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This can’t really be
the middle of November, can it? I find it incredibly hard to
believe that I have only one week to prepare for Thanksgiving.
It seems like last week I was wondering if the lilacs would
ever bloom. A quick note to our younger readers (if you aren’t
bored already): Time really does pass more quickly as you get
older. I’m not sure what causes time to speed up with
age, but enjoy feeling bored while you can. It ain’t gonna
last.
Another holiday has crept up on me, and I’m left with
two big goals to accomplish before football (I mean turkey)
day. The first is to get a big ol’ turkey for my friends
and family to slice up and eat, and the second is to go and
shoot my guns a bunch of times. Thanks to the folks at the Durango
Gun Club, I can do both at the same time!
This Sunday the 24th, we all are invited to head out to the
outdoor shooting range on La Posta Road to either shoot for
or at turkeys. (My information is a little vague but it is called
a “turkey shoot” after all.)
Prizes are awarded for rifle shots, pistol shots and something
called “luck shots.” This is what I imagine: “Dang,
he’s lucky he didn’t shoot Merle, give him a turkey.”
The shootin’ starts at 10 a.m.
If you want some live theater in your life this weekend and
you love children, then your perfect match is happening at the
Durango Arts Center Nov. 21-23. Area children are presenting
us with their dramatic performance of the C.S. Lewis classic,
“The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.”
I can think of two reasons to recommend this night out. Firstly,
this was one of my favorite childhood books. I read it at least
three times even though my parents had cable. Secondly, I recommend
the play because several of the actors’ parents told me
to. Actually, would it kill ya to give the children a little
love? Much fun can be had by re-visiting the land of Narnia
and supporting the Children’s Museum at the same time.
Tickets are $7 to $10, but a bargain at twice the price. I’ll
be there Friday chasing a small girl around the audience.
If you want to see a movie this weekend, then the Abbey Theatre
is the only place to be. Michael Moore’s landmark movie
“Bowling for Columbine” opens
there on Saturday, Nov. 23. In this movie, Moore sets out to
answer the daunting question “Are we a nation of gun nuts
or are we just nuts?”
Moore also directed the spectacular movies “Roger and
Me” and “Canadian Bacon” and was host of the
short-lived but brilliant television show “TV Nation.”
His new movie examines our country’s love affair with
guns, its antiquated gun laws and their consequences. If you
don’t already know this, an average of five children are
shot and killed every day. If you ask me, that’s about
six too many. In other so-called modern countries, kids never
get shot. Go see “Bowling for Columbine” if you
don’t believe me. You might be surprised or sickened.
Those wishing to see some live music this weekend will want
go to Storyville on Saturday to see the Beautiful
Losers, a local rock and roll band with not only the
best name in the Four Corners, but they may also make the best
posters. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. Get down there and support
local live music. The Beautiful Losers are a cool band that
you ought to see.
This Week’s Sign the End Is Near:
The news ticker at the bottom of the 24-hour news channels came
in the aftermath of 9-11 and was an important source of information
for the news hungry, and that was great.
But now the ticker has gone too far. The E! Network, famous
for its Anna Nicole Smith semi-reality show and oh, NOTHING
ELSE, now runs a ticker at the bottom of its screen informing
viewers of “celebrity” gossip and irrelevant Hollywood
“news.”
This Week’s Album to Disregard:
Over the years I’ve awaited each new release by Steve
Earle with great anticipation and have never been let down.
In fact, I held off writing about his latest, “Jerusalem,”
until I could find something decent to say about it. Well here
it is: On Steve Earle’s most recent release, half of the
songs are under three minutes long. In truth, “Jerusalem”
is an over-produced, politically far-reaching mess. A song about
John Walker Lindh that has generated much controversy is, well,
boring, as is much of the rest of the album. Earle’s main
strength, telling compelling stories with music that fits the
tone, seems lost here amid back-up singers, hand claps and tape
loops. “Jerusalem” is not without its moments, though.
“What’s a simple man to do?” and “Go
Amanda” are great songs. Unfortunately, these moments
are few and far between.
Michael Moore for prez? mpsheahan@yahoo.com
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