Brightest Day #0-#1 – Geoff Johns
From the ashes of DC Comics’ “Blackest Night” multititle event comes the cheerier-by-comparison follow-up, “Brightest Day.” Judging from the first two issues (technically two, although they’re marked as being #0 and #1), I’d recommend it only to those who read the whole of “? and liked “? “Blackest Night.” All others may be lost; I…
District 13: Ultimatum
” height=”1″ width=”1″ />” appears to pick up where 2004’s “District B13” left off. Too bad I barely remember its lead characters. Set in some sort of near-future France where ghettos resemble a post-apocalyptic war zone, the actioner follows a a couple of sleek, tattooed renegades (Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle) who represent the common…
Citizens descend on state Capitol for budget rally
If the state legislators do not adjust revenue spending before next session, every state agency will have to trim up to 12 percent on top of the cuts already enacted this session, Oklahoma Policy Institute Director David Blatt said yesterday at a budget rally in the state Capitol. Throughout the morning, groups of participants wearing…
Garrison #1 – Jeff Mariotte and Francesco Francavilla
As the cover image conveys, who is Garrison? After reading “Garrison” #1 of the new, six-part WildStorm series, I’m still not sure. And to add insult to injury, I don’t feel like finding out.That’s too bad, because writer Jeff Mariotte is a great writer of novels and comics. This antihero creation, however, lacks something. Here’s…
I, Zombie #1 – Chris Roberson and Michael Allred
.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KW66FS?ie=UTF8&tag=oklahgazet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003KW66FS”>I, Zombie” really just offers you a taste of what the new series is all about before the final page arrives, but it’s only $1, so fair enough! Written by the immensely talented Texas writer Chris Roberson and illustrated by the immensely talented “Madman” artist Michael Allred, the deliciously dark-humored horror comic centers on Gwen…
Euclid Crash reassembles with fresh songs and renewed power-pop momentum after years off
Euclid Crash with Bp Tiger and Ali Harter9 p.m. SaturdayOpolis 113 N. Crawford, Normanwww.opolis.org447-3417$7, $9 under 21 It’s like starting over again for Euclid Crash. A popular metro act seven years ago, the band fell apart as life intervened, but the musicians have rediscovered the thread and picked up where they left off, with new…
Poll shows Democrats and Republicans agree independents and third parties deserve spot at the table
There is encouraging news for independent political members and Oklahomans who want easier election ballot access: A solid majority of your fellow citizens agree with you. A new survey conducted by SoonerPoll.com reveals overwhelming support to allow independents the right to vote in primary elections, and that third-party candidates should have fewer restrictions when trying…
Bonus CFN Quote of the Week
The Oklahoma Senate considered just two bills the morning of April 27. The first was to override Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of an abortion bill that would require a woman considering an abortion to view an ultrasound of the fetus before the abortion. After heated debate, the Senate successfully overrode the veto. The second bill…
Golf pro Duffy Martin has lived a life on the greens of Oklahoma
At 93, Duffy Martin is tall and distinguished-looking, with a neatly trimmed white mustache and goatee. He has the manners of a Southern gentleman and the sense of humor of a 15-year-old boy. His secret to longevity? Having a good time, exercising and no drinking or smoking. Duffy’s a modern renaissance man. What he didn’t…
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
When a girl is born, her ovaries already contain all the eggs she will ever have. What this means, of course, is that a part of you was in your grandmother’s womb as well as in your mother’s. Now would be an excellent time to celebrate that primal fact. Your connection with your mother’s mother…
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Who is the person most unlike you in the world? I suggest you study that person for tips on how to improve your life. What are the healthy experiences you are least attracted to? You might want to meditate on exactly why they’re so unappealing, and use that information to update your ideas about yourself.…
Oklahomans, let’s declare our independence!
It’s time to let registered independents in Oklahoma vote in the primary elections. According to the results of a recent SoonerPoll.com survey reported elsewhere in this newspaper, almost two-thirds of Oklahoma’s registered voters agree with this proposal. That includes more than half of the Republicans, nearly two-thirds of the Democrats and almost all of the…
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
The state of Texas is a Capricorn, having become part of the United States on December 29, 1845. At that time, it was granted the right to divide itself into five separate states at some future date. So far it hasn’t chosen to do so, and I would advise it to continue that policy. I…
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Are you in a trance or a rut or a jam? If so, excuse yourself. It’s break time! You need spaciousness. You need slack. You need to wander off and do something different from what you have been doing. If there’s any behavior you indulge in with manic intensity, drop it for a while. If…
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Among the ancient Anglo-Saxons, the month of May was called “Thrimilce.” The word referred to the fact that cows were so productive at this time of year that they could be milked three times a day. I thought of that as I studied your current astrological data, Taurus. During this year’s Thrimilce, you are almost…
The Symphony Show House becomes cafe and boutique to benefit Oklahoma City Orchestra League
37th annual Symphony Show House, hosted by The Oklahoma City Orchestra LeagueThe Mansion on Lake Overholser 2550 E. Overholser Drive 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; noon to 4 p.m. SundaysThrough May 16 848-6787, symphonyshowhouse.publishpath.com$12-$13.50 The Oklahoma City Orchestra League opens the doors to its 37th annual Symphony Show House to the public…
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art explores the underappreciated role of costume designers in Hollywood history
Sketch to Screen: The Art of Hollywood Costume DesignOpening ThursdayOn display through Aug. 15Oklahoma City Museum of Art415 Couchwww.okcmoa.com236-3100$10-$12 Despite being cast in every important scene and center-framed during every iconic movie moment, costume design often remains hidden in plain sight. It’s a bit of a paradox, said Brian Hearn, Oklahoma City Museum of Art…
Kids can blast off into the infinite and beyond at Science Museum Oklahoma’s Space Day
Space DayScience Museum Oklahoma2100 N.E. 52nd$14.95 for adults; $11.95 for seniors and children 4-12; kids 3 and under are free 602-6664, www.sciencemuseumok.org Kids can blast off into the infinite and beyond all day Thursday at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 N.E. 52nd, during the museum’s annual Space Day. “(Space Day) is an opportunity for kids and…
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
In accordance with the astrological omens, I encourage you to seek out a concentrated period of sweet oblivion. Not a numb, narcotized limbo. Not a mournful unconsciousness that’s motivated by a depressive urge to give up. No, Gemini: The mental blankness that you cultivate should be generated by a quest to rejuvenate yourself, and it…
Former University of Oklahoma student shares her story of often misunderstood self-injury disorder
It was a little more than one year ago when University of Oklahoma graduate Brittany Burden published her story of self-mutilation to the student body. In OU’s student newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily, Burden recounted the pain and rehabilitation she underwent to stop the devastating cycle of self-injury as a means to curb depression. The then-English…
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
I’m all for recycling, composting, and carpooling. Anything you and I can do to reduce our carbon footprint is brilliant. But I also agree with author Chris Hedges, who says, “The reason the ecosystem is dying is not because we still have a dryer in our basement. It is because corporations look at everything, from…
Dark side of the Lips
When The Flaming Lips teamed with Stardeath and the White Dwarfs to release a cover album of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” some people wondered why in the heck these local bands were attempting to remake the classic album. Kind of like when some wondered why Gus Van Sant was remaking Alfred…
‘Breast-feeding is only free to those who can afford it’
Good job on presenting an article about breast-feeding (Malena Lott, “Breast is best,” April 21, 2010, Gazette). I only wish you’d delved a little deeper into the issue. Many people agree that “breast is best,” but the reason why many women continue to bottle feed with formula is not (only) because our mothers and grandmothers…
Traditionally speaking, state’s affection for rodeos still runs deep
If you have a hankering for bull riding, barrel racing or team roping, pick any weekend of the year. Oklahoma’s rodeo schedule kicks off each January and runs basically nonstop through December. All told, more than 100 rodeos are held across the state annually ” from Poteau and Duncan to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and…
Strangers on a train
My friend Scott Buchanan says, “When we rode trains, we were more civilized.” I recently tested his proposition, riding a train home from a conference in Houston. If you’re in a hurry, don’t take the train. I’ve often used trains, but this was my first “local” trip. And the train is a trip. There are…
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Hip hop music definitely needs to include more tuba playing. I think that’s what’s missing from it. Likewise, the sport of skateboarding would benefit from having more dogs and monkeys that can master its complexities; the state of journalism could be improved by including more babies as reporters; and you Aries folks would significantly upgrade…
Travel, technology and the ‘roaming’ eye of a New York artist are explored in a mixed-media exhibit in the Paseo
Mary Ann Strandell: Indexes of Mediated Space6 p.m. Friday, opening reception On display through May 31JRB Art at the Elms2810 N. Walkerwww.jrbartgallery.com528-6336 The motion of her international travel and her exploration of technology are captured in the moving images of Mary Ann Strandell’s art. “Indexes of Mediated Space” is an active landscape of her oil…
Mid-August Lunch’ serves up tangible human connection with a side of cultural obligation
“Mid-August Lunch” is so delicate, it’s more like a soft sigh than the written, directed, acted and distributed thing we generally call a film. Under that soft breath of sweetness, however, is an emotional intelligence of a high nature. Written, directed and starred in by Gianni Di Gregorio, this film is an Italian love letter…
Cut out an article
I greatly enjoyed the Sports Commentary piece by Jay C. Upchurch regarding Oklahoma City’s continued “rise” (“Thunder’s success helps alter perception of OKC,” April 21, 2010, Oklahoma Gazette), and the benefits of an NBA profile. As an Englishman living in OKC, I am continually on the lookout for succinct articles and tidbits to share with…
City Island
Farce, by definition, is an extended manipulation of crazy, unrealistic situations. Like slapstick, farce is all mistaken identities, misunderstandings and wacky cover-ups; but unlike slapstick, good farce contains darkness and danger. “City Island” is, at its core, a farce. At the same time, the film pads that core with elements of faux-tragedy and family comedy…
PR BS
Lots of press releases related to the Sooner State cross our desk. This week, these titles least screamed “Stop the presses!” “”Downy Touch of Comfort Announces the Grand Prize Winner of The Quilter Challenge”””Two Posters Featuring Derma Sciences’ MEDIHONEY(R) Win Top Honors at American Professional Wound Care Association’s 10th Annual Conference”””American Electric Power Declares 400th…
What divides us?
These days, as the ground keeps moving out in Jones, I ponder the cultural earthquake and re-drawing of the political landscape we have been going through. It will probably surprise you to learn that from adolescence into early adulthood, I identified as a conservative. Fiscal restraint, environmental conservation, expanding economic opportunity for average citizens, defending…
The New Daughter
le She Was Out,” fellow Oscar winner Kim Basinger’s virtually ignored foray into dark territory, “The New Daughter” proves much better than expected. Costner is single dad John James, a novelist who moves to a South Carolina farmhouse with his teenage daughter, Louisa (Ivana Baquero, “Pan’s Labyrinth”), and young son, Sam (Gattlin Griffith, “Couples Retreat”).…
Legislation from the Dark Ages
House Bill 3290 prohibits abortion coverage by private health insurance except to prevent the death of the mother or in cases of rape and incest. Per this law, a woman must buy an additional policy to cover the procedure. First, if a woman finds out that she is carrying a fetus that has an abnormality…
Artists, performers and even adult toy vendors will don togas alongside attendees at the Carnality Ball
Carnality BallOklahoma City Farmers Public Market 311 S. Klein 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday $15 in advance, $20 at the door VIP tickets $45 in advance, $50 at the doorwww.carnalityball.com Attendees must be 18 or older Pull out your togas, open Pandora’s box and take in the sights and sounds of the fourth annual…
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Every year Americans fork over six times as much money on buying lottery tickets as they do on going to the movies, according to the documentary film Lucky. Yet many people who actually buck the improbable odds regard their “luck” as a curse. “Winning the lottery is like throwing Miracle-Gro on all your character defects,”…
Recent study suggests psilocybin as spiritual eye-opener, but health and legality are concerns
ment, a point at which more than 60 percent of the participants still reported an increased sense of well-being. Tom Boyd, David Ross Boyd Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Oklahoma, said religious groups have used psychedelic drugs, including mushrooms, to induce religious or mystical experiences for centuries. “Peyote is probably the best…
A Nightmare on Elm Street
hey die in their dream, they will really die. They, along with their pet Great Dane, have to figure out who this man is and why he wants to kill them. Just kidding about the dog. It’s a good concept for a horror movie, allowing as it does for some really terrifying surrealistic dream sequences.…
CFN Quote of the Week
“This movie will make whatever sense of decency you carry around in your heart melt into stomach bile and leak out your anus and dribble down your leg.”“Hollywood-elsewhere.com’s Jeffrey Wells, on the Oklahoma lensed “The Killer Inside Me”
The Human Centipede (First Sequence)’ divides audiences with creepy, twisted multiplication tale
Those who likely would call “The Human Centipede (First Sequence)” the most disgusting movie they’ve ever seen aren’t likely to see it at all. A mere scan of its plot summary would send a majority of moviegoers fleeing for far lighter fare. That’s completely understandable, but those with strong stomachs and a jones for horror…
The University of Oklahoma’s outstanding production of ‘A Chorus Line’ features amazing cast and impressive choreography
A Chorus Line8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. SundayUniversity Theatre and Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre Rupel J. Jones Theatre563 Elm, Norman www.ou.edu/finearts/musicaltheatre325-4101$25 adults, $22 seniors, $15 students Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and nine Tony awards, “A Chorus Line” tells the story of 17 dancers vying for eight parts in a new Broadway musical, which…
On the hunt
Just when we thought our state’s noodling legacy was as weird as it was gonna get, here come the greyhounds. Apparently, according to a piece in The New York Times, hunting coyotes with greyhounds is tradition in the state’s Elgin neck of the woods. But of course it is. “This is exactly what they’re born…
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Are you in a trance or a rut or a jam? If so, excuse yourself. It’s break time! You need spaciousness. You need slack. You need to wander off and do something different from what you have been doing. If there’s any behavior you indulge in with manic intensity, drop it for a while. If…
Country singer Gene Watson brings ‘A Taste of the Truth’ and a touch of Texas twang
Gene Watson with Moe Bandy and T.G. Sheppard 8 p.m. Saturday Riverwind Casino1544 W. State Highway 9, Normanwww.riverwind.com322-6464$15-$25 There’s an unmistakable yearning for authenticity that surfaces in difficult economic times. That may be responsible for the resurgent interest in traditional country, and you won’t find a more honest, homespun adherent than legendary balladeer Gene Watson.…
Mulling it over
Living in the sticks, we’re guessing Broadway gossip merits an afternoon edition of New York’s daily newspapers. If not, we’re disappointed, especially when it involves something as catty as Megan Mullally’s recent (almost) return to the stage. According to The New York Times, the Oklahoma-raised actress was two weeks deep into rehearsals for the Broadway…
Bill allows formation of transportation districts between cities, encouraging passenger rail
Central Oklahoma cities, towns and counties now can form transportation districts with each other, thanks to a bill approved by the state Legislature. Proponents say the measure brings Central Oklahoma one step closer to a comprehensive commuter transportation system. Earlier this year, House Bill 2846, authored by Rep. Charlie Joyner, R-Midwest City, was passed. The…
Oklahoma City-based nonprofit NorthCare helps children, families and adults on the path to wellness
A teenager with chronic substance abuse who won’t finish the semester because of permanent suspension; an alcoholic adult who can’t make necessary daily decisions; a career-oriented woman who feels she cannot go on living. Although each person is in a different crisis, there is one place that can guide each one to a healthy life:…
Eden Sharmaine – Our Fathers
What has 14 hands, seven instruments, and one new album with decidedly progressive rock and punk roots? Answer: Eden Sharmaine, an Oklahoma City six-piece that dropped “Our Fathers” in early April, a disc that sounds like the rock ‘n’ roll offspring of Muse and Lostprophets. The 10-song record lives in the musical world of arcing…
Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965 – Joe Kubert
Based on real-life events in the Vietnam War, “Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965” marks a return to war comics for one of its indisputable masters, Joe Kubert. This full-length graphic novel, however, is no portrayal of he-man heroics
ACM@UCO rocks Bricktown with a student-led showcase and end-of-semester celebration
ACM@UCO Rocks Bricktown7 p.m.-midnight Thursday Downtown Oklahoma Citywww.acm-uco.com On Thursday, the Academy of Contemporary Music will close out its first set in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion: with the reverberation of amplified guitars and a flurry of crashing cymbals. More than 40 student-led performances are slated to stage at eight Bricktown locations, including clubs, bars…
Two new abortion bills become law, but one is being challenged by a reproductive rights center
Less than two weeks after enacting a bill requiring abortion patients to undergo an ultrasound, Oklahoma courts granted a pro-choice group’s request to temporarily prevent the state from carrying out the law. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a pro-choice law firm based in New York City, filed a lawsuit against the state concerning House Bill…
The Harn Homestead offers a glimpse at life in pre-statehood Oklahoma
The Harn Homested and 1889ers Museum1721 N. Lincoln10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday Tours 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 3 p.m. www.harnhomestead.com. $5; seniors, $4 Only a short dash from the state Capitol, a bit of land run history awaits Boomers and Sooners ready to stake their claim on a piece of Oklahoma’s…
Quote of the week
“We need a conservative counter-reformation ” a return to basics ” and it’s not hard. Advance an agenda ” simple and pure ” of what’s right, how to grow and prosper and remain the light on the mountaintop, all those things that elevate and advance ordinary Americans, your neighbors and mine. Be true to Lincoln,…
A Shawnee singer takes the stage during the local run of ‘Cirque Dreams Illumination’
Cirque Dreams Illumination7:30 p.m. today-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 7 p.m. SundayCivic Center Music Hall201 N. Walker www.okcciviccenter.org297-2264 $16-$50 Not to be confused with Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Dreams features Broadway theatrics and international circus artistry that appeals to audiences of all ages. The theme for its 14th production, “Illumination,” is finding the…
Religious education
I read with both great interest and amusement Douglas L. Thompson’s letter (“Freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion,” April 21, 2010, Gazette). His letter makes a masterful statement of the woeful lack of knowledge about history, both American and world. His own statement that as of 1787 that 99.8 percent of the…
New poll asks Oklahoma voters what they think about military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy
The terms “Oklahoma” and “gay rights” are not exactly synonymous. With lawmakers like state Rep. Sally Kern decrying the so-called “homosexual agenda,” and state passage of a law that deems marriage as only being between one man and one woman, the Sooner State is not exactly fertile ground for the gay rights movement. But could…
Meaningful’ mammaries
Thank you for your meaningful article on the health benefits of breast-feeding (Malena Lott, “Breast is best,” April 21, 2010, Gazette). You are right in line with the Healthy People 2020 by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control. This article will reach many of our high-risk young women who have at-risk…
Artists, performers and even adult toy vendors will don togas with attendees at the Carnality Ball
Carnality BallOklahoma City Farmers Public Market 311 S. Klein 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday $15 in advance, $20 at the door VIP tickets $45 in advance, $50 at the doorwww.carnalityball.com Attendees must be 18 or older Pull out your togas, open Pandora’s box and take in the sights and sounds of the fourth annual…
Travel, technology and the ‘roaming’ eye of a New York artist are explored in a mixed-media exhibit
Mary Ann Strandell: Indexes of Mediated Space6 p.m. Friday, opening reception On display through May 31JRB Art at the Elms2810 N. Walkerwww.jrbartgallery.com528-6336 The motion of her international travel and her exploration of technology are captured in the moving images of Mary Ann Strandell’s art. “Indexes of Mediated Space” is an active landscape of her oil…
Gamera: The Giant Monster
but subtitled in English). As you’ll note, the Gamera films got crazier and more spirited with each additional sequel, but you’ve gotta start somewhere. “?Rod Lott
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art explores the underappreciated role of costume designers in Hollywood
Sketch to Screen: The Art of Hollywood Costume DesignOpening ThursdayOn display through Aug. 15Oklahoma City Museum of Art415 Couchwww.okcmoa.com236-3100$10-$12 Despite being cast in every important scene and center-framed during every iconic movie moment, costume design often remains hidden in plain sight. It’s a bit of a paradox, said Brian Hearn, Oklahoma City Museum of Art…
