I signed up as a volunteer to do this --
-- at the Epic Beer Festival here in Denver next month. Free beer is good!
Since this happens in downtown Denver, I actually take the day off and ride down for all the festivities.
We Just Passed the Climate's "Grim Milestone" -- MotherJones
Over the last couple of weeks, scientists and environmentalists have been keeping a particularly close eye on the Hawaii-based monitoring station that tracks how much carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere as the count tiptoed closer to a record-smashing 400 parts per million.
Last week, we finally got there: The daily mean concentration was higher than at any time in human history, NOAA reported. So what does that mean for life on Earth?
Read on ...

Image Credit & Copyright: Isaac Gutiérrez Pascual
This is todays APOD image and it is sweet.
Sometimes the sky above can become quite a show. In early September of 2010, for example, the Moon and Venus converged, creating quite a sight by itself for sky enthusiasts around the globe. From some locations, though, the sky was even more picturesque. In the above image taken in Spain, a crescent Moon and the planet Venus, on the far right, were captured during sunset posing against a deep blue sky. In the foreground, dark storm clouds loom across the image bottom, while a white anvil cloud shape appears above. Black specks dot the frame, caused by a flock of birds taking flight. Very soon after this picture was taken, however, the birds passed by, the storm ended, and Venus and the Moon set. Bright Venus again becomes visible just after sunset this 2013 May and will appear near Jupiter toward the end of the month.
I immediately slapped it on my Desktop.
While writing up the previous post, I did a little research and came up with a list of Grateful Dead shows I saw.
It only comes to 16. For whatever reason, I thought I had seen more. Maybe the two JGB shows in 84/85 and the 2 or 3 Bob Weir / Robert Wasserman shows during 87/89 blur my memory.
While watching TV today, a road trip to Texas was brought to mind.
Back in the fall of '88, I drove down to see the Dead in Houston and Dallas. The first thought that came to mind, Dead Heads taking the 'Don't Mess With Texas' bumper stickers and changing them to 'Dose Texas.'
Then I remember -- The first show was in Houston. After the show, I met a group of folks that invited me back to their place as they where having an after show party. I remember feeling totally out of place, but looking back, it was the highlight of the trip. My memory tells me it really wasn't that far from Summit Arena. I remember thinking how I was in a neighborhood with big trees, large lots and really not that far from downtown. I remember hanging out in the back yard with those big trees and the pool. Although I can't remember exactly, I must have spent the night, as I didn't drive up to Dallas till the next afternoon.
Thinking back on that night, I wish I could let them know I appreciated their hospitality. That night is what stands out from that trip.

Too Much Coffee Man by Shannon Wheeler -- 19 June 2012
Been following Too Much Coffee Man, for, it seems like, forever.