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Winnipeg stores that aren’t closing their doors because of theft are doing whatever it takes to try to stay in business. Many of them are locking up more of their inventory. In some cases, everything is being put behind lock and key. It’s almost like it was back in the day at Consumers Distributing. Remember that? But while this might keep bandits at bay, it’s not very good for business. A new survey by Consumer World found that two out of three shoppers won’t bother asking a worker for help accessing merchandise from a locked case. More than half (55%) said they’d just leave and buy the item somewhere else. John Graham, Manitoba’s representative at the Retail Council of Canada, says retailers are also limiting inventory on their shelves and using slow-release equipment so a shoplifter can’t bolt with a bunch of products. And this isn’t just happening in areas of the city with a history of theft. My wife Jackie and I stopped at a convenience store the other night on south St. Mary’s Road at 10:30 and all its business was being done through a small window. Whatever is done, it better happen soon because Graham says “people want to see action in the near term, not some generic strategic plan for the future.”
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ANOTHER HOOD & DAGGER PRODUCTION
I love what this community theatre company is doing! Hood and Dagger Productions is not-for-profit, putting on shows for the love of it but also to help good causes in Winnipeg. Back in May, Westminster United Church received over $3,000 for a new roof. The next show, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, is Nov. 7-10 at St. Boniface University. Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter will get a portion of the proceeds this time. Tickets are available at hoodanddagger.ca.
RECORD GIANT PUMPKIN
A new record was set at the Roland Pumpkin Fair last weekend. Charlie Bernstrom beat his own record this year with a huge gourd that weighed in at a whopping 2,004 pounds. If you’d like to try to compete next year, Arthur Cameron at the Manitoba Giant Pumpkin Growers’ Association says they’ll be holding a workshop next spring as they have in past years. Email him at artcam@mymts.net for more information. By the way, that 2,004 pounder has enough pumpkin in it to make about 500 pies.
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100 BEST HORROR MOVIES
Just in time for Halloween, Variety has compiled a list of the 100 greatest horror films of all time. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre claims top spot, just as the scary classic celebrates its 50th anniversary. Second place goes to The Exorcist, followed by Psycho in third, Jaws in fourth and Rosemary’s Baby in fifth. The Night Of The Living Dead, Audition, Frankenstein, Salò and Carrie round out the top 10.
MOST HANDSOME MEN
Who’s the most handsome man? Well, according to science, it’s British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Dr. Julian De Silva used the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty to rank the 10 most handsome in the world. The list also includes George Clooney, Robert Pattison and Idris Elba. Dr. De Silva says “Clooney is easily the oldest star on the list but he remains a stunningly attractive man with classical features in great proportion.”
BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
A new study, published in Biological Psychiatry, says meditation can help with pain relief. Different people meditate differently but mindfulness meditation is derived from an ancient Hindu and Buddhist practice. Experts say calm concentration can reduce blood pressure, improve social connections and even intensify orgasms. Alrighty then!
— Hal has written columns for years. He’s also the host of Connecting Winnipeg weekday mornings from 10 to noon on 680 CJOB. You can email him at Hal@HalAnderson.ca.
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