Prior to the G8 summit this week in Northern Ireland, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stopped by St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, home of the famous black nectar known as Guinness draught beer. I've never developed a like for it myself.

Like other world leaders before him, Harper (along with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty) toured the Guinness Storehouse, an attached exhibition chronicling the 250 year history of the beverage and was of course pictured enjoying a pint. (Harper also pushed a lever to start a new batch of the brew-5051-a rare honor.) From the PMO's point of view and for that matter Guinness, a wonderful photo op and what could possibly be the problem?

PROBLEM?

The issue can be summed up by Irish MP, Regina Doherty, who tweeted, “Is this REALLY the image of Ireland we want to promote?”...Further adding...”Young Irish women are dying from liver sclerosis for God's sake ...

There are conflicting reports but one study out of McMaster in Hamilton says men are to blame for female menopause. The classic symptom is hot flashes, but the mood swings are no fun for anyone and women go through a number of physical changes, including the literal meaning of menopause: End of monthly cycles.

MEN TO BLAME: WHY?

The study out of McMaster is in the field of evolutionary genetics, and says there is evidence that man has historically shown a preference for a younger mate, making fertility for older women pointless, thus the evolution of menopause.

To hear my interview with Dr. Rama Singh of McMaster, click here.

Opposing theories say it is the other way around, that men have historically chosen younger mates because older women are less fertile. It's like “Which came first, the younger chicks or the lack of eggs?”

Of course men at this point ...

My father passed away June 18th, 1981, 5 months before my son was born.  My daughter was already 2 so at least my father knew the joys of being a grandfather, although I know somehow he would have experienced a separate thrill in the birth of a male child.

My father grew up in some of farming’s tougher years, with many brothers and sisters.  He was the oldest boy.  He had left school early to help work the land and later compensated for his lack of formal education by honing his natural talent for math.  If you needed a basic calculation solved, ask Dad, he did it in his head in seconds.

Thusly, after the farm years, my father was a laborer.  Eventually, after a bartending job, he was able to work his way up the ladder to co-manage a bar (I guess cause he could balance the till so ...

Some people are refusing to eat at this sushi restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. The Sushi Bar opened only recently and has already caused a divide among the locals. Some say they will boycott.

The reasons is not the food, the location, the prices, but one (shall we say) discriminatory policy which bans those under 18.

NO KIDS

Don't you think a boycott is a bit of an overreaction? When you have young children they pretty much dictate when, where and what you can do. Been there, done that. You love the kids but you're prisoners of your house, their schedule, et al. Babysitters are not always available. Sooo, you drag the kids out to a restaurant, usually one with a kid's menu, high chairs, booster seats, kiddie place mats, crayons and a server who tells you how sweet your children are.

This is all fine and well but every once ...

Here is this week's round-up of the most recent top news stories. You can hear The 5 Things live every Friday afternoon at 5:20 on Newstalk 610CKTB.

OR, to hear the latest 5 things podcast, click here.

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The “5”

5. Prostitution Laws – This week the Supreme Court of Canada heard challenges to Canada's prostitution laws. Last year the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the laws were unconstitutional and the nation's top court is expected to rule on this matter. Prostitution is legal in Canada but all things surrounding it are not. Sex trade activists argue that this compromises the safety of the women involved.

4. McGuinty Resigns – Yes, again. Months after Dalton McGuinty stepped down as Premier of Ontario, he resigned his seat as MPP for Ottawa South. McGuinty leaves Queen's Park after 23 years, 16 as Liberal ...