Fire Department asking some Ski Island residents to voluntarily evacuate homes
The Oklahoma City Fire Department is asking Ski Island residents whose homes back up to Spring Creek to voluntarily evacuate while the department evaluates the dam on Hefner, just west of MacArthur. Firefighters are currently going door-to-door alerting residents.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Environmentalist Bill McKibben says that humans are transforming the planet so drastically that we shouldn’t refer to it as “Earth” any more. To acknowledge the fact that we’re well on our way to living on a very different world, he suggests we rename our home the “Eaarth.” By this logic, maybe we should rename your…
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Early in Marcel Proust’s novel In Search of Lost Time, the narrator stumbles upon a dizzying epiphany while having a snack. He dips a small cake into his cup of tea, and when he sips a spoonful, the taste of the sweet crumbs blended with the warm drink transport him into an altered state. Inexplicably,…
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
I want to be everywhere at once and do everything at the same time, writes one of my Scorpio readers, J.T. He’s in luck, because according to my analysis, your tribe is about to enjoy a phase much like what he describes. “No more of this linear, one-day-at-a-time stuff,” he continues. “I want a whole…
Splice
Now, that’s not to say the film is all somber contemplation of the themes on which it touches. Yes, the two lead scientists in the story violate ethics and the law, and end up creating a monster daughter, but the company they work for is Nucleic Exchange Research Development. Look again at those initials: N.E.R.D.…
After years putting criminals behind bars, Herman Kirkwood searches for graves of Oklahoma outlaws
OKOLHA Rendezvous9 a.m. SaturdayFraternal Order of Police Building1624 S. Agnewwww.okolha.net Herman Kirkwood chased Oklahoma outlaws for most of his life. Joining the Oklahoma City police force in 1968, Kirkwood said he made a career out of getting the bad guys behind bars. “I was always looking for somebody who was wanted,” he said. “I put…
A Norman man takes to the skies in a biplane
The word “biplane” likely conjures a variety of images ” maybe the Wright brothers launching prototype kites into the air in hopes of finding the perfect sky-safe design. Or perhaps legendary World War I pilots like Manfred von Richthofen ” “Diable Rouge” to the French, The Red Baron to us. But what’s a biplane’s place…
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
The “secret” is in plain sight. The “hidden resource” is freely available for anyone who intends to use it with integrity. The “lost key” is very close to where you left it when you last used it. The “missing link” is missing only in the sense that no one recognizes it for what it is.…
Where you’re at matters, at least when it comes to birth order
xperimental model, the child that the parents learn on,” said Beasley. Firstborns are naturally “only children” until the sibling comes along, so they do share some traits with the only child. “If firstborn is male, he is seen as the chosen one,” Beasley said. “Parents read the parenting books and take more pictures of the…
Tweet emotion
Although Gerald McCoy hasn’t signed a contract yet with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the first-round draft pick is expected to get $30 million in guaranteed money when he does.Off the field, the former Sooner’s usage of a certain four-letter word that starts with an H is raising eyebrows on the interwebs. The rookie defensive tackle…
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
If you live on the Danish island of Mando, your only hope for driving your vehicle to the mainland and back is when the tide is low. During those periods, the water often recedes far enough to expose a rough gravel road that’s laid down over a vast mudflat. Winter storms sometimes make even low-tide…
PR BS
Lots of press releases related to the Sooner State cross our desk. This week, these titles least screamed “Stop the presses!” “”Celebrate June Dairy Month by Raising a Glass of Milk to Our Dedicated Midwest Dairy Farm Families”””Equal Energy to trade with the symbol ‘EQU’ on TSX and NYSE”””Remarks by President of AEP Transmission at…
Printing a list (and checking it twice)
Nothing attracts a pack of curious readers like a good list. A list of, say, health-inspection violations issued to their favorite restaurants, or the assessed value of houses on their block, or registered sex offenders living in their neighborhood. Such lists ” especially if they’re wrong ” can get journalists into hot water. The Guthrie…
Artists of all styles and states converge for an expansive exhibition that celebrates the icons, landscape and mythos of the American West
Prix de West Invitational Art ExhibitionOpening FridayOn display through Sept. 6National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum1700 N.E. 63rdwww.nationalcowboymuseum.org478-2250$12.50 adults, $9.75 seniors and students, $5.75 children 4-12, free for children 3 and under It’s been more than a century since barbed wire and railroad tracks permanently hemmed in the West, cordoning off the vast stretches of…
Why wait for the government?
Regarding Kurt Hochenauer’s Commentary “Gimme storm shelter” in the May 19, 2010, Gazette: You’re right that the storm shelters should be built, but not that we should wait for the officials to decide to budget the money to cast down from the white towers upon the place owners to give to the shelter-builders. I almost…
Oklahoma cartoonists will be honored as superheroes in a new exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center
“The Uncanny Adventures of Okie Cartoonists”Oklahoma History Center2401 N. Laird10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday $5, free in costume 522-0765, www.okiecartoonists.org Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They come from other planets, big cities and small towns alike. But what about the creators of such characters? For Chester Gould, the father of everyone’s favorite…
With public meetings and citizen input, three possible streetcar routes materialize
Decisions on the route designation for the city’s future streetcar system are one step closer to being finalized. The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority completed its series of “Let’s Talk Transit” meetings recently. The meetings acted as a forum for citizens to voice their input about the transit project, which is a part of…
Jackie Chan almost kicks new life into the 1980s remake ‘The Karate Kid’
Whether the world needed a new “Karate Kid,” however, is debatable. The original, where Ralph Macchio’s bullied teen was taken under the wing of a martial-arts sensei played by Pat Morita, was agreeably schmaltzy. Its patchwork of clichés — teen outcast, a wise mentor, the big match — proved as irresistible as it was shameless.…
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
One of the leading intellectuals of the 20th century, British author Aldous Huxley, wrote more than 20 books, including Brave New World. In his later years he made a surprising confession: “It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one’s life and find at the end that one has…
Jonah Hill and Russell Brand join forces for a near-perfect comedy in ‘Get Him to the Greek’
Sequels usually maintain a certain consistency from their source material. Even if it isn’t a direct continuation of the original story, the characters and their places within the fictional universe are more or less set in stone. With “Get Him to the Greek,” director Nicholas Stoller creates an interesting deviation from the normal sequel template…
Clive R. Tyler’s nature-inspired paintings and pastels are on display and for sale in the Paseo
Clive R. TylerWednesday-MondayAdelante! Gallery3003 Paseo10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday 525-4039, www.adelantegallery.com. Cynthia Daniel Wolf likes to say her Adelante! Gallery spreads love and joy one painting at a time. And through Monday, the gallery will spread the joy and serenity of nature through Clive R. Tyler’s landscapes and pastels. For the sixth…
Two Oklahomans take a film crew into the countryside to show it’s not all old oil sites and shacks
Low expectations are nothing new to Oklahomans, with people nationwide flying over or ignoring our state because some still define our topography by the Dust Bowl. Two Okie-centric motorcycle enthusiasts are trying to sway minds to the charms of the state’s highways and back roads by producing the travel television show “Two Wheel Oklahoma.” Rex…
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
If you’ve read my horoscopes for a while, you know I’m the least superstitious astrologer on the planet. I champion the cause of reason and logic, praise the beauty of science, and discourage you from constantly scanning the horizon for fearful omens. And yet I’m also a zealous advocate of the power of the liberated…
For Texas’ Grammy-winning Brave Combo, the road goes on forever, and the polka never ends
Brave Combo9 p.m. ThursdayThe Deli309 White, Normanwww.thedeli.us329-3534 Success occurs in the most unlikely places, as if a challenge to our preconceptions. So it is that Texas quintet Brave Combo is into its 32nd year, with two Grammy Awards in hand, as arguably America’s best-known polka band. The five-piece has played Talking Head David Byrne’s wedding,…
Commentary: The next step
Oklahoma City may technically be a “big-league city” in the sense that we now have a professional sports franchise, but we have some work to do before we’re truly in the next tier of cities in the eyes of both current and future citizens. The next step up that tier is to ensure that we…
Here come the judges
It’s never a good sign for a town when its mayor appears in court. But for the mayor of Eufaula, seeing just one judge in one day would have been a blessing. On June 2, Eufaula Mayor Dean Smith went before not one, but two judges. One appearance came in front of District Judge Thomas…
Local musicians K.C. Clifford and David Broyles teach summer songwriting clinic for kids
Kurt Cobain, Jack White and John Lennon all had to start somewhere. Oklahoma singer/songwriter K.C. Clifford and her indie-rocker husband, David Broyles ” who performs with Dr. Pants ” are hosting two summer songwriting camps for children 7 and older at Convergence Creative Space, 1755 N.W. 16th. Young Springsteens will learn the the basics of…
You’ll have a gay ol’ time at ‘Frogville, Oklahoma,’ a new play about how a small town reacts to some big news
Ada Bumpkins, the church organist; Jud Hobart, the oldest living resident; Deputy Alice Perkins, the one-armed “long arm of the law”; Ida Bell, the black-hearted owner of the local frog-leg eatery; Freeda Stroud, the town floozy; and Enid Hollow, the happy mother who just loves gays as much as a shot of vodka with her…
Curbed enthusiasm
I am writing regarding Charles Martin’s article “Street pedalers” in the May 26, 2010, issue of Oklahoma Gazette. The article quoted a local bicyclist who said that cyclists should ride in groups because it is less dangerous to ride in groups, and also says that urban cyclists are hindered “by the fact that Oklahoma City…
From ‘Supergirl’ to ‘Supermen,’ Oklahoma native Sterling Gates dreams up comic books for a living
Sterling Gates and James Robinson3-6 p.m. SaturdaySpeeding Bullet Comics614 N. Porter, Normanwww.speedingbulletcomics.com360-6866 Energized by the California sun, Tulsa native Sterling Gates has become a super-powered writer for DC Comics. Gates will return to Oklahoma this weekend to take part in the opening of the Oklahoma History Center’s “The Uncanny Adventures of Okie Cartoonists” exhibit, but…
Crossing the borderline into evil
Scott Cooper’s “Food fight!” article in the April 28, 2010, Gazette focused on whether MAPS 3 and other municipal projects would go hungry if the state scrapped the grocery tax, but this article missed the root reason food tax cannot be removed due to the serious economic problems it would create, such as bankrupting many…
Local musicians K.C. Clifford and David Broyles teach summer songwriting clinic for kids
Kurt Cobain, Jack White and John Lennon all had to start somewhere. Oklahoma singer/songwriter K.C. Clifford and her indie-rocker husband, David Broyles ” who performs with Dr. Pants ” are hosting two summer songwriting camps for children 7 and older at Convergence Creative Space, 1755 N.W. 16th. Young Springsteens will learn the the basics of…
The Oklahoma Heritage Museum preserves the pioneer spirit of Oklahomans past and present
Mixing modern technology with yesterday’s charm, the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, celebrates Oklahoma through the men and women who molded a young state and those guiding its future. Telling the history of Oklahoma through the stories of 30 accomplished Okies, the Oklahoma Through Its People Gallery is the museum’s focal point. Highlighting…
Stop tolerating injustice
According to “The Israel Lobby,” a book by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt (both university professors), as of 2005 the U.S. gave Israel $154 billion. We continue to give Israel more than any other nation and don’t require accountability for the huge sums given to them. When Vice President Joe Biden was in Israel recently,…
Keep these flicks on your radar at the 10th deadCENTER Film Festival, since you can’t see everything
deadCENTER has been building momentum for a decade, and organizers expect more than 10,000 film fans to help celebrate the event’s 10th year. There’s more than 100 movies screening today through Sunday at seven spots spread throughout downtown. The Gazette film crew knows there’s no way to watch it all, so we watched everything we…
Leaving Oklahoma
You’ve had this happen before, right? You’re standing around whatever the 21st century equivalent of the water cooler is (the Keurig? Facebook?), and the conversation takes a dismaying turn to the latest crazy happening down state Capitol way. Someone inevitably groans and says, “I think I just need to move to another state.” Not to…
The annual Oklahoma Sustainability Network conference will focus on greening the state
Change one structure to make it more energy-efficient and you save money. But change a bunch of structures in cities and towns across Oklahoma to make them more energy-efficient and you save boatloads of money, like an estimated $59 million in energy costs by 2020. The ninth annual Oklahoma Sustainability Conference will explore the newest…
One-man phenom Mickey Reece and Student Film drummer Eric Nauni form an off-the-cuff outfit
Gang Starr Museum with Feel Spectres and Skating Polly9 p.m. SaturdayOpolis113 N. Crawford, Normanwww.opolis.org447-3417$7, $9 under 21 Mickey Reece is a kidder “¦ maybe. The solitary force behind defunct one-man Oklahoma City rock band El Paso Hot Button possesses a seeming impetuousness that colored his former alter ego: concept albums recorded in only a few…
Mayors from across the country will descend upon OKC this weekend for their annual conference
More than 100 mayors descending upon the city may not sound as exciting as a Thunder game or a night out in Bricktown, but the impact of their visit could be just as huge for Oklahoma City as those improvements. OKC will play host to the 78th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors, scheduled Friday through…
Thank you for being a friend
Blanche Devereaux, satisfier of hundreds of men and resident hussy of fictionalized ’80s Miami, has passed away. On June 3, the world lost its third Golden Girl in as many years when Healdton native and University of Tulsa grad Rue McClanahan passed away at the age of 76. Completing the celebrity death trifecta started by…
How twister-ready is downtown OKC?
On a muggy evening on March 28, 2000, an F2 tornado ripped through downtown Fort Worth, Texas, and in 10 minutes, left 100 injured, two dead and $450 million in damage. Several of the city’s landmarks, such as the 35-story Bank One Tower, the Mallick Tower and the Calvary Cathedral, were substantially damaged. The Bank…
Aces legitimate part of game for local female golfer
In a few weeks, Margaret Howard will turn 79 years young. She will, in all likelihood, celebrate by playing a round of golf on her home course at Lake Hefner Golf Club. If the golfing gods are smiling down on her, as they have done so often for almost six decades, Howard just might record…
Following the exchange
I have always advocated same-sex marriage in the hope that it will cause all of us to rethink traditional marriage. I read Roger Barton’s May 12, 2010, letter (“‘Gray’ for gay”) and saw “how just anyone is allowed to raise children.” I thought, “Oh, no!” That was followed by, “simply because they have been able…
Junebug Spade makes solid music with little flair
Junebug Spade ” “Fashion & Fame” Oklahoma City quartet Junebug Spade has made a second album offering to follow last year’s self-titled release. The two have many similarities: Both are EPs recorded with Trent Bell at his Norman studio, and both blend straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll with a bit of odd arrangement and light experimentation.…
BMX bandit Mat Hoffman jumps to the screen in the deadCENTER documentary ‘The Birth of Big Air’
They call him The Condor. Mat Hoffman has pushed farther and further to ride harder and fly higher, and he’s logged more time in the sky than any other athlete. Hoffman didn’t invent BMX; he pioneered it. He redefined bicycle riding, pedaling from sideshow to arena sport. His history and legacy is explored in “The…
Singer/songwriter Joe Ely wandered the world for stories, but found his real song in his Texas home
Joe Ely7:30 and 10 p.m. FridayThe Blue Door 2805 N. McKinleywww.bluedoorokc.com524-0738$30 advance, $35 door Country singer Tom T. Hall is known for noting how some people search the world over for what others find just around the corner. Joe Ely can attest to both sides of that equation. The Texas native spent much of his…
Addiction doesn’t recognize status, so The Referral Center comes in handy
The television series “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” treats famous people with addictions. Here in Oklahoma, there aren’t cameras or a TV doctor, but there is a rehabilitation clinic tucked away in the heart of the metro: The Referral Center, 1215 N.W. 25th. The clinic, which is an inpatient, medically-supervised detoxification program for substance abuse,…
Make a reservation for ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe,’ a rollicking, rock ‘n’ roll revue of a classic American songwriting team
Smokey Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through June 26The Pollard Theatre120 W. Harrison, Guthriewww.thepollard.org282-2800$18.75-$25 It’s hard to believe that a single songwriting team could create such an impressive string of pop-rock standards as “Neighborhood,” “Dance with Me,” “Kansas City” and “Fools Fall in Love.” And “On Broadway,”…
With World Cup madness just around the corner, local soccer clubs and retail stores hope for a spike
Finally, it is time for Americans to care about soccer again as the FIFA World Cup kicks off this weekend. The United States starts its run to the cup with a Saturday match against perpetual powerhouse England. Every four years, soccer enthusiasts hope that a strong showing by the U.S. team will continue to chip…
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
If you have long conversations with the image in the mirror this week, I won’t call you a megalomaniacal narcissist. Nor will I make fun of you if you paint 15 self-portraits, or google yourself obsessively, or fill an entire notebook with answers to the question “Who am I, anyway?” In my astrological opinion, this…
Seeing red
Automated DVD kiosk company Redbox ” aka those red boxes you see outside McDonald’s, Walgreens, Homeland and Walmart stores around town ” announced that it reached “a milestone” this month, by dispensing its 8 millionth disc rental in Oklahoma City. (We hate to take the wind out of the sales, but we fear it may…
Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Seventh Season
By now, the template of Larry David’s HBO series, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has become so familiar that the ways in which seemingly unconnected events converge and conspire to embarrass him in the end no longer surprise. This in no way, shape or form, however, suggests that the anti-sitcom has lost its coarse, corrosive sense of…
Wednesday Comics
d of Snoopy and Blondie, this newsprint was stuffed with serialized adventures of Superman and Batman, plus 13 others. I’m glad I only bought the first issue, because it’s already yellowed. And because now having them collected in a hardback edition “? with no folds, at that! “? makes for much easier, more pleasurable reading.…
