Creme de la Weird
In February, on “signing day,” when hundreds of highly recruited high school football players announced which colleges they would attend, lineman Kevin Hart of Fernley (Nev.) High School met local reporters with his coach at his side and dramatically chose the University of California over the University of Oregon. However, when the reporters called those…
Recurring Themes
It’s not quite the 2006 News of the Weird story of the kindergarten-bound Broward County, Fla., boy diagnosed with gender identity disorder at age 5, but there will apparently still be steep problems for parents, teachers and students in Highlands Ranch, Colo., when a second-grade boy soon enters third grade as a girl. One student’s…
State Rep. Sally Kern responds to criticism of her remarks
State Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, responded today to criticism of her controversial comments about homosexuality that were recently posted on the YouTube Web site. Kern reportedly is receiving death threats since audio of the speech appeared on the Internet. Kern’s comments have been mentioned online at www.perezhilton.com, the Huffington Post and www.advocate.com. KERN’S COMMENTSThrough…
Thinning the Herd
A 39-year-old man fell to his death while trying to slide down a banister in the Hollywood & Highland Center mall in Los Angeles in January. And three more people died recently as a result of disrespecting railroad tracks: a 42-year-old man, hit by a train on tracks near Burlington, Ill., while listening to his…
Death Sentence
2007 Pay no attention to its poor theatrical gross; “Death Sentence” is a rather effective throwback to the Seventies revenge genre, boasting a solid lead performance and further strengthening the reputation of its on-the-rise director. Miles from “Footloose,” Kevin Bacon fuels the film as Nick, a risk-assessment executive who lives a golden life until one…
Names in the News
Arrested in October for vehicular assault in Tacoma, Wash. (after which he told a police officer that he had “definitely had a few”): Mr. Glen Alan Casebeer. The victim of a vehicular assault in McMinn County, Tenn., in January (in which his wife allegedly tried to run him over): Mr. King Money Tarzan Jenkins. Arrested…
The Classic Middle Name (all new)
Arrested and awaiting trial for murder: Bobby Wayne Ledbetter, Northport, Ala. (February); Michael Wayne Adams, Fairfax County, Va. (February); David Wayne Cole, West Nottingham, Pa. (October). Confessed to murder: Calvin Wayne Inman, Houston (February). Sentenced for murder: Jerrell Wayne Stanley, Orange, Texas (October). Executed for murder: Michael Wayne Richard, Huntsville, Texas (September). Already serving time…
Unclear on the Concept
On Nov. 30, for a social justice project at Cheektowaga Central High School (Buffalo, N.Y.), students spent an 18-degree night in cardboard boxes on the school’s lawn, in supposed solidarity with the area’s homeless population. According to a Buffalo News report, the suffering students brought DVD players to watch movies inside their boxes, ate donated…
D.A. clears former superintendent of criminal allegations
Former Oklahoma City Superintendent John Q. Porter came out clean in an investigation into allegations of potentially criminal misconduct made against him earlier this year, per a report released today. District Attorney David Prater and the Oklahoma City Police Department jointly looked into 15 of 21 allegations against Porter made public in January as part…
Complicated circus performance divorce
The divorce of Anton Popazov and his wife, Nataliya, is about to go through, but the couple are still contractually committed to the Moscow State Circus, where their act includes Nataliya’s shooting an apple off of Anton’s head with a crossbow. The Times of London asked Anton during a show in Sheffield, England, in February…
A gallery fund-raiser invites fans to pick from a wall of local works
Instead of gambling your money at the slot machines this Saturday night, try your luck at art. But unlike at metro casinos or racetracks, just buying a ticket for the “Money Talks, Art Walks” fund-raiser at the Individual Artists of Oklahoma gallery makes you a winner. “Everyone who buys a ticket gets a painting,”…
Oklahoma’s very own semipro football league begins inaugural season
Semiprofessional football leagues come and go. For a state supposedly obsessed with the sport, gridiron on the professional level remains a tough sell. Despite this, owners, coaches and players of the Oklahoma-based Metro Football League are betting they have a winning formula that will succeed where so many others have failed. Last week, the…
Gazette wins 24 Society of Professional Journalists Awards
Oklahoma Gazette received 24 honors, including eight first place awards, at the annual banquet for the Oklahoma Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held March 1 in Oklahoma City. Gazette competed in the largest newspaper division in the statewide contest, which was judged by Chicago, Pittsburgh and Utah chapters. Gazette writers…
Oklahoma’s National Guard soldiers cope with new mission
st1:country-region>, many of these same soldiers are indeed face to face with suspected insurgents ” with the soldiers acting as prison guards. The men and women of Oklahoma’s 45th often find themselves in a guard tower, staring down into a razor wire-fitted compound where the suspected insurgents are detainees, or escorting the detainees through…
The need for a narrative
These have been a rough few months for the Oklahoma GOP. The House of Representatives, the only locus of Republican power outside of the Corporation Commission, lost one speaker and another speaker presumptive. The lieutenant governor fulfilled her constitutional duties by reminding members of the GOP they are not in the majority by breaking…
Penelope
rtain darkness and tension that a fairy-tale-based movie should have to give the ending that unrealistic but still-satisfying “happily ever after” feel. PG “?Mike Robertson
Canadian folk group Po’ Girl heads south to share its roots music with OKC
h as music, our northern neighbors have, on occasion, handed us our hats and showed how it’s done. Beyond Canada’s musical contributions of Rush, Celine Dion or even Neil Young, there is the renowned acoustic assembly Po’ Girl who will perform March 9 at The Blue Door, 2805 N. McKinley. Tickets are $15 In…
Churches, student organization present ‘Sexual Identity and Spirituality Conference’
Several area churches and organizations are sponsoring the “Sexual Identity and Spirituality Conference” at the University of Central Oklahoma Friday and Saturday. A UCO student organization, Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality, is co-sponsoring the event. The conference was originally named “Homosexuality and Scripture,” but with their commitment to broadening the audience, the…
H.G. Wells’ Invisible Man: The Complete Series
1958-1960 For those who quite liked the direction Universal’s “Invisible Man” franchise was headed toward the end “? and I speak mostly of 1942’s Nazi-busting “Invisible Agent” “? you’re bound to be drawn to the 11 hours that comprises “H.G. Wells’ Invisible Man: The Complete Series.” Spread out over four discs, the 1958-1960…
Justice League: The New Frontier
2008 As the second in a new line of animated features based on DC Comics characters, “Justice League: The New Frontier” is impressive, proving that just because it’s not live-action doesn’t mean it’s not exciting and doesn’t mean it’s just for kids. The PG-13 film adapts Darwyn Cooke’s acclaimed graphic novel of the…
Oklahoma lawmaker introduces anti-ball legislation
Things might be a little nuts here, but Oklahoma definitely has balls. Television personality Johnny Knoxville, well known for performing risky stunts on MTV’s “Jackass,” almost left his manhood in the Sooner State while filming a tribute to the late Evel Knievel, according to a message on the program’s Web site. Knoxville teamed…
Oklahoma faces catalytic crime spree
The staff of CFN heard what sounded liked the Greased Lightnin’ car barreling through the parking lot on Feb. 28. CFN’s chief photographer hopped into his trusty blue pickup truck earlier that day and started her up. “Much to my surprise, it was louder than the stock car racers down by the river,”…
Michael Clayton
2007 After having earned a name as one of Hollywood’s top-tier screenwriters with such credits as the “Bourne” franchise, Tony Gilroy finally tried out the director’s chair last year with “Michael Clayton.” Talk about your impressive directorial debuts “? “Clayton” is a riveting legal thriller that makes John Grisham look like a shyster…
Sequoyah’s name pops up everywhere except the Hall of Fame
More than 100 years ago, the Oklahoma and Indian territories made efforts to enter the United States as separate states. Those championing the cause for the Indian territory “? what is now eastern Oklahoma “? used Sequoyah as the name for their proposed state when they met in Muskogee in 1905. Sequoyah — who…
Dropkick Murphys will drop into OKC for Pre-St.Patrick’s Day event
Celtic punk rockers the Dropkick Murphys will give Oklahoma City a swift kick of Irish pride just ahead of St. Patty’s Day as they perform at 7 p.m. March 6 at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S. Eastern. Tickets are $22. The Boston band unites bruising guitars, furious mandolins, a bit o’ bagpipe and growling…
Inexplicable
In January, Derry, N.H., Town Administrator Gary Stenhouse told Thomas Souhlaris that he’d have to move his sausage stand because he was trespassing on city property. Souhlaris had set up the stand at the town’s garbage transfer station, and Stenhouse said there might be municipal liability issues, especially if other food vendors followed Souhlaris and…
In Bruges
Reviewer’s grade: Bkknd The Flemish town of Bruges is celebrated for being the most well-preserved medieval city in Europe. Its canals, bridges and cobblestone streets are quaint and romantic — and hardly where you’d expect to find two hit men hiding out while awaiting word on their next target. That’s the premise of “In…
Sooner Theatre turns out successful farce with ‘Lucky Stiff’
=”mso-spacerun: yes”> Michael Gibbons does a charming about-face from recent serious roles as Luigi Gaudi, the mysterious and often-disguised hanger-on. Sooner’s last clever trick is casting different personalities as dead, wheelchair-ridden Tony. Opening-nighters got the treat of seeing Barry Switzer himself pushed raucously all over the stage. Only once “? maybe twice “? did a…
Big League Hoax’
By the time you read this, it will all be settled. Oklahoma City will have either continued the national trend of subsidizing the construction or renovation of sports venues through tax dollars by passing “MAPS for Millionaires,” or struck a needed populist blow against it, inspiring others to “just say no.” I predict, alas, that…
Gazette publisher to enter Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Gazette founder and publisher Bill Bleakley will take his place among the highest honored state journalists after being named as a 2008 inductee to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place April 4 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. “I share this recognition with the many…
Country music legend will headline Heart to Heart International event
Country music legend Larry Gatlin will highlight Heart to Heart International beginning at 7 p.m. Monday at The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 N.E. 63rd St. The semiformal gala will focus on the global humanitarian work of Heart to Heart International, commemorating the inspiring efforts of bringing health and hope to people…
Taos, American Indian artists to go on display at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
American Indian artists, will be showcased beginning Friday at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm, on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman. The exhibit, titled “Highlights of the Adkins Collection,” includes more than 200 works. It will remain on display through December. Museum admission is free from Friday to Sunday. …
Family-flavored Crocodile releases EP at Opolis
For local New Wave band Crocodile, making music is a family affair. The trio sculpted a study of indie pop with its debut EP, “The Great Depression,” and will be celebrating the release 9 p.m. Friday at the Opolis, 113 N. Crawford in Norman. Also appearing on the bill for the $7 show are…
Zoo hosts ‘Read Across Oklahoma’ event
Unleash the fierce beast within your kids and have them go wild “¦ for reading! From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th, will host “Read Across Oklahoma 2008: A Safari Adventure.” Children of all ages can experience a fun-filled, entertaining safari on the zoo grounds, visiting different…
Oklahoma native actor’s pre-Oscar interview continues odd-behavior trend
Cheer up, George Clooney, Julie Christie, Cate Blanchett and all those who didn’t take home a golden guy on Feb. 24’s Academy Awards ceremony. At least you’re not Gary Busey. In E!’s red-carpet coverage before the show started, host Ryan Seacrest was talking with best Actress nominee Laura Linney (“The Savages”) and presenter Jennifer…
When These People Vote, Theirs Count as Much as Yours
During the media hoopla on Feb. 5, about that day’s 24-state “Super Tuesday” “national primary” for president, enthusiastic voters called election offices for the addresses of their polling places so they could run down and vote: 400 called in Virginia (but its primary would be the following week); 1,000 called in Dallas (its primary would…
OKC set to host NCAA basketball regional for the first time
ended up here, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” Tickets are still available for both sessions. For more information, visit www.okcallsports.org. “? Jay C. Upchurch
The Other Boleyn Girl
Reviewer’s grade: B- An effective but not overly entertaining historical character focus, “The Other Boleyn Girl,” based on the book of the same name, re-examines the motivations of a power-hungry family. King Henry Tudor (Eric Bana) is bored with his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas). When the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey) and Sir Thomas…
Can’t Possibly Be True
Two Park Vista High School girls who admitted that they swiped money off the table of a Girl Scout selling cookies at a supermarket in Boynton Beach, Fla., in January told WPBF-TV later that they had no remorse. Said one (on camera): “We went through all that effort to get (the money). We got all…
Gazette honored with ADDY awards
Oklahoma Gazette received 14 honors with two Gold ADDYs, six Silver Merits and six Bronze Awards Feb. 23 at the 42nd Annual Oklahoma City ADDY Awards in OKC. For the Publication Design (Magazine or Book) Series, Gazette won a Gold ADDY Award for three March/April covers, with credits to Street, Hancock, Lott, Marketing Director…
Oklahoma athletic department official sends out ‘absurd’ e-mail
E-mail can sometimes be evil. Once the send button is pressed on the keyboard, there’s no return. One of the University of Oklahoma’s athletic department public relations specialists learned that lesson. Most fans of women’s college basketball know how dominant OU’s Courtney Paris is on the court. Since arriving in Norman three years ago,…
OKC voters pass sales-tax extension
Oklahoma City voters approved a sales-tax extension Tuesday which may guarantee the National Basketball Association comes to Oklahoma City. The final vote count when all 271 precincts reported was 44,849 yes votes, 62 percent, to 27,564 voting against the measure. The approval of the sales tax means one cent of retail sales in Oklahoma City will go towards…
