Finding a cure for Peter Pan-itis

To the editor,
I read your article about the dating scene in Durango. I think its a great idea and I applaud people who put themselves out there for love.

I also really appreciate FINALLY having an official diagnosis. Peter Pan Syndrome must indeed be real. Apparently the symptoms to watch out for are: healthy, single men my age who love their lives, their own company and most likely have a hairy beast that likes to tag along.

I can’t thank these women enough for helping me figure out what is wrong with me. I plan on starting therapy immediately. It will consist of video sessions that feature the renowned relationship expert Carrie Bradshaw, listening and agreeing clinics, when and when not to wear Chacos schedules, how to comprehend what is meant vs. what is said classes, and physical fitness routines so that I can handle the heavy baggage.

Again, thank you. Peter Pan Syndrome is an awful thing to live with. It is only awareness that will bring us a cure.

Soon I hope we can begin to focus all our attention on finding relief for an even more serious issue that has a fatality rate of over 50 percent: marriage.

Till there are proper and sufficient support systems in place, the best direction we can take is: “Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning. ”No one puts baby in a corner,
– Shane Nelson, Durango

Getting the shaft from the Shelf

To the editor,
As a former entertainment writer from 1986-94 for a Telluride newspaper, I really appreciate the Telegraph hosting a weekly entertainment article to inform the people of upcoming shows. I faithfully read the article every Thursday to make sure I support the plethora of live music offerings, else these offerings dwindle.

I appreciate editorial freedoms within an 4

entertainment  article IF the freedoms don’t limit the attention given to upcoming musical events. Again last week, “Top Shelf” exemplifies its narcissistic bent by dedicating 7.5 inches of copy unrelated to music (this time sports rather than beer) and 10 inches to music. In those 10 inches, 3.5 inches were dedicated to either Telluride events or sold out shows (how is that helping promote music?) No problem if our local offerings were covered, but they are not.

I wonder if it is a payola paradigm where if you don’t pay you don’t get played (in this case don’t advertise, we don’t write about your event). Or is it because the event is not a beer/sports related event. Or was the event not covered because it is not a picking and grinning musical event, those get covered even if they are sold out. Or is it because the event is on a Thursday, the day this fine rag hits the streets, leaving just a few hours notice for Thursday events.

On Sunday, I submitted an event to be considered for “Top Shelf.” Did I miss the unstated deadline for consideration? Whatever the reason, a reply from the writer would have been courteous. You are probably reading this too late but please help support a local person “sticking their neck out on this one” (no I am not Beth Warren, see Feb. 13 “Top Shelf”) and consider attending El Ten Eleven Tues., Feb. 18 or Tarrus Riley tonight Thurs., Feb. 20, both events at the Animas City Theatre.

Tarrus Riley is one of the genre’s largest selling artists, a Jamaican superstar doing a little door gig here in Durango on his gigantic worldwide tour. You could have read more interesting information had Top Shelf dedicated even an inch to covering the first Jamaican reggae concert in three years outside of Charles Leslie’s commitment to offering all types of music at the Community Concert Hall. I just wish Chris Aaland showed the same unbiased, community atuned direction with his Top Shelf article. Is it a music article?
– Rasta Stevie Smith, Laplataopia, Colorado

Editor’s reply: We assure you there is no payola paradigm or anti-reggae conspiracy here, just limited space. As a weekly paper, we can only fit events for the upcoming week (Thursday - Wednesday) in the Top Shelf. Sorry if this creates a timing conundrum for you. In the meantime, you will see a write-up of the Tarrus Riley show, which takes place tonite, Feb. 20, on p. 17 in this week’s “Top Shelf.” No pay-off necessary.

Good luck speed daters

To the editor,
I read with huge grins the story on the speed dating experience last month. From 2003-05, I founded and directed San Juan Singles (see story in archives). Our first event was a speed dating line in Buckley Park with about 50 participants. Another 50 were on the edges of the park, checking it out. We had monthly mixers, and I had sign ups for hiking, skiing, mountain biking, floating rivers and exploring Ancestral Puebloan sites.

We became great friends, and yes, they are my second family out here. What I heard 10 or more years ago in Durango is similar to what the person heard this year.

At a bar, a woman in her 30s commented on how there weren’t any datable men in their 30s in Durango. She wasn’t interested in the men who came for the “season” for the rivers, the bike trails, the backcountry skiing or the rock climbing. She was looking for the 30-something man in Durango who had a job or a gig lined up, paid his bills and didn’t hang around drinking beer and smoking pot all day. Let’s hope she finds him in 2014.

As I look at 50 this year, I came back to Southwest Colorado after a year in New York because this is where I want to be. And that, my friends, is half the challenge. Peace.
– Tom Schillaci

Wing nut flying off the handle

To the editor,
Quick, grab your guns, the black helicopters are coming! Yep, the Republican messaging machine is at it again, playing loose with the facts, this time against Sen. Mark Udall. One Steven Coy, of Cortez, has invoked the specter of our loss of freedom to the U.N., that ever useful right wing dog whistle in a letter to the Durango Herald, (02/07/2014) entitled “Udall voted to let the UN take our guns.” This would be of concern if it were not so wildly off the mark.

Sen. Udall has been a strong advocate for Colorado’s sportsmen and gun owners. In fact, during the gun debates of 2013 he stood up for our rights and opposed an overly broad gun ban. He also stood with the majority of Coloradans and voted for a common-sense step to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

His alleged vote on the U.N. treaty came during budget proceedings and, contrary to Mr. Coy’s assertions, did not undermine our Second Amendment rights. The treaty itself would have zero effect on U.S. gun sales or policy. It would only bar other countries from exporting weapons to international human rights abusers and criminals abroad.

The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty is a red herring and warnings of an “international gun registry” are fodder for wing nuts. Mr. Coy and all Coloradans should know better.
– Christopher H. Isensee, Durango