Six In The Morning

1 SWINE FLU Today's Globe and Mail update on the latest, scary, potential pandemic.

2 TRADE WINDS Europe and Canada talk about a trade pact. The good news: any move to increased trade with Europe could help shelter this country from ongoing U.S. meltdowns. The bad news: any trade pact including "government procurement" needs to be treated like a possible attack on the public sector and particularly on public worker salaries. Local jobs are good, right? We all like them, right? Just checking. (Globe And Mail)

3 SO WHAT DOES A SHIT SANDWICH TASTE LIKE, ANYWAY? Canadian autoworkers ratify a brutal deal to save save their jobs. Musing: if Chrysler-Fiat doesn't go bankrupt, how long before we read a story about ludicrously high executive compensation (made possible, of course, by worker sacrifice?). My prediction: early October. (Montreal Gazette)

4 WE JUST DECIDED "RAPE" HAD AN UGLY RING TO IT Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai says his country will amend a vile, misogynistic law that took away women's rights to turn down sex with their husbands, among other things. (CBC)

5 GET OFF MY LAWN Winnipeg NDP MP Pat Martin proposes a national ban on cosmetic pesticides. His private member's bill has zero chance of passing, but this is notable because this debate isn't going away. Several provinces already ban or severly limit home pesticides. (Toronto Star)

6 SNAKE IN THE BOX A British mailman gets a bitey surprise. Ssss! (Guardian)