Undignified Deaths
In a spectacular one-car wipe-out along an airstrip near Ocala, Fla., on Jan. 26, five young men were killed when their supercharged BMW M5 left the road at at least 120 mph, sailed 200 feet, and smashed into a tree. In the days after, visitors to an Internet forum of M5 drivers recalled a question…
Update
In February, televangelist Jim Bakker (who lost his Praise The Lord ministry in the 1980s in fraud convictions that led to a five-year prison stint) began broadcasting from Morningside, his new religious development in southern Missouri that bears a strong resemblance to PTL’s Heritage USA project. According to a February report in the St. Louis…
CSI: Cats
Luis Jimenez, 24, was arrested in Austin, Texas, in January and charged with having child pornography that police say he left behind when he moved. The subsequent tenant has a cat, which, in the process of exploring the new digs, got caught in a gap between a pantry and a ceiling where the DVDs had…
No Longer Weird
Adding to the list of stories that were formerly weird but which now occur with such frequency that they must be retired from circulation: (87) The person arrested for drunk-driving who decides to contest the charge but is drunk again when arriving in court, as was Joseph Longfellow, 35, who blew a .32 blood-alcohol reading…
Bennett sends Cornett official letter of intent to relocate Sonics to OKC
The Professional Basketball Club LLC sent a 16-page letter of intent to Mayor Mick Cornett today to officially propose moving the Seattle SuperSonics professional basketball franchise to Oklahoma City. Signed by PBC Chairman Clay Bennett, the letter of intent details conditions under which the National Basketball Association franchise would relocate to Oklahoma City. The…
Least Competent Criminals
A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Toronto in February after he emerged from a CIBC bank with about $150,000 (Cdn) stuffed in a sack. Despite numerous Hollywood movies emphasizing the need for speed in a bank robbery, the kid had dawdled inside for more than 45 minutes after the silent alarm had been pressed, collecting…
Bill on religious views in school overwhelmingly passes House
House Bill 2200, giving students the right to express their religious viewpoints in school, easily passed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, but not without heavy debate Thursday morning on the House floor. “(The bill) is trying to tell school administrators you don’t know how to protect students’ rights,” said Rep. Ed Cannaday, D-Porum.…
Norman musician tapped for ‘One Tree Hill’
Norman singer/songwriter and Starlight Mints keyboard player Ryan Lindsey should have had a great birthday this year, because one of the musician’s songs was recently featured on a popular teen television drama, according to his Web site. The song “Open Late” was used on an episode of CW’s “One Tree Hill,” which aired on March…
New Wave duo Party Dream is designed to be dumb
The Ohio-based, spandex-sporting tandem behind Gil Mantera’s Party Dream is comprised of brothers Gil Mantera and Ultimate Donny. The band’s Eighties electro-pop party sound is deceptively sincere despite its notoriety for absurd, high-energy stage shows. “We realize that we are complete idiots onstage, and that’s fine. But we want the tunes to be cool,” Donny…
Justice League: The New Frontier Special #1
/o:p> All the stories are told with economy and feature art that does a fine job of aping Cooke’s style (when he himself is not part of it). Closing out this special project are several pages of sketches, storyboards and snapshots from the movie; one hopes the “Frontier” has not yet been fully explored. …
Stillwater police arrest rooftop partiers
The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire up in Stillwater. And let us tell you, all the police up there apparently have a lot of time on their hands. According to a recent story in the Stillwater NewsPress, three law enforcement agencies ” three! ” converged on four dudes sitting on their…
Yikes!
In early January, when a national deep freeze extended even to the Florida Keys, iguanas fell into their natural hibernation-like torpor, and some compassionate Floridians, unaccustomed to seeing iguanas that appeared nearly dead, took them indoors to warm them up, which is a mistake. The owner of the veterinary clinic in Marathon said one “sweet…
Hoop dreams, man
So, last week, I’m driving around Oklahoma City and I keep seeing these little signs that proclaim “Big League City.” My mind recalls the riff “brand new state!” at the beginning of the song “Oklahoma.” The fresh scent of boosterism was in the air, as the branding of Oklahoma City continued. The “yes” vote…
Annie’ musical shines on Civic Center
Bet your bottom dollar that the sun is already out and ready to shine on America’s favorite redheaded orphan: The world-renowned and hugely popular musical “Annie” returns Wednesday through Sunday to Oklahoma City as part of its 30th anniversary tour, stopping at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker. Based on the celebrated Harold…
Baby Walrus – Baby Walrus
Slumber Party The self-titled debut from Omaha, Neb., indie-rock band Baby Walrus is an irritating mix of 17 songs largely filled with clicking shakers, jingles, noisemakers or whatever other uninteresting instruments the overrated trio gathered from the supermarket infant aisle. Luckily, the most annoying songs on “Baby Walrus,” like “Some Dawns No Bird…
The Continuing Crisis
A 25-year-old woman was arrested for assault in Bremerton, Wash., in December after fighting with her boyfriend in the shower over whether the man’s dog could join them. The woman objected and said the arrangement would be a deal-breaker for their relationship, to which the boyfriend replied that he hoped his next girlfriend would appreciate…
Poetry slams, reading help keep art form alive in metro
While Oklahoma has produced its share of poetic legends, many people may not realize that Oklahoma City is a highly recognized outlet for the celebration of poetry as an art, through increasingly popular poetry readings at Galileo Bar and Grill, 3009 Paseo. Galileo is the site for weekly readings from the metro-based Home for Wayward…
Oklahoma Gazette readers respond to Sequoyah, Sequoia
Reaction to Oklahoma Gazette’s March 5 story, “Pipe dream,” was as varied as the spellings of Sequoyah’s name. The article detailed how the ubiquitous usage of Sequoyah began with him as the namesake of a proposed state for American Indians. A sidebar showed that his name does not reside in the annals of the…
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Reviewer’s grade: B+ Frances McDormand (“Fargo”) plays titular character Miss Pettigrew, an unemployed governess only a day or so from outright destitution in 1939 London. By a lucky chance, she manages to steal an assignment working for Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams, “Enchanted”), a bombshell West End theater up-and-comer. However, while Miss Pettigrew thinks she’ll…
One-man guitar shop not worried about big-box competitors
Ron Lira ” certainly one of the few full-time luthiers in Oklahoma City ” has maintained a steady flow of business as Honest Ron’s Guitars, in the same location at 1129 N. May since 1985. “Most of what this business is, if you get discouraged or burn out, then you’re done for,” Lira said. “That…
Stanfield paints pictures with a space in mind
Even before beginning a painting, Shelly Lewis Stanfield first visualizes its display environment. “I generally picture a room or a decor, because I used to be a designer,” Stanfield said. “I think of color trends, different colors that go together, the design of the room, and I go from there. I imagine a space the…
Cornett’s appeal helped pass tax extension, poll shows
A recent poll shows just how wide support for Oklahoma City’s 1-cent sales-tax extension stretched. Passage of the measure March 4 means the sales tax enacted in 2002 for MAPS for Kids will be extended for up to another year and a half beginning Jan. 1, 2009. The money will go toward renovating the Ford…
Oklahoma medical professors extols virtues of gum
Gum. It’s the new duct tape. Per a recent research study published in Urology (yup!), chewing pieces of gum apparently helps people recovering from gastrointestinal surgery to be able to go more speedily “¦ to pot. Researchers tracked 102 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, giving half five pieces of gum to chew each day…
No Country for Old Men
2007 Based on the Cormac McCarthy novel, “No Country for Old Men” is a Western, noir thriller and rural nightmare wrapped into one brilliant masterwork. Sibling filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen return to form in this brutal, harrowing and ultimately mesmerizing tale of Texas-sized murder and greed. Near the Mexico border, a good…
Rotary clubs exchange travelers to further world culture understanding
Four women have been chosen to represent Oklahoma in Poland this spring as part of The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange ” or GSE ” for Oklahoma’s District 5750:” Megan Elliott,” Sheri Guyse, ” Laura Ballard and ” team leader Danna Szymanski. Although Elliott’s a bit nervous to be leaving her job and family for…
Technology bites
In February, a Mississippi judge released two convicted rapists of children, who had each been in prison for more than 12 years, based on DNA. The men had been convicted primarily by the “bite mark” analysis of since-discredited dentist Dr. Michael West, who used iridescent lights and yellow goggles to demonstrate that scratches on the…
Vermillion Lies – What’s in the Box?
Boekbinder, known for their theatrical stage flair and burlesque accompaniment, have long written hilarious songs on topics both topical and nonsensical. “What’s in the Box?” is easy to enjoy, often sounding like a modern take on a low-rent Victorian stage show, especially with songs like “Blue” and the down-South river chorus of “She Comes.” …
The Bank Job
Reviewer’s grade: B+ There is a refreshing lack of bells and whistles in “The Bank Job,” a heist flick in which even the title rejects cheap wit. This is a meat-and-potatoes thriller that delivers on the genre’s roguish sense of fun. Based on the real-life robbery of a London bank in 1971, the film…
Sands of Oblivion
m and the rest of the crew, one of the props is an ancient Egyptian artifact that, when unearthed by archaeologists in the present day, awakens the curse of an Anubis-like creature. This section of “Oblivion” plays like a mix between “The Mummy” and “Final Destination,” with a few inventive deaths played out amidst…
College Road Trip
Reviewer’s grade: D This movie about a possessive father who takes his daughter on a road trip to visit some college campuses so he can sway her into selecting the one that’s only 40 miles from home is “? not to put too fine a point to it “? insipid. It contains nothing, other…
Music fans discuss state of the city’s sounds
What does it take to motivate music fans to see a live show? Are local bands, performers and venues getting it right? What inspires audiences? Oklahoma Gazette assembled a small forum of local fans and concertgoers to find out what crowds crave and what might be missing from metro music. Chad Kirby, 27This information technology…
Dan in Real Life
2007 I much prefer to see Steve Carell as inept office managers or 40-year-old virgins, and not as the depressed, widowed father of three he plays in “Dan in Real Life.” He’s not terrible as a dramatic actor, but the material plays nowhere near his strengths. Dan is a newspaper advice columnist who “?…
Members of MiniKiss may not be full-size, but play full-on
A short-statured Kiss tribute act is set to rock ‘n’ roll all night Thursday at Skyy Bar when New York-based MiniKiss, comprised entirely of little people, takes the stage to sing some of the epic group’s top tunes. “We make sure we play a lot of the popular songs by Kiss, and I just recently…
Enchanted
2007 Disney’s “Enchanted” sends a redheaded princess named Giselle (Amy Adams) from her cuddly animated kingdom to our world. Now flesh and blood, Giselle and her outlandishly large dress crawl out of a manhole and into a very scary and unwelcoming environment: New York City. This fish out of water is saved from…
Wrestlemaniac
estling rules. Its ugly look can be forgiven, but what cannot is its severe streak of misogyny, at one point placing the final surviving starlet (Leyla Razzari) in a hiding position that resembles an ob-gyn exam. That’s malignant. “?Rod Lott
Miley Ray Cyrus talks creepy guys and her father with Oklahoma City radio personalities
In a recent phone interview with KJ-103’s “TJ, Janet & Jrod” morning show (jeez, that’s a lot of J’s!), tween superstar Miley Ray Cyrus (OMG!!!) admitted that a lot of guys come to her concerts “¦ but not exactly the kind she’d like. Cyrus, the singing star of Disney Channel’s improbably successful “Hannah Montana”…
Metro guitarist makes living as cruise ship musician
Oklahoma native Jason Cadamy is living his dream of getting paid to play the guitar, even if it’s not the most ideal situation: spending long stretches as a musician-for-hire on cruise ships. In January 2000, Cadamy found himself at sea working as a cruise ship musician. Although he was thrilled to have a chance to…
10,000 B.C.
land behond the mountains where they will be requested, via whips and chains, to assist in the building of pyramids. D’Leh and three companions set off in pursuit, battling giant flightless birds and a saber-toothed tiger along the way. Does any of this make historical sense? Did Mike Huckabee’s run for the presidency? Duh.…
Atonement
Times”> “?Doug Bentin
Birds of Avalon to nest in Norman for post-SXSW gig
Being bedridden with the flu didn’t stop Paul Siler from speaking about the Birds of Avalon’s forthcoming EP, “Outer Upper Inner.” “I can’t stand being sick. It’s really, really annoying,” Siler said. “There’s this freaking flu going around. I thought I had beaten it, and then last night, I got it.” As a guitarist for…
State’s newest semipro hoops squad looking for a few good women
The Oklahoma Angels are the most recent addition to the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League, a semipro developmental league which allows players to hone their skills and hopefully draw the attention of scouts from overseas and the WNBA. “These girls were at the top from their colleges,” said Claude Stuart, team owner and general manager.…
Oklahoma performers head to Texas for SXSW
The Texas exodus is already under way for many Central Oklahoma bands, performers, filmmakers and entertainment industry insiders who are among the thousands that make the annual pilgrimage to Austin for South by Southwest, which has become one of the most important and influential conferences, festivals and media showcases around. Several Oklahoma-area acts and performers…
Another deceptive initiative
An Oklahoma House bill called “The Religious Viewpoints Anti-discrimination Act” is just another deceptive initiative to further erode the country’s constitutionally guaranteed separation of church and state. The bill could ultimately lead to a myriad of lawsuits and administrative problems in state schools. State Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, who has promoted religion-based…
Human Giant: Season One
2007 Amidst all its ridiculous teen-oriented reality shows, it turns out there is something worth watching on MTV: the sketch-comedy show “Human Giant.” The New York-based troupe is comprised of Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer, funny guys one and all. This uncensored two-disc set collects the debut season’s eight episodes. Admittedly, it…
Murder by Death – Red of Tooth and Claw
Vagrant Decidedly more murky than its 2006 album “In Bocca Al Luppo,” Indiana’s Southern Goth-rockers have released a “Red of Tooth and Claw,” a new record that should satisfy hard-core followers, but isn’t likely to turn on new ears. The album’s second track, “Ball & Chain,” is an album peak with singer Adam Turla’s…
Oklahoma county deputies travel to Alaska to capture Barbie Doll Club member
A deputy for the Rogers County sheriff’s department took a long trip to pick up a convicted felon. But a judge basically made the trip pointless when he released the embezzler as soon as the deputy brought her to court. The Claremore Daily Progress tells the story of Cynthia Izon, 44, who was convicted…
Passion carried Favre to one of greatest NFL careers
Upon hearing the news my beloved Green Bay Packers had traded their upcoming first-round draft pick for some unknown quarterback named Brett Favre back in 1992, I was, to say the least, a bit incensed. In reality, Green Bay fans didn’t think they needed a new quarterback, especially some unproven, shoot-from-the-hip hillbilly who seemed a…
Lawmakers aim to weed out smoking in all public places
The Legislature is considering another law that could produce the knockout blow to smoking in public places. For the estimated three out of four Oklahomans who do not smoke, it could be the second lucky strike. Senate Bill 1875 cleared the Senate Business and Labor Committee on Feb. 25 and is bound for the Senate…
Lafon’s latest paintings showing at JRB
te. “While some people may find art itself as intimidating and pretentious, Lafon’s work is satirical, narrative and, above all, humanistic,” Stone said. BACKGROUNDBorn and raised in Utah, Lafon received a bachelor’s and master’s of fine arts from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and worked as an illustrator and art educator before…
StorySlam going green for St. Pat’s
With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, the Istvan Gallery, 1218 N. Western, invites you to bring your best “green” story to Friday night’s “OKC StorySlam,” Oklahoma City’s premier competitive storytelling event. Drawing inspiration from leprechauns and shamrocks, the “green” theme requires the spoken-word artists to spin their color-related tales in seven minutes or…
CityRep’s ‘The Miser’ feels a bit forced
Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre’s Southern/Cajun adaptation of Moli
Media ethics to be explored at two-day UCO seminar
When University of Oklahoma journalism professor and grad studies director David Craig tells new acquaintances his area of specialty ” ethics in the media ” he gets a common response: laughter. People’s perspective on ethics in the field seems to be that it’s “hard to believe that anyone takes that seriously,” he said. “There’s definitely…
