- Maybe
this is how Mexico plans to pay for that 50-foot wall along its northern border
for which President Donald Trump is going to make them pay. Perhaps knowing
it’s going to need to come up with a sh*t load of money in the next couple of
years, Mexico is getting creative with ways to make money. Enter the governor
of one of Mexico's most violent states with a plan to allow impoverished
farmers to grow opium poppies for legal medical use. Sure, because opium
poppies you designate as being grown for legit medical purposes will always be
used for said medical purposes and will never in any way fall into the wrong
hands as fuel for your country’s massive, thriving drug trade. It’s nice to
ignore the reality that many people in remote mountain communities of Guerrero
state already grow plots of poppies that are sold to drug cartels and pretend
that somehow it can all become legit based on the power of positive thinking.
This particular state now supplies about half the heroin used in the United
States, prompting Guerrero Gov. Hector Astudillo to suggest that farmers be
allowed to produce opium for legal medical use. In the surest mark of an
elected official who spoke first and asked questions much later, Astudillo
later tried to spin his remarks as theoretical talk rather than any sort of
definitive proposal. Supporters of the idea believe that if more farmers worked
for the legal market, it would undercut the power of drug cartels that are now
their only buyers. Opponents argue there is no way for regulate production in
the lawless mountain regions……….
- All
he does is win, win, win…and get an island named
after him by the Belize Tourism Board. DJ
Khaled is known for club-friendly anthems and specifically, an über-popular
song that is ubiquitous at sporting events of all kinds, but now he can be
known for a small Central American nation with more than 200 low-elevation
cayes or islands honoring him and one of his favorite phrases to use on social
media. In a shameless promotional ploy, Belize has coined a caye as “Major
Caye” after one of DJ Khaled’s oft-used “major keys” Snapchat catchphrase.
According to the good self-promoters with the Belize Tourism
Board, they were inspired by Khaled’s “love for the ocean” and “constant
positivity,” and invited the Miami artist to visit his namesake. Yes, a man who
famously got lost out at sea on a jet ski not that long ago has such an abiding
love of open waters that a country he may never have visited. After hearing the
news, Khaled responded on Twitter, writing: “I love that !! Bless up!!! Hammock
talk will be amazing @ major caye !! Send my love to the island major caye !”
What, no promise to visit your new piece of land as soon as possible? If this
love affair ‘twixt sorta-rapper and impoverished Central American nation is
real, then there had better be a picture of DJ Khaled lounging on the beach at
Major Caye posted prominently on the tourism board’s various social media
accounts in the very near future……..
- Repurposing
things is how homeless people often roll. They cannot afford the amenities most
of us can, so they scrap and scrounge and find uses for items that many people
discard. That makes the plan to renovate an empty downtown San Jose hotel into
housing with dozens of units available for the homeless by the end of the year
so cool. “The vision is that these individuals will find long-term housing
solutions,” Housing Director Jacky Morales-Ferrand said during a city council
meeting this week. By a unanimous vote, the council approved dedicating $1.8
million to rehabilitate the Plaza Hotel into 49 single rooms that will be
available for up to five years. Construction is slated to begin this spring and
inhabitants could be moving in as soon as the fall or early winter, according
to the housing department. The building will be a place for folks to stay
temporarily while they seek long-term or permanent housing. This is a true
rarity, as the city just acquired the building in December from Santa Clara
County and is already getting off its ass and doing something with its new
find. Although the county and JP Morgan have a lien on the hotel, it is
expected to be removed under a proposed agreement once the property is sold to
the city. Assuming the oversight board approves the deal, it will become
officials in a few weeks and Abode Services will oversee the facility’s
construction and management on behalf of the city, Morales-Ferrand said. Such
projects typically take several years, according to Abode Services director of
property and assets Jon White, but the Plaza Hotel rehabilitation will allow
them to have units available in a matter of months. Mayor Sam Liccardo called
the hotel “a sight for sore eyes” and said he hopes the project will be a model
for many other ventures to come for the city……..
- It’s
time for goalie downsizing in the NHL. For years, the maniacs between the pipes
who make their living staying mostly in one spot while massive dudes with
sticks hurl dense rubber discs at them at speeds of upwards of 100 mph have
been bulky, inflexible hulks with so much padding that they’re roughly the size
of the Zamboni sweeping the ice at intermission. But in recent times, the NHL
has worked to make goalies less hefty and the topic of goaltending equipment
was hotly debated earlier this week at the NHL general managers meeting, with
the focus on making it smaller to increase scoring. Pretty much everything the
league does at this point is aimed at increasing scoring because the NHL knows
that no one wants soccer on ice, with 1-0 final scores and no discernable
offense. Kay Whitmore, the league's goalie expert, and executive vice president
of hockey operations Colin Campbell are leadint the charge to make goalies more
svelte. "This started last year after (the) competition committee [met]
when we and the union agreed that things needed to be done with the pants and
the upper body and we've been working behind the scenes nonstop,'' Whitmore
said. "You're hearing from some of the best goalies in the game that they
think this is what's right. They want a level playing field within their ranks.
They want to look at the other end of the rink and feel that the guy down there
looks appropriate for his size.'' According to Whitmore, the goal is for
manufacturers to have the more form-fitting equipment delivered to goaltenders
in June so they have time to adapt before training camp and if the NHL Players'
Association agrees to the changes, the new-look uniforms could be mandatory for
the 2016 season. The changes may frustrate goalies who don’t like the idea of
having less real estate to do their job, but if fans get more goals, then both
they and the league will likely be happy with the change………
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