Cigars All Round

The old cab may soon be running on a mix of Cuban/Russian oil because the Russians just signed a deal to explore Cuba’s economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico which could contain 20 billion barrels of oil. Russia also extended a loan of $150,000 to Cuba to buy construction and agriculture equipment (that’s one John Deere tractor). If that’s all it takes to get at 20 billion barrels of oil, you’d think anybody could have stepped up but, then again, Cuba doesn’t have that many friends. I think that’s gonna change.

Mounted Police on Bicycles . . . Help!

I’ve always thought adding cops on horseback to the patina of the urban street is a great idea, but not everybody agrees. Boston politicians are getting rid of the city’s mounted patrol unit of 12 horses to save money (what else!). The horses are being replaced with bicycles. Supporters of the mounted unit point out that horses give cops a big visibility advantage in urban policing, they allow cops to go anywhere and quickly (within reason) and they are great at controlling and moving crowds. Two or three cops on horseback could probably face down a very large crowd and move them along with no problem. Put the same three cops on bicycles and, well . . . giddy up comes to mind.

Guinness as Good as Veggies

“Guinness is good for you.” The Irish believed the 1920s beer slogan implicitly and now it seems they were right. A pint a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks. Most benefits, say researchers, come from drinking 24 fluid ounces of Guinness, just over a pint, at mealtimes. Antioxidants in Guinness, researchers say, are similar to those found in fruits and vegetables. No need to stock up on broccoli.

Phelps Out-Suited

Swimming sensation Michael Phelps lost a race in Rome to a “suit.” The loss has been blamed on the fact that the winner, Germany’s Paul Biedermann, was wearing a high-tech suit so slippery it put Michael’s speedo to shame. Now, Phelps says he’s withdrawing from international competition until “swimming gets back to swimming.” In other words, until he can get one of those suits.