Colin Powell: The retired general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff tackles “Challenges of a Changing World” in a freebie at Miami University's Millett Hall, Oxford, 7 p.m. today. (513) 529-4221.

        King Stag: This one's for kids to marvel at and parents to wonder how did she do that: Julie Taymor, one of the brains behind Lion King, is also the brains behind the costumes and puppetry in these tales of ancient Asian lore, 7:30 p.m. today only, Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center for the Arts. $15-$24. 241-7469.

        Previews: You gotta have attitude, right? Wellsir, Everything's Ducky, a new musical fairy tale, has it a'plenty. Pre-run opens at 7 p.m. today in Playhouse in the Park's Robert S. Marx Theatre. Based loosely on The Ugly Duckling, it's from the creators of Dreamgirls and The Tap Dance Kid. $28. Call 421-3888 and quack loudly.

        Blues: It's a superstar double bill as the bluesy Coco Montoya and Tommy Castro blast off onstage at Southgate House. 8:30 p.m. today, 24 E. Third St., Newport. $15-$18. 779-9462.

STAYING IN
               TV picks: Longtime Cincinnati residents would call the city's machine tools a Modern Marvel, the name of the History Channel series which features a Tristate trio — Cincinnati Machine, Makino Inc. and Metalex — at 10 p.m. today.

        • TV Critic John Kiesewetter says Channel 48 repeats The Choice 2000, the excellent Frontline dual profiles of George W. Bush and Al Gore, at 11 p.m., after their debate (9-11 p.m.).

WHAT'S IN STORES TODAY
               Video picks: With fall upon us, video releases are getting better — at last! — says Enquirer film critic Margaret A. McGurk. Case in point: This week's laugh-yourself-silly animated romp, Toy Story 2.

PLANNING AHEAD
              

        24 hours out: English professor Sherri Szeman, signs and discusses her novel Only with the Heart, about a woman and family pushed to the brink by Alzheimer's and the difficult decisions that go with it. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Norwood. 396-8960.

        48 hours out: “Biodiversity Hotspots: Top Priorities for Conservationists” (as in what we need to do now so our grandchildren can still see a rainforest in 50 years) is the last session in the Barrows' Conservation Lecture Series presented by the Cincinnati Zoo. Norman Myers does the talking at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Rockdale Temple, 8501 Ridge Road, Amberley Village. (513) 559-7767.

        72 hours 'til Friday: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra plunges into the season in Return of the Chiller with such ditties as the Addams family theme, Stravinsky's “Firebird” and “Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show.8 p.m., Music Hall. $16-$44.50. 381-3300.

        Get To It appears daily. Send items to nberlier@enquirer.com

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