If you go out today and ask an Angelino (someone who lives in Los Angeles) when “opening weekend” is, he’ll probably ask you, “For which movie?”
If you ask a Minnesotan when opening weekend is, he’ll instead ask you, “For pheasant (a type of bird) or deer?”
In Los Angeles and in most parts of the country, opening weekend usually refers to the first weekend a movie is released (shown in the theaters).
In Minnesota and neighboring (nearby) states, opening weekend refers to the first weekend of the fall (autumn) when you can go out and hunt (try to kill) certain kinds of animals.
Hunting is part of the culture of many areas in the Upper Midwest, a part of the country that includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, and Iowa (and maybe parts of Michigan). Although my father was never a hunter (and neither am I), I had lots of friends who hunted deer and other animals each year. My uncle hunted deer with a bow and arrow (see photo). A good friend of mine would (used to) hunt pheasant with a rifle.
Hunting may seem cruel (mean; unkind) to many people, but hunters say that it actually helps keep the animal population from getting too big. (Animals probably have a different opinion.)
Hunting is still mostly a man’s sport; you’ll find very few women in a hunting party (group of hunters). But although hunting is supposed to be for tough guys (men who are strong), many hunters try to provide themselves with a little comfort by building deer stands to keep themselves warm during the cold Midwest hunting season (time of year).
A deer stand is a place you can sit and wait for the deer to walk by. It can be as simple as a small chair, but more elaborate (complicated; complex) deer stands are like little houses, with doors, windows, heaters, and a place to eat!
The problem with deer stands is that some men build them on public (government) land (property) without the government’s permission (saying it is okay). The stands sometimes are abandoned (left without anyone taking care of them) and often kill the trees they are attached (connected) to.
As a result (because of this), officials (government workers) in some states have started to crack down (to punish) on the owners of these illegal deer stands, especially the larger stands. Hunters can now be fined (punished by being made to pay money to the government) for building deer stands on government land.
So, when is opening weekend?
For the latest James Bond movie, it was last weekend. For hunting deer with a rifle (large gun) in Minnesota, it’s this weekend.
Both involve guns, but only one will have beautiful women.
~Jeff
Photo credit: Hun bow, Wikipedia CC
Interesting note, thank you.
Thanks Jeff for today’s new words.
There is this man I know, he is the father of my brother’s partner wich is from the northern part of switzerland.
They live on the Alps region and they go deer hunting.
Well, he got bitten by the deer’s tick and got very sick. I can’t say I was happy but I thought: it serves him right!.
And, just the other day there was this local news here (Italy) that a kid got shot in the head by a hunter.
These kind of accidents happen every year.
As a blog’s user I know we cannot post links, but I would like to suggest to my friends here about this site were you can listen to
many beautiful stories from mother tongue speakers.
Very interesting and moving stories worth listening.
I found it listening to NPR. Just google Hearing Voices.
If you, like me enjoy listening to other ‘s people story I am sure you’ll appreciate like I did.
Thanks
That one is great, Jeff, you are a spotless teller.
Love the way you joke sometimes, humor is everything for a good man, IMO. Your wife and your close people are downright lucky with you, I wish I could have someone humorous and jolly like you in my life. You are gorgeous, really, man, I just can’t realize how can you live on this planet being such an extraterrestrial person? People ought to kneel before you and you shall be their beloved King. Sorry if something is not right and queer but please keep that in your mind.
And one more question. Jeff, do you read the comments underneath your articles here on ESLpod?
If so, leave a reply too, mentioning me and other people who adore you and praise your grace. 😀
Wish you good health, staunch friends and people who are no traitors and a pleasant productive week with no accidents.
Hello everyone,
I have forgot to say Thanks General Petraeus.
Knowing that people at that level make those mistakes is almost reassuring.
See! they are like us thay also make stupid mistake.
Wow! I have made peace with the world.
Thanks
Dear Jeff ,
Such a extracurricular activity 🙂
Inyeresting!
So, people in Upper Midwest of U.S. have a license to kill:)))))
Did u get it?
The latest James Bond movie just released.
Talk about fitting in :)))
There are deer stands here in Canda as well , but they are not used by many oeople
Most people who follow the sport at least in Toronto, prefer to go out there and hunt their preys down. I mean , they like going after ,in other words ,trace them. U know ,half of fun is lurking and wait around.
It is not an stationary sport.
Most hunters , here ,go deep
Into the forest pitch tents and stay there sometimes for one week or two
Another related sport that is quite popular here ,In Canada is fishing. There is a certain time of the year that people are allowed to go to some designated places and catch fish
Some places are just for catch and release. You are banned to haul fish at thoes places.
I’ll tell u, it is a messy ,wet sport.
I did it once
We had a complete set of hunting gear. Nevertheless , it was quite a hassle
Definitely , not quite suited for women. Quitter activity is pretty much biohazard.
I mean a messy , slushy sport
Thanks
Hi!
“Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away;
…………………………………………
For the grapes’sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost
For the grapes’sake along the wall.”
“October” by Robert Frost (1874 – 1963)
Hi!
“I shot an arrow into the air,
…………………………………
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from the beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.”
“The Arrow and the Song” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 – 1882)
Hi! For sure Robin Hood forgot his bow and arrow by the tree.
Robin Hood is heroic outlaw in English folklore, highly skilled archer and swordsman, known for “robbing from the rich and giving to the poor”.
I have read this historical novel by Sir Walter Scott.
If you ask a Brazilian “when weekend is”, he/she will probaly as: “Which football game”?
Tania,
All the evidence points out that you are into poetry big time!!
It is a cool quality
It brings to mind one question , though
Just a wonder!
Are you a poet of some sorts in your mother tongue?
You strike me as a romantic , sensitive gal.
I like the poem you put up here , from time to time. They are inspiring yet beautiful.
Thanks for sharing the beauty.
I can tell , You see the world through rose-colored glasses which is an admirable attribute.
I myself a dreamy guy. By that I don’t mean I m a handsome , good looking guy. Not at all. Believe you me
I meant , dreamy , as happy thoughts or sth like that
Thanks
Dear jeff,
thanks for the new words,
When i was a child my brother used to take me out for hunting birds. Although the experience (being out in the mountains) looking for animals and birds excited me, I never tried to learn how to hunt. and today when my brother and I reminisce those days, we both agree that we were hurting the environment.
please, I never want to know when any of the opening weekend is.
Dear Jeff,
My sister lives in Minnesota, so i would ask her about.
It was interesting.
Vito – Yes, I *do* read comments here on the blog! Thank you for your kind words! -Jeff
Holy cow ,guys
Jeff is down here among us
It couldn’t be any cooler
It is good for our morale Jeff
It feels good when u drop a line or two on the comment section.
Hi! Dan is right regarding the deer ticks.
There are not venomous insects in my country. So we stay without fear on the grass.
But in the last years because of the drought, there are a lot of warnings regarding the insects and the ticks especially.
The ticks, the deer ticks, like blood sucker, can cause health problems, including facial paralysis, heart palpitations, severe headaches, arthritis, and neurological disorders.
I have this fear of ticks, of all kind of insects in the summer time.
I avoid to stay in the grass to taste the fresh smell of the green, green grass.
Hi! Being one of the ardent promoters of our blog, I appreciate very much your opinions, Peter. Thank you.
No, I am not a poet. But I like the poem.
Hi! I have had the chance to see Warren Buffet on CNN Channel. Thank you.(English Cafe 318/2011)
Thank you for the explanation of the phrase “Fortune 500 Company” in the U.S.
Hi! Unfortunately, I found no books by Alan Dershowitz at my public library. Mentioned by you in English Cafe 370.
I don’t know if he is translated in my language.
Alan Dershowitz (1938 -), American lawyer, jurist, political commentator, is the author of a number of books about politics and law, including:
– Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bulow Case (1985);
– Chutzpah (1991);
– Reasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice System and the O.J.Simpson Case (1996);
– The Case for Israel.
Thank you for mentioning this great writer. I’d like to read his works.