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The “5”

5. Cheese Smuggling – Somewhat comical, yet mostly embarrassing for Niagara Regional Police as a cheese smuggling operation was uncovered involving NRP officers. Three men face charges, a current officer, a former officer and a citizen from Fort Erie. It is alleged they purchased pizza cheese in N.Y. state and sold it local pizzerias. Profits from this operation were estimated to be as much as $165,000.

4. Bacon Shortage – Out of the U.K. came news of a global bacon shortage. Large pig farms are going under because of the high cost of corn, soy and other feed. In Canada it was reported that we will not suffer a bacon shortage, but we can expect to pay more for pork products in the near future, along with a general rise in food prices.

3. SARS/H1N1 – A 49 year old Qatari man is critically ill in a British hospital with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The man had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia. Two Saudi deaths are blamed on this new strain. The 2003 SARS outbreak killed 800 worldwide. Millions will converge in Mecca next month for the annual Hajj pilgrimage and this has world health officials worried. MEANWHILE, the first Ontario case of a human contracting H1N1 from a pig has been confirmed. The chief medical officer wouldn't say where and stressed the patient is stable, and that this is not a food safety issue.

2. Trudeau Runs – Speculation ran wild this week as reports confirmed Justin Trudeau's intention to run for the leadership of the federal Liberals. Trudeau himself would not confirm or deny the reports. He is expected to hold a press conference to make it official as early as next Tuesday.

1. NFL Replacement Refs – After week 3 of this year's NFL: schedule was complete, complaints about the replacement officials ramped up. Coaches from New England and Washington were fined for confronting referees out of frustration. The tipping point seemed to be the final play of the game on Monday Night Football where a blown call may have cost Green Bay the game. Within 48 hours the long suffering labor negotiations were resolved and regular referees were back in for Thursday night and the rest of week four.  Referees have a new 8 year deal.

...AND WHAT ELSE DID WE LEARN THIS WEEK...Canada announced it will share embassies with Britain in nations where Britain doesn't have a diplomatic office. Joe Pistone testified at the Charbonneau Inquiry in Montreal re: Mafia ties to the Quebec construction industry. Pistone's FBI undercover name was Donnie Brasco. This week we lost Sam “The Record Man” Sniderman, singer Andy Williams and actor Herbert Lom. Blackberry held their conference in San Jose, CA, hyping plans for BB10 this January. MySpace relaunched with a new look this week to favorable reviews. One of their main investors is Justin Timberlake. The former head of the Vancouver Olympics, John Furlong, was accused of physical and sexual abuse of minors from years ago. He held a press conference to categorically deny the allegations. Friday marked the 40th anniversary of Game 8 in the 1972 Summit Series and the Henderson goal. 40th anniversary celebrations had been held all month.

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HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!