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Looks at Russians' panic concerning the United States government's plan to redesign the American $100 bill. Reasons why more American money circulates in Russia than anywhere outside the United States including as a hedge versus inflation; Preference for the $100 bill; Russians' distrust of currency exchange offices.

The article focuses on Ryan Clancy, 26, is a record store owner in Milwaukee, Wis., who is one of about 20 American "human shields" who learned they are facing stiff fines for having travelled to Iraq. The Treasury Department, said that I owed them $10,000, that there was no appeal, no due process, and that they would start seizing assets if I didn't pay. I asked them to put all of that in writing and they refused. All they gave me was my case number. They won't put anything on paper because they don't want me to give it to the media. I can't pay a fine like that. I just opened up a small business about a year ago. But more to the point, my conscience won't allow me to pay. It doesn't strike me as a rational law. Of the 300 human shields, only the Americans came from a country where it was illegal for us to meet the people we were about to bomb. I was getting Iraqi children to put their fears about the impending war on paper and share them with students in the U.S. My goal was to humanize the Iraqi people to Americans back home. I'm scared about what's happening to me, but I'm terrified about what is happening to my country. My real concern is that this is possible in the United States.

Just prior to the U.S. President George W. Bush State of the Union address last week, Saddam Hussein was seen on national television telling his top generals that 'real men should not panic.' But panic may best describe the current state of Iraq's leadership. Seemingly taken aback by chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix's demand for more information and Bush's apparent determination to push ahead with war even without UN approval, the Iraqi leadership had difficulty even organizing news conferences or presenting a concise response to Bush's allegations that Iraq still possesses weapons of mass destruction. In contrast to harried government officials, many Iraqis seem unconcerned. One possible explanation: they are simply beyond caring. Saddam has increased food rations and taken steps to ensure that other necessities will be available, at least intermittently. One of the stated objectives of the U.S. war plan is to obliterate what's left of Iraq's battered power grid. Meanwhile, authorities have called up thousands of young conscripts. On the outskirts of Baghdad, the recruits -- many still wearing their own clothes -- lined up last week to practice basic drills. In an effort to keep morale high among citizens and appear defiant, the regime stages daily demonstrations. Now that the exit fee has been rescinded, hundreds of Iraqi citizens are lining up at government visa offices across the capital to apply for exit papers.

The pros and cons, including the deficits of Jimmy Carter's briefing papers; the Meese investigation; and the fact that the Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.

The article discusses an immigration law passed in 2011 in Alabama that was designed to encourage illegal immigrants to leave the U.S., focusing on its impact on the Alabama job market as of 2012. Topics include foreign investment, an incident involving the arrest of two automobile executives who did not possess immigration papers, and the economic impact of immigration legislation in Georgia and Arizona.

The article reports on a relationship which developed during the late stages of the Cold War between Canadian intelligence services, East Germany and other Soviet bloc countries. According to a paper on espionage published by Thomas Wegener Friss of the University of Southern Denmark and Helmut Müller-Enbergs, who works in the Stasi archives, East German and Soviet bloc spies viewed Canada as a valuable espionage target which could be used to funnel spies into the U.S.

The article reports on findings contained in a study that examined the social responsibility of U.S. businesses. The paper revealed that organizations based in states that voted Democratic were more likely to be socially aware and responsible than those found in states that supported the Republican Party.

The author reflects on the credit crisis in the U.S. and Canada. He questions who is really responsible for the losses. He discusses the asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) market and talks about how Purdy Crawford is working with a committee to restructure the ABCP market. He argues that the U.S. is essentially bailing out people who made a bad investment decision.

The article focuses on the mortgage industry in 2007. In August, Canadian housing markets grew fearsome when Coventree Capital Group, which packages and sells debt to investors, announced it couldn't find buyers for some commercial paper debt. Xceed Mortgage Corp., which placed over a billion dollars of its mortgages through Coventree Capital, saw its stock price plunge. The damage is spreading across international boundaries, specifically in the U.S., and continues to hit consumers hard.

This article presents various information about issues pertaining to Canada and the world around the week of July 9, 2007. Bishops within Canada's Anglican Church will not allow priests to bless or officiate over gay nuptials. Formerly classified papers from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency have shown up on the agency's website.

The article reports on a Wichita, Kansas woman, who is fostering 35 pet rats for adoption. She recommends getting two pet rats of the same sex, not the opposite sex. Also, it was reported erroneously by the Baltimore Sun that Precious the Skateboarding Dog was dead; Precious is still alive, according to the paper.

This article reports on the SAT exams given in October 2005 in the United States. It was discovered that 4,000 student test papers were graded incorrectly, reducing scores by as many as 130 points. Low scores on the exam can affect a student's college admittance and the chance of winning scholarships. College Board, the overseer of the test, blamed the problems on faulty scanning of the exams.

This article reports on the identity of the man known as Deep Throat. "I'm the guy they used to call Deep Throat," Mark Felt said, as quoted in Vanity Fair, and aging antagonists rushed to their battle stations. This was, undeniably, a major moment in the annals of U.S. politics and journalism. After three decades of obsessive speculation, we finally know the identity of the shadowy, chain-smoking figure (Hal Holbrook in the movie) who talked to the Washington Post's Bob Woodward in a dark parking garage, in meetings arranged after the reporter moved an empty flowerpot on his balcony or Deep Throat had clock hands drawn on Woodward's morning paper. Felt is 91 now, slightly stooped, and suffering the after-effects of a stroke. His relatives spoke for him when the inevitable press horde descended on his California doorstep.With Felt's incalculable assistance, the stories by Woodward and Carl Bernstein led to congressional investigations, an impeachment inquiry and, ultimately, to the resignation of the incorrigibly corrupt Richard Nixon. Mark Felt was no saint. Nixon had passed him over for the FBI's top job, so his motivation could have been partly personal. In 1980, he was convicted of approving break-ins at the homes of people associated with the radical Weather Underground We all live in a post-Watergate world. People distrust their governments; they distrust the media. They've been given ample cause by both institutions. But before we rush out to revise history—before we blame whistle-blowers or ban journalists' use of anonymous sources—let's recall the most celebrated whistle-blower and anonymous source of all.

This article describes a leaseback scheme, currently under investigation by the U.S. Senate, between NavCan, the company that runs Canada's air traffic control system, and the Bank of America. The scheme works like this: the U.S. bank leases $270 million worth of navigation equipment from NavCan, and then leases it back. Why would the bank pay $25 million to do that? Because it gains a much greater amount on the lease as a tax deduction. Which raises the question: why would the U.S. tax system reward such behaviour? That's what the Senate committee was wondering too. An anonymous executive from the leasing industry, testifying from behind a screen, said the tax break was designed initially as a way to help cash-strapped U.S. cities get out from under onerous financing costs. But it's now funnelling benefits to Canada and, gasp, the French. The witness suggested these cross-border arrangements were not illegal -- but improper. And, for its part, NavCan was keeping its head down. It declined to answer Maclean's questions. Its Sept. 29 news release said the leaseback was to be only the first of several. But with the political heat on in Washington, the future of this lucrative paper shuffle seems doubtful.

HELP WANTED: Governor for California. Comes with a nice house in Sacramento, an annual salary of US$175,000, and the keys to the world's sixth-largest economy. Candidates must have good teeth and be willing to wrestle with the state's US$38-billion budget deficit. The list of wannabe governors who have filed papers to run in the Oct. 7 recall vote against Gray Davis, the man blamed for the state's budget woes, was long and already laughable before last week. Candidates include ex-sitcom actor Gary Coleman and "Hustler" magazine publisher Larry Flynt. The front-runner is another political outsider: Arnold Schwarzenegger who acknowledges his lack of political expertise has its drawbacks.

Presents news briefs relating to Canada. Criticism of the Canadian government for giving belated recognition to a contingent of Canadian soldiers, training with U.S. and British military forces, for dangerous war-zone service; Fall in the share value of Air Canada following its efforts to seek bankruptcy protection; Use of paper face masks to prevent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS); Orders from Major League Baseball to sing "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at baseball games; Criticism of a music video made by Madonna which condemns the war in Iraq.

Presents news briefs. Fears of chemical attack prompt Americans to build safe rooms of tape and plastic sheeting. Sheila Copps uses Tim Hortons donut shop to sell her bid for Liberal leadership to a party membership glazed with indifference. Luna the killer whale's attention-seeking lingering presence turns docks at Vancouver Island town of Gold River into petting zoo.

Reports that the Chicago Board of Trade has launched an electronic Recyclables Exchange to handle the growth of recycling and trade glass, paper and plastic. How can buyers and sellers trade on the exchange; Statement from Kiki Melonides spokesman for the venture.

States that while the `York County Coast Star,' Kennebunkport, Me., (where President George Bush has his summer residence) has endorsed Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton for president, the Little Rock-based `Arkansas Democrat-Gazette' wrote there was something about Clinton's responses `that send a shiver up the spine.' While `Texarkana Gazette' city editor Ethel Channon said Clinton was clearly the most popular candidate, the paper did not endorse Clinton, saving native son Ross Perot an indignity.