It was a Good Week for ...

French Socialists

With the election of Franßois Hollande as president, the pugnacious Nicolas Sarkozy has been turfed from public view. Hollande, a consensus-builder, inherits a France crippled by debt. His first order of business is convincing German Chancellor Angela Merkel his "growth not austerity" campaign platform has a place in Europe's increasingly desperate financial situation. His personal style, in direct contrast to Sarkozy's "bling, bling" reputation, is sure to please voters and allies.

Manitoba's cancer rates

Declining smoking rates and increased screening are credited with saving the lives of 3,000 Manitobans in the last 20 years. A just-released report, Canadian Cancer Statistics 2012, shows nearly 100,000 lives were saved nationally in the past two decades. The Canadian Cancer Society said cancer rates can be reduced even more if lifestyle changes, such as tobacco use, excess weight, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets, are addressed.

Hallmark, jewelry producers and florists

Does Mom really want a $7 card, $129 heart-shaped "diamond" pendant or $40 bouquet of flowers? No, she does not. She wants you to pick up your socks, empty the dishwasher without complaining and cook the occasional meal. Wait, maybe that's just this mom. Smart kids know their mom would taken a handwritten note over an expensive card any day. They also know it's not really a Mother's Day dinner if mom is in the kitchen, if you catch my drift.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 12, 2012 J4