Short-term forecast from the National Weather Service, Norman
ALFALFA-ARCHER-ATOKA-BAYLOR-BECKHAM-BLAINE-BRYAN-CADDO-CANADIAN-
CARTER-CLAY-CLEVELAND-COAL-COMANCHE-COTTON-CUSTER-DEWEY-ELLIS-FOARD-
GARFIELD-GARVIN-GRADY-GRANT-GREER-HARDEMAN-HARMON-HARPER-HUGHES-
JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSTON-KAY-KINGFISHER-KIOWA-KNOX-LINCOLN-LOGAN-
LOVE-MAJOR- MARSHALL-MCCLAIN-MURRAY-NOBLE-OKLAHOMA-PAYNE-PONTOTOC-
POTTAWATOMIE-ROGER MILLS-SEMINOLE-STEPHENS-TILLMAN-WASHITA-WICHITA-
WILBARGER-
1151 AM CST TUE FEB 14 2012
.REGIONAL WEATHER DISCUSSION…
AREAS OF FOG WILL CONTINUE TO DISSIPATE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME
PATCHES OF DENSE FOG MAY STILL PERSIST THROUGH 1 PM ACROSS PARTS OF
CENTRAL AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA. DRIVERS STILL NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS AS
VISIBILITY COULD CHANGE QUICKLY. VISIBILITIES WILL CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS.
MEANWHILE… TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS… WITH TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING ACROSS THE
AREA. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO WARM INTO THE 40S ACROSS PARTS OF
NORTHERN OKLAHOMA… TO THE 50S AND 60S ALONG THE RED RIVER.
Baby shower honors couple
Robert and Paulette Gordon, Jeffrey Gordon, and Kyler and Stephanie Kanady were at the party in the Gordon home. (Photo provided).
Stephanie and Kyler Kanady were honorees at a “Candy Land and Cocktails” baby shower in the home of Paulette and Robert Gordon. Hostesses were Elizabeth Gillum, Phebe Kallstrom, Jami VanCamp, Jennifer Wallace and Marsha Wooden.
Large lollipops, hard candy and a glittering Candy Land game board was on the table. Large pink bows and life- sized candy decorated the living areas of the house. The library was decorated like a nursery and all the gifts for the baby-to-be were set there.
Foods included spring rolls, marinated kabobs, cupcakes, cookies, cake pops and pecan cups. Rock candy, giant gumballs and chocolate almonds were in large martini glasses.
Chocolate pretzels, cherries, potato chips were wrapped with paper and pink ribbons and personalized with the baby’s name, Olivia Grace, who is due in March.
Among the 75 guests were Anne and Ed Dalton, Helen and Jorge Noriega, Sherry and Raymond Cohlmia, Lynette and Clark Hyde, Charles Lutz, Mary Anne Malone, Jane and Kurt Fleischfresser, Michel Buthion, Alain Buthion, Seyan, Leigh and Virginia Hefner.
RIP John Severin
Comic Book Resources and others are reporting the death of classic comics artist John Severin. The Marvel and EC artist, known for titles including “Two-Fisted Tales” and “The Incredible Hulk” was 90. Severin was also a major contributor to “Cracked” and “MAD.”
Comics professionals responded to the news on Twitter.
“It was one of the highlights of my career to write pages he drew in Iron Fist,” wrote Ed Brubaker. “He was still great, still working, at 90.”
Artist Tony Moore related his childhood memories of Severin, and encouraged everyone to read the artist’s work on EC and MAD.
“Severin was one of my earliest favorites, picking up his stuff in Cracked as a kid,” wrote Tony Moore. “I’m so close to his work, i feel like i’ve lost family.”
“Astronaut Dad” artist Brent Schoonover also shared his reaction.
“RIP John Severin. I’ll always have a stack of MAD magazines that you worked on and made me laugh like crazy,” Schoonover wrote.
A statement from the family has been released at The Beat.
- Matt Price
Happy Valentine’s Day 2012!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of my Nerdage readers!
Archaia sent out a special Valentine’s Day card from the creators of “Mr. Murder is Dead” to celebrate the holiday. It’s in the style of the paper Valentines that grade school kids cut out and share, but with a “Mr. Murder” twist.
Here’s a description of the graphic novel from Archaia:
Mr. Murder Is Dead is an original graphic novel first published by Archaia in September 2011. There’s been a murder—Mr. Murder is found dead! Old Gould Kane, long into his retirement as a top cop, looks to be the #1 suspect with a motive so deep and intense even Gould’s old partner suspects him. But the truth is Gould’s the only cop worth a damn to solve the cryptic case. The clues could lead Gould to a new and perhaps even greater profession in his twilight… as a very bad man. Mr. Murder is Dead is a “who didn’t do it” set in the fading world of Golden Age comic strips. A criminal’s lament to all things past, present and meaningless. Written by Victor Quinaz and illustrated by Brent Schoonover (Astronaut Dad). Published in partnership with Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek,” “Heroes”) and Before the Door.
Click past the cut for the Valentine’s Day card!
- Matt Price
Power Lunch Chat with Darnell Mayberry
Video: ‘Transformers’ reboot already?! Oy vey, Michael Bay
Now with more explosions! (And hopefully less Shia LaBeouf)
Speaking with MTV, “Transformers” franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura announced a couple worthwhile things: A fourth “Transformers” movie is coming in 2014, and it’s going to be a reboot.
A reboot? Already? But the first film came out in 2007! This is worse than the entire “Spider-Man” reboot idea (although I am looking forward to Marc Webb’s movie.)
‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ trailer: If ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘Underworld’ had a love child…
Because the man wasn't busy enough already.
Vampires are on their way out. “Twilight” films are almost over, and it seems people care less and less about the blood suckers with each passing day. Still, that’s not going to stop studios from doing what they want to do.
Case in point: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”
A look at the formation of freezing fog from Gary McManus of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey
A look at the development of the fog, freezing fog from Gary McManus, Oklahoma Climatological Survey
1. Light winds prevent any of that heat radiating to space to mix back down towards the surface, and the surface is allowed to cool quite effectively.
Light winds are a key component in the formation of radiation fog (and also keeping it around).
2. The air temperature cools to its condensation point (or dewpoint).
3. The Relative Humidity where the air temperature has reached its dewpoint will be 100 percent.
4. Now for the final ingredient … temperatures at or below 32 degrees. If the air is at the freezing point or below, the fog that does form will freeze on exposed surfaces (such as roads), and a full-fledged freezing fog event is born.
Low-lying areas can be colder than the surrounding terrain as that colder and more dense air sinks to the lowest available point, so even an above normal reading on the map can be misleading.
As the sun climbs higher in the sky and starts to warm things up, the air will start to mix a bit and the temperature will rise above the condensation point.
At that point, the fog will start to “burn off” as the water droplets evaporate back into the air.
Happy fourth birthday to BAM’s Blog!
Happy birthday to BAM’s Blog!
On Feb. 14, 2008, I posted my very first entry on the brand-new BAM’s Blog: a list of my favorite films appropriate for Valentine’s Day viewing.
Since, the blog has become home to nearly 9,000 posts and more than 38,000 comments. For the past two years, the blog has earned more than 1 million page views a year and developed a loyal fan base.
This year, we’ve continued the tradition of posting a Valentine’s Day DVD list, which you can view here.
As part of our custom around here, we’re also collecting various items for an upcoming prize-pack. Watch for more information about that soon!
Thanks for helping to make BAM’s Blog a success!
-BAM
BAM’s Blog fifth annual Valentine’s Day DVD list
"Stardust"
Way back on Feb. 14, 2008, I posted my very first entry on the brand-new BAM’s Blog: a list of my favorite films appropriate for Valentine’s Day viewing.
The list was conveniently subdivided into different categories so that lovebirds of every feather could find the ideal cinematic treat for Valentine’s Day.
Some traditions are worth keeping, so here is the 2012 edition of BAM’s Blog recommended Valentine’s Day movies. It’s been updated to include a few new films that I’m loving on this day of devotion. As an added bonus, I previewed the list Monday in the Life section of The Oklahoman, on NewsOK and here on the blog; here is the full, official list.
So for this middle-of-the-week Valentine’s Day, curl up with your valentine and a good DVD, Blu-ray or Netflix stream:
"The Philadelphia Story"
Romantic comedies
The films in this category must be both uproariously funny and aw-inspiringly romantic. For all the rom-coms coming out of Hollywood, it’s telling that this part of the list gets updated the least:
“It Happened One Night” (1934): An out-of-work reporter (Clark Gable) and rebellious heiress (Claudette Colbert) take a bumpy road trip in Frank Capra’s Oscar-winner.
“The Philadelphia Story” (1940): Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant get entangled in a love pentagon in this classic screwball comedy, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies.
“North to Alaska” (1960): For those fans of John Wayne or a good Western, check out this romantic screwball story about a pair of pals, Sam (Wayne) and George (Stewart Granger), who strike gold in Alaska. When Sam returns to Seattle to fetch back George’s French fiance, he finds she has married another. Determined to head off his buddy’s broken heart, Sam recruits a gorgeous French prostitute named Angel (Capucine) to become George’s new lady-love. Soon, Sam, George and George’s teenage brother Billy (Fabian) are all vying for Angel’s affections.
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989): Hilarity ensues as Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) move from loathing to friendship to love.
“While You Were Sleeping” (1995): Lucy (Sandra Bullock) forms a crush on a handsome man (Peter Gallagher), saves his life, is mistaken for his fiancee and falls for his charming brother (Bill Pullman).
“Bridget Jones’s Diary”(2001): Brit Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) tries to improve her life and find real love in this chick flick.
"Jane Eyre"
Happily ever after
Fairy tales and other fantasies appear here; in this category, the path to true love may be perilous, but love eventually wins the day:
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961): True love develops between professional escort Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) and kept man Paul “Fred” Varjak (George Peppard) in the iconic film from the late, great director Blake Edwards, a Tulsa native.
“Ladyhawke” (1985): A knight (Rutger Hauer) and his lady fair (Michelle Pfeiffer) must break the curse set on them by an evil bishop (John Wood). Just try to ignore the dated ’80s soundtrack from The Alan Parsons Project collaborator Andrew Powell. (I’m just sure music in the 12th century didn’t use quite so many synthesizers.)
“Pretty Woman” (1990): The movie that elevated Julia Roberts to superstardom features the redhead as a down-on-her-luck prostitute who is hired by a rich, disconnected businessman (Richard Gere) as his escort for various business and social functions. Naturally, they fall in love and make each other better people and all that.
“Serendipity” (2001): Suspend your disbelief and enjoy Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara’s (Kate Beckinsale) efforts to find one another after their magical first meeting. The film recently was released on Blu-ray, for extra lovely viewing.
“Stardust” (2007): Neil Gaiman’s fairy tale for grown-ups has all the necessary ingredients: an enchanted kingdom, wicked villains and, of course, a happy ending.
“Enchanted” (2007): An evil queen’s (Susan Sarandon) spell sends a wide-eyed animated fairytale princess (Amy Adams) to the mean streets of real-life New York, where she charms everyone, including a cynical single dad/divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey).
“Letters to Juliet” (2010): An American girl (Amanda Seyfried) vacationing in Italy finds and answers a 50-year-old letter to Juliet. In the process of helping the writer (Vanessa Redgrave) find her long-lost true love, the young American gets her own chance at real romance.
“The Tempest” (2010): Many universal themes are involved in what is widely considered one of Shakespeare’s last and best plays, including betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, and yes, love. Director Julie Taymor’s adaptation features a gender switch in the main role of the wizard Prospero, with Dame Helen Mirren making the magic as Prospera. But the love story between Prospera’s innocent daughter Miranda (Felicity Jones) and the courtly Prince Ferdinand (Reeve Carney) remains unchanged and romantic as ever.
“Jane Eyre” (2011): Director Cary Fukunaga (“Sin Nombre”) and his talented young cast, including Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender and Jamie Bell, bring fresh energy to the often-adapted gothic tale. Every aspect of the narrative is heightened: The mystery crackles with suspense, the romance smolders with sensuality, and the coming-of-age story flares with intensity.
"(500) Days of Summer"
Bittersweet treats
If you need or enjoy a good weep, one of these films just might be for you. Some of the endings are kind of happy, others are a bit tragic, but love is what makes the world go ‘round in these tales:
“Casablanca” (1942): Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman give up their passionate love affair to save the world from the Nazis. Sigh. A classic.
“Roman Holiday” (1953): I don’t think you can have a romantic DVD list with too much Audrey Hepburn, so I’m also recommending this classic gem starring the elfin actress as a sheltered and restless princess who gives her handlers the slip and finds love and adventure with an American journalist, played by the dashing Gregory Peck. In the end, they can never be together, but they’ll always have Rome.
“Like Water for Chocolate” (1992): Tita (Lumi Cavazos) and Pedro (Marco Leonardi) are desperately in love, but tradition prohibits Tita, the youngest daughter in her family, from marrying, instead condemning her to a lifetime of caring for her tyrannical mother (Regina Torne). The Mexican movie was nominated for a 1993 Golden Globe for best foreign language film.
“Titanic” (1997): Writer-director James Cameron’s blockbuster romance/disaster about a poor young artist named Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is struggling to get home to America and a beautiful socialite named Rose (Kate Winslet) who is being forced to marry to solve her family’s financial issues and how they fall in love just before their grand ship hits an iceberg will get an appropriately epic 3D and IMAX theatrical re-release on April 4. But if you can’t wait to let your heart go on the adventure, you can always set sail a little early in the privacy of your own home.
“Once” (2007): A Dublin, Ireland, street musician (Glen Hansard) and talented Eastern European immigrant (Marketa Irglova) make beautiful music together, but she has a husband and he has a girlfriend. Will they become a duet or go their separate ways? The movie, which won a best original song Oscar for the gorgeous theme “Falling Slowly,” has been adapted for the stage and is set to debut soon on Broadway.
“Becoming Jane” (2007): Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) falls in love with roguish Irishman Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) in this speculative romance. Austen never married, so that’s a hint that all will not go well.
“(500) Days of Summer” (2009): In his feature film debut, Marc Webb, director of the upcoming reboot “The Amazing Super-Man,” cast off the wretched conventions of modern- day romantic comedies, telling an emotionally resonant love story with a nonlinear plot line, amazing soundtrack and strong performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
“Up” (2009): The Oscar-winning computer-animated tale by the Pixar geniuses has zany talking dogs, a crazy colorful flightless bird and the vivid spectacle of a house sent aloft by millions of balloons. But the heart of the poignant story is a grieving widower (voice of Ed Asner) making the trip he and his late wife planned but never got around to taking. And it’s a more stalwart soul than I who can make it through the montage of Carl and Ellie’s life without crying.
"Gnomeo & Juliet"
Family-friendly fare
So what if you have a couple of tykes snuggled between you and your sweetie on the couch? You can still enjoy a romantic movie that’s appropriate for the whole clan:
Any of the Disney “princess” movies: The ones with my favorite heroines include “Mulan,” “Aladdin” and “Tangled,” along with “Beauty and the Beast,” which is still showing in 3-D in some movie theaters.
“The Princess Bride” (1987): Westley (Cary Elwes) refuses to let pirates, a prince or even death come between him and his Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright).
“Shrek” (2001) and “Shrek 2” (2004): Grumpy ogre Shrek (voice of Mike Myers) and his Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) discover that their love isn’t based on society’s rules of beauty. And that’s OK.
“WALL-E” (2008): A lonely trash-compacting robot finds a hand to hold with a sleek probe droid in another of Pixar’s winners for best animated film.
“Gnomeo & Juliet”(2011): I’m not one to classify movies as guilty pleasures; I firmly believe different films have different purposes and there’s no point in feeling guilty if a stupid comedy makes you chuckle or a big-budget actioner gets your pulse pounding. But I feel a bit sheepish in admitting that I was utterly charmed by Disney’s transformation of The Bard’s greatest tragedy into a zanily animated, happily-ever-after comedy about a pair of garden gnomes (voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt) who fall in love despite the feud between their respective color-coded families of backyard knick-knacks. Watch it with your kids and be prepared to giggle a lot and have Elton John songs stuck in your head for days.
"The Terminator"
Romance and weapons
Say you enjoy your romance mixed with plenty of action, maybe even some cinematic gunplay. Consider yourself locked and loaded with these films:
“The Terminator” (1984): Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) travels across time to save Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) from the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). He travels across time for her! Now that’s romantic.
“True Lies” (1994): A mild-mannered wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) gets drawn into the action and danger when she discovers that her seemingly boring husband (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is actually an elite government spy.
“Desperado” (1995): It’s got Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek falling in love between all the flying bullets, so this actioner offers everyone someone quite nice to look at.
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005): Shawnee-born Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have smokin’ chemistry as assassins on opposite sides.
“300” (2006): Sure, most of this pumped-up Greek legend is focused on big battle sequences and impressive pectorals, but King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) make one hot power couple.
“Thor” (2011): Chris Hemsworth quite ably supplies the brawn as the Norse god cast down to Earth, but Oscar winner Natalie Portman gets to be the brains as relentlessly curious and lovably disorganized astrophysicist Jane Foster in the movie version of the Marvel Comic.
“Drive” (2011): Director Nicolas Winding Refn’s sun- and blood-soaked slice of Los Angeles neo-noir isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you can handle some Tarantino-level outbursts of violence, you can marvel at the crackling chemistry between Ryan Gosling as the enigmatic Hollywood stunt driver/getaway wheelman and Carey Mulligan as the lovely, vulnerable, single-mom neighbor who opens his heart and changes his life without even trying. And yes, their kiss in the elevator is as sexy as you’ve been led to believe
-BAM