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The Book Club: The new Jesmyn Ward novel, plus more reader reviews

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. Sure, you could read advertising blurbs on Amazon, but wouldn’t you be more likely to believe a neighbor with no skin in the game over a corporation being fed words by publishers? So in this series, we are sharing these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].“Let Us Descend,” by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner, 2023)“Let Us Descend,” by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner, 2023)The title comes from a quote from Dante’s Inferno, “Let us descend and enter this blind world.”  The main character, Annis, does indeed enter a hellscape when she is sold from a rice plantation in the Carolinas and force-marched to New Orleans, where she is sold to a heartless sugar plantation owner.  Memories and visions of Annis’ mother and grandmother, an African warrior, help sustain her along the way. Do these and o...

How “The Met: Live in HD” changed opera

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

The Met brings back “Carmen” with Aigul Akhmetshina on Jan. 27. (Provided by The Met)When the New York City-based Metropolitan Opera began broadcasting live performances to movie theaters across the country 17 years ago, regional companies saw it as an existential threat.If The Met — considered by many to be the nation’s biggest, best, richest and most-talented company — was going to be offering its fare in every major metropolis, how could smaller, local presenters compete? Some feared they could be put out of business the way small hardware stores were damaged by Home Depot.But the opposite happened. The Met’s “Live in HD” productions have flourished. As predicted, opera fans near and far seized the opportunity to attend the company’s productions exactly as they were happening in New York — huge stars performing grand titles that were not pre-recorded.Over the years, The Met has expanded its programs to theaters in smaller towns, and in countries across the globe. The ...

Colorado lawmakers often win seats with dozens of votes. Would a different process to fill vacancies be fairer?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

When Colorado’s state legislature reconvenes in January, nearly a quarter of its 100 members will be lawmakers who owe part of their political rise to an appointment by a small vacancy committee.The insular process is one that legislators and political observers alike say is opaque and anti-democratic. Called when sitting representatives or senators leave office, vacancy committees are made up of partisan voters — typically a few dozen strong — who select the replacements to represent districts of up to 169,000 people until the next regular election.The two major parties have made seven vacancy appointments in the past 12 months alone, with an eighth scheduled for Monday.“I’m against them, after going through it and seeing it play out,” said Rep. Ron Weinberg, a Loveland Republican appointed to the state House by a vacancy committee last year. “I think it hurts the community.”The committees are a tool born of efficiency, frugality and speed in a state with term lim...

One of Colorado’s loveliest campgrounds is also one its most historic | Opinion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).There’s an unusual piece of Colorado history tucked away next to a gentle creek in the Wet Mountains southwest of Pueblo – one that’s worth exploring. To find it, wind your way from Interstate 25 south of Pueblo along rural Colorado Highway 165, then take a right at Forest Road 382. Bump down the dirt road for 2 miles to the Davenport Campground in the San Isabel National Forest.Built on both sides of Squirrel Creek and with a handful of log cabin-style Adirondack picnic shelters, rough-hewn tables and stone cooking in a large community shelter, Davenport, which is tent-only, was created to reproduce the feel and atmosphere of what was probably the oldest modern-style campground on forest service land in the country.That older facility, w...

Instances of drivers behaving badly in Colorado backcountry are on the rise, outdoor officials say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

U.S. Forest Service district ranger Josh Voorhis has become accustomed to receiving daily calls about illegal driving in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, as well as the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands within his jurisdiction.Most times, Voorhis only witnesses the damage caused by reckless drivers, such as tracks through a muddy meadow. But Aug. 27 was different.That day, Voorhis’ team was tending to two incidents in which drivers found themselves in precarious situations. The first made national news after a driver accidentally climbed a hiking trail toward Mt. Lincoln, one of Colorado’s famous 14ers, in Park County. The white GMC Canyon truck got stuck in the alpine scree on its way to the 14,295-foot summit.The second happened on Mosquito Pass where the driver of a red truck went off trail and rolled the vehicle down a mountain slope near hikers, who captured the incident on video. Both situations underscore a troubling trend in Colorado where the number of driv...

Woman flees child custody dispute in San Pedro, crashes U-Haul truck

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

A woman involved in a child custody dispute crashed after fleeing a Target parking lot in San Pedro Sunday night.Police responded to the parking lot near North Gaffey Street and West Capitol Drive shortly before 9:30 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department officer Cervantes confirmed. Police investigate after a U-Haul truck crashed during a pursuit on Oct. 2, 2023. (OnScene.TV)A woman in her 30s got into a U-Haul pickup truck after being contacted by officers and appeared to intentionally strike a female pedestrian.The unidentified pedestrian was treated at the scene and released.Officers opened fire on the truck as the woman fled westbound on Capitol Drive.As police pursued the vehicle the driver eventually crashed into a tree near the intersection of Gaffey and West Paseo Del Mar in Point Fermin Park area. 12-year-old boy killed in father’s suspected DUI crash The woman, who had no gunshot wounds, suffered minor injuries in the crash and was transported to a local hospital after be...

A Few Warnings On CBD Oil & Diarrhea

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

Diarrhea is embarrassing, but it’s a serious problem when left unaddressed. Recent surveys also suggest that diarrhea-related complaints are more common in older demographics. Therefore, it’s crucial for seniors interested in taking CBD oil to understand the potential side effects associated with this cannabinoid.As you may have already guessed, diarrhea is one of the more commonly reported reactions related to CBD oil. Although most healthy adults don’t experience side effects when taking CBD, not everyone reacts to hemp in the same way. We feel it’s best to arm you with knowledge on the “worst-case scenario” so you know how to respond safely and efficiently when you try CBD products.Does CBD Trigger Diarrhea or Other Digestive Issues?Ironically, many people use CBD to treat digestive-related problems, including irritable bowel syndrome and a lack of appetite. For some patients, CBD’s anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory benefits help settle ...

Rett Madison Loves the Mac

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

Fleetwood MacGreatest Hits (Warner Bros.)Rett Madison Loves the Mac: Singer, songwriter and musician Rett Madison told us about her love for a classic Fleetwood Mac comp.(Warner Bros.)Rett Madison: Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits was the soundtrack to my earliest memories of my mother, Jackie. Whenever we’d take a drive through the Appalachian hills, my mother—most often adorned in leopard print and large black sunglasses—would sing along to Stevie Nicks’ vocals in between drags of her Marlboro Reds.My most requested song from the back seat of my mom’s 1996 Mercedes was “Everywhere.” As a little girl, I was entranced by Christine McVie’s vocal and I affectionally nicknamed it the “The Magic Song” because the intro reminded me of spells and wind chimes. I was blown away to learn as an adult that the intro was actually a half-speed acoustic and electric guitar combined.Whenever I feel homesick or nostalgic, Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits is my go-to album. The songs on this album have co...

Why the Oakland A’s on-field struggles could last for years

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

The A’s were historically bad this season while winding up with a hideous 50-112 record after losing Sunday’s season finale. Even worse, there’s little reason to believe things will get a lot better over the next few years.The stench of losing like this won’t go away overnight.History has shown it’s extremely difficult for a team to lose 112 or more games in a season. Somehow, John Fisher’s A’s made it look relatively easy for much of the year — at least for those who could bear to watch — while becoming just the eighth team in MLB’s 121-year-old Modern Era to lose 112 or more games.As such, the A’s were one of the teams who experienced a clinching game this week. While the others celebrated division titles or playoff berths, there were no champagne bottles passed out when the A’s clinched the worst record in the majors for just the second time in their 55 years in Oakland – joining their 97-loss ’97 team.Signs of trouble this season f...

Draymond’s health and Chris Paul’s role among 4 hot topics to follow heading into Warriors’ media day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:54:48 GMT

The Warriors are heading into preseason determined to right what went wrong in a failed title defense.“We need to have a good training camp,” coach Steve Kerr said last week. “It’s imperative that we get off to a better start this year not just in terms of our record but in terms of our preparation.”A long offseason after a disappointing loss in the Western Conference semifinals forced the Warriors to give themselves a hard look in the mirror. Months have passed; the roster has undergone some major changes as the Warriors depart from their two-timeline plan and are in a win-now mode.Kerr did some self-reflecting during his summer away and acknowledged he needs to be better, too.“It’s a lot easier for me to come in as a coach and be more demanding,” he said. “I think the players will expect that, too.”Buckle up, it all starts this week.Camp officially opens Tuesday, but the Warriors will hold media day on Monday. There will be plenty of storylines to fol...