In addition to today being Friday, it's also April 23—Shakespeare's birthday. And his deathday, 52 years later. That's right, Shakespeare was born and he died on the same day. Though the exact day of his birth—like seemingly so many aspects of his life and work—remains a historical estimate. 

A little closer to home, it's not cool (or legal) to drink and bike, according to the D.C. Court of Appeals. According to the eight-page opinion, it's also illegal to ride "draft animals or beasts of burden" while intoxicated. So, for all you Loudon County residents thinking of taking your horse into the District for your next night on the town, better to leave it in the stables.

Yesterday was Earth Day. The United States actually "only" ranks ninth in the world in carbon dioxide emissions per capita, with Middle Eastern countries nabbing ignominiously assuming the top the top four spots. Nationally, Virginia ranks twelfth and Maryland ranks nineteenth. Suburbanites: In this case, ranking lower = better.

The NFL draft was last night, and the Redskins, with the fourth pick, chose left tackle Trent Williams out of the University of Oklahoma. In the surprise of the draft, Christian right posterboy and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who won two national championships in his career with Florida, was picked 25th.

Tonight: Even if you typically want to avoid tourists and teenagers, Chinatown's still the place to be, as the Caps take on the Canadiens at the Verizon Center in a potentially series-clinching game five in the NHL playoffs.

Photo courtesy of lifeinbitesize.wordpress.com.

Yesterday, beer lovers were devastated to hear global warming is hurting beer production. While that news was bad, the Washington Post followed up with a dispatch today suggesting that we can solve global warming if we stop having kids.

Put the two news items together in time-honored “news analysis” tradition and what do you get? A solution! To assure a lasting supply of quality beer, forget about having that The Waltons-style family you were considering. In fact, better not too have any of the little darlings, according to a crack team of researchers at the London School of Economics.

That’s right, if we stopped having kids, we’d pretty much wipe up the climate change problem, according to the U.K. study. And, we’d presumably still be able to drive around in Hummers, live in sprawling suburban McMansions, shop until we drop, and spend every evening at the pub – mugs of a top of the line pilsner in each hand.

I’m not making this stuff up, I swear.

Scientists in the Czech Republic say they think warmer temperatures caused by climate change are hurting the quality of Saaz hops used to make celebrated pilsner beers such as Urquell and Gambrinus. And, they aren’t the only ones claiming that global warming is taking a toll on the brewskies. Last year, Australian scientists predicted that climate change will drive up beer prices by making it more expensive to grow malting barely.

On the baby carbon front, the U.K. researchers aren’t the first to calculate how many pounds of greenhouse gases each child adds to the world. Check out these fun facts compiled by Mother Jones. 

In synthesis: If you want to keep drinking good beer, forget about having those kiddies!