In the news...

Satire is lost on them:

CATHOLIC GROUP OUTRAGED OVER CARTOON OF NAZI-SALUTING POPE
An animated cartoon posted on an Ottawa-based website that depicts Pope Benedict XVI giving a Nazi salute to the Virgin Mary has raised the ire of a Canadian Catholic group.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/27/catholic-pope050527.html

In particular, I'm bothered by the following quote:

"The league does not believe that any public money should be directed to a publication that freely insults Catholics, or indeed any other identifiable group," it said on its website. "No matter how small the amount involved may be, it is unacceptable."

Satire has long been used by Canadians to criticize various things. One of my favourite shows, "This Hour has 22 Minutes," is on CBC, which is publicly funded. Ironically, their satire is directed towards the government (a definitely identifiable group). Should this be stopped? Absolutely not! Groups that wield a lot of power (such as the Catholics), should be open to criticism. Shutting down criticism is an aspect of totalitarian regimes.

FIDDLING WITH FIDDLEHEADS MAY BE DANGEROUS, WARNS FOOD AGENCY
As fiddlehead season kicks into gear, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning consumers to be careful in preparing the curly green fern.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/27/fiddleheads-050527.html

Bizarre:

COURT DENIES WOMAN RIGHT TO USE DEAD HUSBAND'S SPERM
An Australian woman has lost a Supreme Court battle to have her dead husband's baby.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/05/27/australia-sperm050527.html

Maybe if there is a connection, the spammers will stop trying to sell it to me?:

VIAGRA AND BLINDNESS CONNECTION INVESTIGATED
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it was investigating reports of possible blindness by some users of the anti-impotence pills Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/05/27/viagra050527.html

MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING SKIN CANCER
Teens and people in their 20s are starting to get a very common form of skin cancer usually found in people over 50, the Canadian Dermatology Association said on Friday.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/05/27/skin050527.html

SUBSTANCE FOUND FOR NEW APPROACH TO TREATING ASTHMA
A substance long overlooked in the study of asthma may be key to a totally new approach in treating the affliction that affects more than two million Canadians, U.S. scientists reported on Thursday.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/05/26/asthma050526.html

SCULPTURE HONOURS GAY MAGISTRATE FROM 1800S
A bronze sculpture of one of the country's first openly homosexual public figures has been unveiled in Toronto's gay village.
FULL STORY:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/28/wood-statue-050528.html