Women around the world are gaining more power, but it comes with increased smoking leading to higher death rates, a new study has found.

A report published by the World Health Organization with research conducted at the University of Waterloo in Ontario shows the more money a nation has, the more likely women are to smoke at the same rate as men.

This is true in Canada where 23 per cent of men smoke compared to 18 per cent of women. But in developing countries, men smoke at about five times the rate of women. In China, for example, 61 per cent of men smoke compared to 4.2 per cent of women.

"The relatively slower rise of smoking among women in comparison with men has been attributed to social disapproval of women who smoke and to (a woman's) lower social and economic status," states the report.

As developing countries grow and women become more empowered, the smoking rate among females is expected to rise.

In the U.S., the rise in women smoking occurred between the 1930s and 1970s. The

Most people touch shopping cart handles every time they go to the grocery store, but a new study may have you wiping them down first.

New research from the University of Arizona showed that 72 per cent of the 85 carts examined had a marker for fecal matter. They also found that half of 36 carts examined contained E. coli along with other bacteria.

"That's more than you find in a supermarket's restroom," said lead researcher Dr. Charles Gerba in an MSNBC story. "That's because they use disinfecting cleaners in the restrooms. Nobody routinely cleans and disinfects shopping carts."

Researchers swabbed cart handles in four states looking for bacterial contamination.
Gerba also said these results may explain other research that shows kids who ride in carts are at a higher risk of developing infections caused by bacteria.

Canadian entrepreneur Sergeo Hristovski came close to solving this problem. He invented a machine called the 'Pristine Cart' that sanitizes carts as you push them through.

Were the blog postings by a Mountie in Bonnyville, Alta. offensive enough to require a review by the professional standards branch of the RCMP?

A report from the Edmonton Sun revealed details of an investigation over the now-deleted personal online thoughts of Const. Shawn Kropielniski, under the heading Krop Talk, which was described as insulting to women, the Canadian justice system, and the policing profession.

Coincidentally, a Feb. 23 posting by Kropielniski focused on his critical feelings about the SUNshine Girl feature, which continues to run in Sun Media newspapers across the country.

The officer recalled eagerly looking at the SUNshine Girl each day when he was "a young single stud." Today, his impressions of the scantily clad women are less favourable, although he acknowledged "men will basically ogle anything in a skimpy dress."

Last month, Kropielniski typed out thoughts on fatal accidents caused by irresponsible snowmobiling, and the declining quality of movie action

Pundits at This Old House magazine have compiled a list of Canada's best old house neighbourhoods, spanning the country from the mountains of B.C. to the piers of Nova Scotia.

"They certainly don't make 'em like they used to," says Michael Switzer, a Toronto real-estate broker with Remax Realtron Brokerage.

Although today's housing market seems to reflect an appeal for the modern home, Switzer says Canadians maintain an admiration for older houses built in the late 1800s.

Known as a railway town, Cranbrook, B.C. homes started being built after the Canadian Pacific Railway set up its West Coast station in 1898. The older homes are predominantly located in the Baker Hill neighbourhood, including bungalows and small cottages that start at $200,000.

Within walking distance of downtown Regina, the Crescents was once the hub of Saskatchewan's upper-class at the dawn of the 20th century. Many of the homes were built in the early 1900s and have maintained their affluent appeal - prices range

Sears Canada is seeking to transform the image of Canadian department store fashions by naming Toronto-born "Next Top Model" television fixture Jay Manuel as the creative director for a private label, Attitude.

Manuel, who is better known as a makeup artist and photo shoot director, along with his own modeling history, has promised a new retro-inspired collection for this fall, including wide-legged trousers and sleek pencil skirts. The dedication to fit and fabric, he explained, was inspired by his tailor grandfather.

The long struggle by Canadian department stores to reach younger customers accelerated after they started having to share mall space with popular private label American clothing chains like the Gap and Banana Republic.

And, when the constantly rotating selection of Abercrombie & Fitch and H&M entered the fray, looking to the multi-level dinosaur at the end of the mall for fresh fashions became an afterthought.

The quality of clothing sold exclusively at department stores

• A nationwide poll of provincial government leader approval ratings put scandal-riddled Quebec Premier Jean Charest at the bottom, at 13 per cent, with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty at 16 per cent; Saskatchewan's Brad Wall is the most popular, with 63 per cent. (Toronto Star)

• A judge in Woodstock, N.B. called a lawyer to a secret meeting in which a Facebook account was downloaded in order to prevent a woman from deleting photos that showed her navigating a treetop obstacle course and shopping on vacation after a car crash. (National Post)

• Corey Haim's mother was angry about the late actor's exclusion from the "In Memoriam" segment at the Academy Awards: "When it was over, I shut the TV off and was so hurt, and I was numb and feeling his pain," said Judy Haim. "This would have hurt him to the core." (People)

Winnipeg residents have been given until April 1 to refuse a 2011 Yellow Pages print directory as part of the publisher's "custom delivery program."

Similar offers have been extended over the past two years to residents of major cities across Canada. A few people have actually remembered to reject the directories in advance.

But, of course, many more don't decide by the deadline and it ends up dropped off at their doorstep.

Last year, the Yellow Pages Group claimed its national opt-out rate was less than 1 per cent, which it argued was a reflection of ongoing demand.

Yellow Page Mountain, an online campaign launched last fall by Montreal's Aimee Davidson, contradicted the claim with a viral video that showed how more than 500 discarded directories were gathered in less than four hours.

Nonetheless, a measurement of phone books across the country suggests they will eventually vanish in favour of digital sources.

The latest Victoria, B.C. edition, which combined residential and business

Thinking the glass is half full instead of half empty can improve your heart and help you live longer, according to a new study.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina studied more than 2,800 patients diagnosed with heart disease. Patients were given an 18-item questionnaire to assess their level of optimism toward their diagnosis and recovery.

During the 15 years of the study, more than 1,600 patients died and researchers found those who were pessimistic were 30 per cent more likely to die during the study period.

"A patient's attitude toward their disease not only impacts their ability to return to a normal lifestyle but also their health over the long term and ultimately their survival," said lead author Dr. John Barefoot in a statement.

Researchers studied factors such as depression, age, income and severity of disease finding there was still an increased risk of death for pessimists.

"These findings demonstrate the magnitude of the impact of patient