Author Archives: Admin

Al-Qaida offers livestock for leaders

Staff Report

In a parody of US bounties on terrorists, a Somali Islamist terrorist group is offering camels and chickens for information on location of US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Fuad Muhammad Khalaf of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement in Somalia
made the offer after Friday prayers, according to the SITE Intelligence
Group, which monitors militant organizations.

"Whoever reveals the hideout of the idiot Obama will be rewarded with 10 camels, and whoever reveals the hideout of the old woman Hillary Clinton will be rewarded 10 chickens and 10 roosters," he said, according to SITE.

On Thursday, the US State Department offered a reward of $5 million each for the whereabouts of Khalaf and three associates, as well as $7 million for information about al Shabaab founder and commander Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed. A bounty of $3 million was offered for the location of two other officials of the organization.

Click here for more from The Jerusalem Post.

Cheap Trick lights up The Joint

Ernie Osborn, Tulsa Today

The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s incredible concert venue, played host to one of the biggest and most successful acts of the 70’s and 80’s, Cheap Trick.

Cheap Trick is one of those bands that you either are a fan, or you can’t stand them.  As I was telling people about this show coming to the Tulsa area and my impending excitement about covering them, I was met with both sides.  (Which blew me away to be honest.)  If ever there was a working man’s group of under-achievers it is Cheap Trick.

The Joint filled nicely for this concert, I would say easily more than ¾’s full, all there to see one thing, a throwback to the golden days of rock and roll, done the way it should be, full throttle, no drag.

Although the sound was a little weak to start the show, it kicked into high gear quickly and didn’t slow down for the hour and 4o minutes the band from Rockford, Illinois took to the small, intimate venue.  It proved to be the perfect grouping.

Starting the show with a few standards, a spoken word intro by a petite sounding, ladies voice tells us, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the best (expletive) rock band you have ever seen, Cheap Trick!”  This lead into the show opener, “Hello There.”  “Hello there ladies and gents, are you ready to rock, are you ready or not.”  The song that has served as an opening set song since it’s inception in 1977.  It came about due to the sometimes “lack of a soundcheck for the band and served as a good warm up instead of one of the more melodic songs.” as lead guitarist, Rick Nielson has stated.

From “Hello There” it is an unbridled gallop through some of the greatest straight ahead rock-n-roll ever created.  There is truly not a lot of fluff in Cheap Trick’s music.  It is solid songs that have amazing guitar, bass and vocals as well as pounding drumlins courtesy of Bun E. Carlos, who sadly does not tour with the band any longer, but is still sited as a member.

Vocalist Robin Zander brings his amazing voice to life throughout the set of party anthems and one, two punch legends, “I Want You To Want Me,” “Surrender,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”  The last of which Nielson points out is the only time and Elvis Presley song has reached the Top 10 by another group.  Hamming it up, “Do you know why no other band has ever had a Top 5 hit with an Elvis Presley song? Because it is freaking hard to do, that’s why!”

Zander is clean and crisp in his delivery. It is as if his voice hasn’t aged a bit.  He could give lessons to some better known and higher grossing acts lead singers.  This is how you keep your voice and use it to charm and entertain fans.  I found myself saying over and over, “Man, he sounds incredible.”

The entire show was tight and well done.  I dare say there is no current industry band that can touch the sound and charisma of Cheap Trick.  Must be why they have influenced countless acts over the years and still seem content to do what they do with little or no flare.  This is a band that may be overlooked, but has never been under appreciated.

You owe it to yourself to see these guys live.  You will not be disappointed, that is a promise.

Hello There
Elo Kiddies
(Bronto intro)
California Man
Clock Strikes Ten
Ain’t That a Shame
On Top of the World
Don’t Be Cruel
… I Know What I Want
Need Your Love
Stop This Game
The Flame
I Want You to Want Me
In The Street (That 70’s Show Theme)
Sick Man of Europe
Surrender
Gonna Raise Hell
Dream Police
Goodnight

Photos provided courtesy: Anna Montgomery

OKC film festival winners

Staff Report

Oklahoma City’s deadCENTER Film Festival announced its 2012 award recipients on Saturday evening, June 9, 2012. The awards ceremony was held immediately before the free, outdoor screening of "Under African Skies", on the Great Lawn at the Myriad Gardens.  

"This year, deadCENTER Film Festival’s submissions were judged by 25 individuals from across the country, ranging from film critics and distributors, to academics and filmmakers," said Festival Director Kim Haywood.  "Our winners truly represent independent film voices from around the world."

The 2012 winners are as follows:

Best Narrative Feature, See Girl Run

See Girl Run is what happens when a 30-something woman allows life’s ‘what ifs’ to overwhelm her appreciation for what life actually is. Disregarding her current obligations, she digs into her romantic past in hopes of invigorating her present.

Best Documentary Feature, Beauty Is Embarrassing
Raised in the Tennessee mountains, Wayne White started his career as a cartoonist in NYC. He found success as one of the creators of the Pee-wee’s Playhouse TV show which led to work designing some of the most iconic images in pop culture. The movie features Matt Groening, Mark Mothersbaugh, Todd Oldham, Paul Reubens, Gary Panter, Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Feris and many more.

Special Jury Narrative Feature, Somebody Up There Likes Me
Thirty-five years in the life of Max (Keith Poulson), his best friend Sal (Nick Offerman) and a woman they both adore, Lyla (Jess Weixler). The trio stumble through mandatory but seemingly unfulfilling entanglements, at weddings, funerals, hospitals, eateries, divorce courts and the tool shed. A deadpan fable about time sneaking up on and swerving right around us.

Special Jury Documentary Feature, The Queen of Versailles
A character-driven documentary about a family who attempts to build the biggest house in America. The film intimately documents a billionaire’s rise and fall, amidst economic crisis. The vérité narrative explores varying interpretations of the American Dream through character studies of family members and household employees, as it examines the culture of consumerism.

Narrative Short, After School Special
What do we really know about the people around us? A man and a woman have an awkward encounter at an indoor playground in this Neil LaBute penned slice-of-life starring Sarah Paulson and Wes Bentley.

Documentary Short, A Brief History of John Baldessari
A towering figure in the art world, standing at 6’7", John Baldessari’s epic career crammed into 5 and a half frenzied minutes…narrated by Tom Waits.

Best Student Film, Reprise
Struggling in an abusive same-sex marriage, Meena is forced to confront the reality of her relationship, her life, and the difficult choice between staying and leaving.

Oklahoma Film, Bringing Up Bobby
The story of European con-artist Olive (Milla Jovovich), who flees to Oklahoma with her 10-year-old son in an effort to live out the American Dream. Olive and Bobby blithely charm their way from one adventure to another, but Olive"s criminal past is always in danger of catching up. The stellar cast also features Bill Pullman, Marcia Cross and Rory Cochrane.

Best Short Screenplay, Lightening Round

For more information please visit deadcenterfilm.org.  

OKC film festival winners

Staff Report

Oklahoma City’s deadCENTER Film Festival announced its 2012 award recipients on Saturday evening, June 9, 2012. The awards ceremony was held immediately before the free, outdoor screening of "Under African Skies", on the Great Lawn at the Myriad Gardens.  

"This year, deadCENTER Film Festival’s submissions were judged by 25
individuals from across the country, ranging from film critics and
distributors, to academics and filmmakers," said Festival Director Kim
Haywood.  "Our winners truly represent independent film voices from
around the world." 

The 2012 winners are as follows:

Best Narrative Feature, See Girl Run

See Girl Run is what happens when a 30-something woman allows life’s ‘what ifs’ to overwhelm her appreciation for what life actually is. Disregarding her current obligations, she digs into her romantic past in hopes of invigorating her present.

Best Documentary Feature, Beauty Is Embarrassing
Raised in the Tennessee mountains, Wayne White started his career as a cartoonist in NYC. He found success as one of the creators of the Pee-wee’s Playhouse TV show which led to work designing some of the most iconic images in pop culture. The movie features Matt Groening, Mark Mothersbaugh, Todd Oldham, Paul Reubens, Gary Panter, Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Feris and many more.

Special Jury Narrative Feature, Somebody Up There Likes Me
Thirty-five years in the life of Max (Keith Poulson), his best friend Sal (Nick Offerman) and a woman they both adore, Lyla (Jess Weixler). The trio stumble through mandatory but seemingly unfulfilling entanglements, at weddings, funerals, hospitals, eateries, divorce courts and the tool shed. A deadpan fable about time sneaking up on and swerving right around us.

Special Jury Documentary Feature, The Queen of Versailles
A character-driven documentary about a family who attempts to build the biggest house in America. The film intimately documents a billionaire’s rise and fall, amidst economic crisis. The vérité narrative explores varying interpretations of the American Dream through character studies of family members and household employees, as it examines the culture of consumerism.

Narrative Short, After School Special
What do we really know about the people around us? A man and a woman have an awkward encounter at an indoor playground in this Neil LaBute penned slice-of-life starring Sarah Paulson and Wes Bentley.

Documentary Short, A Brief History of John Baldessari
A towering figure in the art world, standing at 6’7", John Baldessari’s epic career crammed into 5 and a half frenzied minutes…narrated by Tom Waits.

Best Student Film, Reprise
Struggling in an abusive same-sex marriage, Meena is forced to confront the reality of her relationship, her life, and the difficult choice between staying and leaving.

Oklahoma Film, Bringing Up Bobby
The story of European con-artist Olive (Milla Jovovich), who flees to Oklahoma with her 10-year-old son in an effort to live out the American Dream. Olive and Bobby blithely charm their way from one adventure to another, but Olive"s criminal past is always in danger of catching up. The stellar cast also features Bill Pullman, Marcia Cross and Rory Cochrane.

Best Short Screenplay, Lightening Round

For more information please visit deadcenterfilm.org.  

Obama, “Private sector is fine”

David Arnett, Publisher

Earlier today, President Obama twice commented at a press conference in the White House that "the private sector is doing fine."  In response Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said the President must be on another planet. 

Following the quickly changing statements, The Weekly Standard reports, "It’s absolutely clear the economy is not doing fine," Obama said this afternoon, following up his comments from this morning. "That’s the reason I had a press conference. That’s why I spent yesterday, the day before yesterday, this past week, this past month and this past year talking about how we can make the economy stronger. The economy is not doing fine. There are too many people out of work. The housing market is still weak, too many homes underwater and that’s precisely why I asked Congress to start taking some steps that can make a difference.”
 
The president’s second round of comments on the economy are being called a ‘backtrack’ and a ‘clarification.’ But it actually appears that Obama decided to double-down on his earlier remarks.
 
"Now, I think if you look at what I said this morning and what I’ve been saying consistently over the last year, we’ve actually seen some good momentum in the private sector," Obama said in his follow-up remarks. "We’ve seen 4.3 million jobs created — 800,000 this year alone — record corporate profits. And so that has not been the biggest drag on the economy." 

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell responds to President Obama’s address made Friday morning in which he urged Congress to take action on jobs and said the private sector was “doing fine.”

FOX NEWS: Here’s a quote from the president he said, "After losing jobs for 25 months in a row our businesses have actually created jobs for 27 months in a row; 4.3 million jobs in all." It sounds pretty good. Your response?

SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL: Well the President must be on another planet. I mean we just–you just saw the jobs figures last Friday. To argue that the private sector is in good shape. It seems to me as to be completely disconnect from reality. We’ve got a very, very sluggish economy; a very slow growth rate. We’re just barely bumping along and I commend his creativity in trying to find some bright spots, but I don’t think very many Americans see any.

Click here for the video on Fox News.