For many of us, Monday to Friday races by in a blur. We know it can be a struggle to delve beyond the big headlines and keep on top of all the interesting stories out there. We're here to lend a hand: In case you missed them the first time, a collection of stories you may have missed this week on globeandmail.com.
Rinkrats
The Florida Panthers suffered a rat problem this week, of their own making. Carrying on a tradition that dates back to the 1995-96 season, when a team member killed a rat in the dressing room with his hockey stick and then scored two goals with that stick, the team started selling plastic rats during this season's playoff games and letting fans toss them on the ice. But the organization was forced to backpedal after people started throwing the rats during play, resulting in a warning from the NHL that the Panthers would receive a delay of game penalty if the interruptions continued. Now, how many Panther fans will try to blame the rodent debacle for their team's elimination Thursday night?
Kazakhstan's love affair with Canada
Canada and Kazakhstan are a lot alike, according to the latter country's deputy prime minister, Kairat Kelimbetov. Both, he points out, have cold winters, a wealth of oil and natural resources and a love of hockey. In Canada last week, he stressed his county's goals to follow in Canada's footsteps, particularly impressed that in Ottawa, "you can walk the streets during the whole of the night." Of course the country has a long way to go, considering its autocratic politics and the lingering stain that the movie Borat has left on its public image.
Beauty and the bridge
Calgary's new Peace Bridge, a steel and glass architectural sensation that has attracted 4,400 visitors a day since its opening, has become a focal point for residents and tourists and brought new recognition to cyclists and pedestrians. But at a cost of $24.5-million, is the colourful connector designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava a welcome addition to the city or a colossal waste of public funds?
High on hand sanitizer
Teenagers have long converted seemingly harmless household items (think cough syrup) into a quick high. But hand sanitizer? Medical experts in Los Angeles are warning parents to keep an eye on their liquid sanitizers after local teens turned up in the emergency room with alcohol poisoning after drinking the substance. "All it takes is just a few swallows and you have a drunk teenager."
Here comes the bride - and the debt
Struggling to pay for your dream wedding? There's a special credit card for that. RBC's MyProject MasterCard is described as "the perfect solution for your home renovation and landscaping projects and for big events, such as a wedding or anniversary celebration." It offers some advantages over the typical credit card, but you have to wonder: Is there anything we're not willing to borrow for?