armstrong Auditorium house manager, said that the fiddle remains the focus of the performance. “They’re going to basically…
Edmond’s ‘Big Wish’ fulfilled
At 16 feet wide by 15 feet tall, the piece depicts a giant wishbone being pulled on each end by a child. Attorney Randel Shadid, former Edmond mayor, said such a large work is used to advertise the community and encourage people to see Edmond’s parks. Shadid had seen “Big Wish” in Colorado and met…
‘Just asking’
While I do not consider love between any two people a sin, nor do I believe that God intervenes for or against nations or individuals, I challenge anyone fearful of God’s wrath to ask whether LGBT issues are really God’s top concern. What about America’s consumption of natural resources at rates far exceeding other developed…
A place for people
James Howard Kunstler, the author and urban critic famous for his diatribes against America’s “sprawling” cities, suggested the way people use cities is changing. According to Kunstler, “The 20th century was about getting around. The 21st century will be about staying in a place worth staying in.” With an abundance of roads and surface parking,…
Side of ska
Sings Sunny Side Up frontman Lance Godfrey, “Growing up in suburbia, nothing ever seemed too strange / But little did they know that we’re all secretly deranged / One chance to get out, guitar in hand / I proudly stand out from the crowd.” Emblematic of youth and capturing the promise of escape, the expression…
Celtic pride
When director Martin Scorsese looked for the perfect song to blast over the beginning of the Boston-set “The Departed,” he found it in Massachusetts-based Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” The group found that out the same time moviegoers did. “They never told us how they were going to use the song. We were…
Gentle on our mind
It’s been three years since Oklahoma City band The Gentle Art of Floating formed, and it still hasn’t managed to release an album. It has a pretty good excuse … for that at least. Around Christmas 2009, front man Colin Nance came home to find his studio — and their practice space — different than…
Saving the leftovers
Steve Reynolds, owner and winemaker of Reynolds Family Winery, was already well established as an excellent winemaker when he decided to release a second label. “Steve Reynolds is like a mad scientist,” said Scott Witherby, a wine representative for Premium Brands. “He likes playing around. He’d already developed his Stag’s Leap Cabernet, and this was…
Welcome!
Coneys & More1317 S.E. 44th 677-8844 The name says it all. Coneys & More takes the standard hot dog and douses it with homemade chili, which is called the All American. A customer may request coleslaw and relish toppings, too. But it’s the fresh-battered corn dogs that are the big hits. On the menu are…
Tearin’ down the house?
That’s because reports of gunfire, helicopters and a collapsed roof surfaced regarding the storied spiral-shaped house. The fate of the home designed by Bruce Goff, the eccentric former chairman of the University of Oklahoma College of Architecture, was as clear as the muddy shores of Lake Thunderbird. Renowned as one of Goff’s most famous buildings,…
Turn the page
Ed Kelley, who has been the paper’s editor since 2003 and worked at the paper for more than 35 years, announced June 10 that he would be leaving to become editor at The Washington Times. Kelly Dyer Fry will become editor of The Oklahoman and serve as vice president of news for OPUBCO. About 10…
Grand proposal
Two major issues of the MAPS 3 program are likely to come up for approval at the July 5 Oklahoma City Council meeting: a proposed project timeline and a proposed site for the future convention center. While the timeline was discussed at a council meeting earlier in June, the body, which was divided on its…
‘Buck’ stops here
We’ve all witnessed that one scene in a Western — or, at the very least, one iconic Del Rancho commercial for the Steak Sandwich Supreme — where the cowboy enters the room, often through swinging saloon doors. He’s cast in silhouette, looking alien for a split-second until your brain registers the outline as a man…
Ungrateful dead
[dead] P.o.e.t.s. have got beef, and it’s with more than just Justin Bieber or Ke$ha. “I guess we are fed up with what we hear on the radio and see on TV … where hip-hop came from and what it is today. We’ve got a lot of anger and disgust toward that. We’re hard-core and…
Prinz of wails
It’s pretty easy to run through all your material playing three-hour sets at restaurants and coffeehouses all on your lonesome. Oklahoma City-based singer/songwriter Dustin Prinz has two albums to lift from, and some new, unrecorded material as well, but he’s had to learn some covers … from artists you might never expect. “I just learned…
Staying in
But there’s a problem: My patriotism peters out around 80 degrees. And it will most assuredly be north of 80 degrees this weekend (unless my appeals to the Sun God Ra have finally been answered). So, last week, I was going on about vacation, and this week, I’m backtracking. Shut the doors, close the blinds,…
New Times
Broke, newly single and juggling three jobs with a full-time education, you might think Oklahoma City singer Chase Kerby’s life has hit a rough patch. He’d achieved relative success with his old band, The City Lives, having toured the country with fellow Okie pop rockers All-American Rejects before deciding to depart late last year. Still,…
Bite size
His last eight years were spent at a metro Carino’s Italian, 7900 S. Walker, that he originally helped opened. Married? “Single and 32 years old.” Best feature? “My cooking (skills), and I create many of my own recipes, from American to Mexican. Lots of the bagel recipes at the cafe, the breakfast menu and most…
Backyard blitz
Foodies across the Internet and critics in wine and spirit magazines tend to share the common refrain that the No. 1 rule when pairing food and drink is there are no rules. Don’t take that to mean that there are no right or wrong answers, however. Especially when trying to find a perfect match for…
Cafe central
Incidentally, I realized I loved this type of food while staying at a lodge in Costa Rica some years back that was renowned for its bird watching. The food of Costa Rica, which sits farther down the narrow snake of land that forms Central America, loses some of Guatemala’s spice, but the foundations are there:…
In praise of pork
With a high degree of snark, Homer famously replies, “Yeah right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.” In early July, chef Joshua Valentine and managing partner Courtney Evans plan to open Divine Swine, 7801 N. May, a breakfast and lunch restaurant dedicated to the glory of the pig, that wonderful, magical animal. Valentine, currently chef de…
Warehouse 13: Season Two
To boil it down to its essence, Secret Service agents Myka (Joanne Kelly) and Pete (Eddie McClintock) continue to look for anomalies over the globe that may involve stolen or not-yet-identified artifacts with supernatural powers, which are supposed to be housed at the title site. For instance, Man Ray’s camera harbors age-restorative properties, and M.C.…
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Given its success, a sequel was inevitable. Given how quickly its stars are aging, however, a sequel was also rushed. The one-year-later result is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.” While it’s still enjoyable and full of goodwill, the quick production schedule shows in the seams. Whereas the original focused on Greg Hefley’s (Zachary…
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 3
In other words, it’s “CSI” at a time when everyone wore bowler hats, when authorities could be summoned with a whistle, when a woman showing her knickers in a photo was considered pornographic. Welcome to the world of this Canadian procedural series, as bright as “CSI” is dark. Subbing as William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger…
State offers cooling relief for needy
The federal government gave the state Department of Human Services (OKDHS) about $22 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that would help income-eligible residents are vulnerable to summer heat to pay for summertime cooling systems, according to a news release. A one-person household would receive $200, while a household of two or more…
The FBI: The First Season: Part One
“The FBI,” a fondly remembered, long-running TV series, is fondly remembered no more! Because now fans can see it again with Warner Archive’s release of its first 16 episodes from the 1965 debut season, spread evenly across four discs. Having never seen the show before — when it finished its run, I was all of…
Nik Freitas — Saturday Night Underwater
He helped raise the pop song to an art form, lifting it from the youth into the realm of serious consideration. But most mature musicians today stray toward the maudlin tones of adult alternative or the “raw” qualities of Americana/folk. There’s not too many guys making solid pop for adults, but Nik Freitas is one…
Wake Wood
Once a reliable brand of horror, Hammer Films in its recent resurrection has been wildly spotty, with three new films thus far. If “Let Me In” stands atop the ladder, and “The Resident” at the bottom, then “Wake Wood” is hanging out somewhere among those middle rungs. Aiden Gillen (TV’s “Game of Thrones”) and Eva…
Son Lux — We Are Rising
Ryan Lott, who is Son Lux, is most often referred to as an electronic musician, but “We Are Rising” is more orchestral than almost any Sufjan Stevens’ work (especially “The Age of Adz”). There are electronic elements here, but to lump this in the same general category with techno is not only selling it to…
Dick Dale still riding musical waves
Dale is probably best known for the song “Misirlou,” which opens Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film, “Pulp Fiction.” However, he said that he believes that this is not where his legacy spawned. That stems from not only his talent, but his dedication to tour extensively for years, bringing him a diverse fan base. “’Pulp Fiction’ was…
Instrumental madness
The International Vintage Guitar Collectors Association is holding an event now through Saturday that allows people to turn aural artifacts into cash. You don’t have to know anything about the instrument, either, whether it’s a guitar, bass, flute, banjo or something else. “A lot of times on older pieces, they’re not going to know much…
tUnE-yArDs — w h o k i l l
But, as with the baffling punctuation and spacing on the band name and title, there’s nothing here that’s normal. This is an idiosyncratic release to the core: Singer/songwriter Merrill Garbus does what she wants, and she doesn’t care if you don’t like it. This results in some of the most inventive pop songs I’ve heard…
Buck
Could do without horses? You’re going to love “Buck.” Winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, the documentary tells the story of Buck Brannaman, Wyoming-based horse whisperer. He travels three-fourths of the year, conducting clinics all over the nation on breaking horses — and sometimes their owners — of bad behavior. What’s…
FM Belfast — Don’t Want to Sleep
This is not unprecedented; I will occasionally become so taken with a song that it will be the only music I can think about for several days. Since 2003, when this phenomenon first manifested (“Fishing the Sky” by The Appleseed Cast, which is now my ringtone), I have not stopped enjoying any of these tunes.…
Wired
Yes, I said “banking,” but wait! Don’t go anywhere! It’s really good, and you’ll get sex, drugs and dead bodies, I promise! The main story zeroes in on single mom — er, mum — Louise (Jodie Whittaker of “Venus,” in a bravura performance). No sooner has she been promoted at the bank where she works…
Avalanche Express
I do not doubt that he does, yet I wonder how quickly his heart would beat for “Avalanche Express,” a 1979 thriller whose momentum does not match its promise in title or talent. It boasts the screen’s lone, unlikely teaming of Lee Marvin, Linda Evans and Joe Namath. They’ll all CIA agents sent to secure…
Sucker Punch
One of the worst-reviewed films of the year thus far, it likely will see its reputation repaired and popularity improved as time goes by. Once upon a time, everybody loathed “Blade Runner,” too. That’s not to say writer/director Zack Synder’s follow-up to “Watchmen” is any kind of masterpiece. Easily the least satisfying of his four…
