May 31st is World No Tobacco Day.  7 out of 10 smokers say they want to quit. Quitting tobacco, including chewing tobacco, is one of the best things you can do for your health. Smoking in particular harms nearly every organ in your body, and nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke. Some smokers have switched to e-cigarettes to ease the transition to a smoke-free life.  E-cigarettes are devices that vaporize a nicotine-based liquid which is then inhaled, much like a cigarette.  Is the e-cigarette a better alternative to smoking tobacco?  Here... Read More

While it would be easy to sit here pushing my way into a clever anecdote about goats, or the idea of goats wearing patches, or goats wearing patches drinking a beer, or a goat wearing patches drinking a beer in a local brewery located off of North Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs—well, that one got away from me a bit. In all, it would just be easier to let the staff and customers of Goat Patch Brewing Company speak for themselves on this matter, or simply find your way there and see it for yourself. Goat Patch Brewing Company is still a fairly new company located in the Colorado Springs area,... Read More

Baseball is a team sport.  A 40-man roster in which clutch hitting meets quality pitching, spin rotations and exit velocities are scrutinized to maximize player performance, and managers are asked to adjust strategy and personnel on an ongoing basis in order to win games. Baseball is a choregraphed dance of many.  Defensively, the entire team shifts in unison as a pull-hitter comes to the plate.  The catcher surgically frames the pitch asking for something low and inside, the shortstop signals to the second baseman that he’ll cover the open base if needed, and the right-hander continues to... Read More

I am often asked if I miss having a house. My gut response is rather defensive. I have a house. It just happens to be silver, sits on wheels, and can be transported to any desired location via my car. So, the simple answer is no, I do not miss having a house. I have one. If only life were as easy as the simple answers. The more complicated (and therefore, more realistic) answer is yes, I miss having a house. And I still don’t mean the thing with four walls and windows and a door. Don’t let me fool you—I am most definitely plotting my dream homes over here (yes, plural). One is a black A-frame... Read More

As a human being, I have the ability to hold two completely contradictory ideas in my noggin at the same time. The first idea is that I love superheroes. They’re part of a genre that’s remarkably malleable, and with a bit of creativity, you can tell virtually any kind of story with them. The second idea is that, if superheroes truly existed, they would be terrifying. Let’s talk about Batman, for example. In movies, comics, and other media, he’s a relentless crusader. A protector of the innocent. He’s a hero—one of the good guys. One of his defining attributes is that he always knows... Read More

This week, Athletes for CARE, the not-for-profit advocacy group founded by former professional athletes, decided it was time to stand up to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) policy of cannabis being a banned substance. With more than 150 athletes representing eight countries, 50 professional sports leagues, and 28 different sports, they filed a letter to the members of WADA’s 2021 Code Drafting Team requesting THC and other natural cannabinoids found in cannabis be removed from their banned substance list. This marks a monumental moment in history, and now you can be a part of that history. There... Read More

The Denver Chalk Art festival returns to Larimer Square June 1st and 2nd. For the last 17 years, the annual event has flooded the streets with extravagant murals worthy of any gallery. This massive undertaking involves more than 200 artists of all ages and backgrounds. It has become a family favorite, and gives audiences a chance to see spectacular drawings, meet artists, and enjoy live music. Best of all, it’s free to the public. The participating artists come from all skill levels. While some are professionals, the majority are not.  Awards are given for best in show, best use of color, best... Read More

A couple from Illinois visited Rocky Mountain National Park this week to get married and were startled when a moose came into view in their snowy May background. The couple made several attempts to take pictures and say their vows, but the stubborn guest continued to meander closer and closer. The couple said that they had never seen a moose before, and their photographer noted that the couple was terrified; she kept trying to get them to pay attention to their pictures, but they were in awe of the wildlife. The surprise guest and late spring snowstorm led to some stunning wedding pictures for... Read More

For me, summer is the time when I drink iced tea. I like all kinds of tea on a hot day – iced black tea, half and half (aka Arnold Palmer), and those great shaken teas at coffee shops. Tea is awesome and can be healthy. In fact, I’ve found green tea particularly appealing because it is so good for you. Green tea is made from Camellia sinensis leaves and buds that have not undergone the same withering and oxidation process used to make oolong and black teas. For those interested in managing their caffeine intake, eight ounces of green tea contain about 35 mg of caffeine, about half the amount... Read More

Bikes are a splendid example of a thing that unites a community and offers a network of caring and support. Cities that plan and build for bicycle transit have a higher quality of life. People that ride bikes are happier than those that don’t. Bikes are the closest thing we can get to human-powered flight. This last statement is subjective, but I stand by it. Bikes are not God per se, but they are goddamned fun! This premise might come across as a bit hokey; clearly, bikes are not omniscient deities. But I really do believe in the power of bikes to do really important things in the world. For... Read More