Leons Headlines Dec 1: A new food report shows Canadians are increasingly strained by rising food costs & declining trust in retailers, even as interest in local & Canadian-made foods grows.
-A fully sold-out, post-pandemic-revived Christmas Cheer breakfast raised $3,500 to help meet record demand over 1600 holiday hampers.
-Canadian universities face budget cuts driven by declining international enrollment, leading to program cancellations, staff reductions & concerns over educational quality.
-A new poll shows Prairie residents are Canada’s most confident yet most victimized with online scams, a “dangerous gap” as holiday shopping picks up.
-A new CAA Manitoba survey shows cannabis-impaired driving is rising; carries the same penalties as alcohol impairment.
-Fans of US booze will have to travel to ND or SK to get it for the holidays, as the Premier says MB will continue to keep it off shelves with no plans to lift the ban.
-Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival celebrated a record-breaking 60th year, announced at its recent AGM.
-Manitoba’s moose hunting season begins today, with officers enforcing rules and hunters advised on safety and CWD zones.
-CFIA warns nationwide pistachio recalls for salmonella risk; dozens sick since July.
-Canadian small businesses face tough choices this holiday season as the end of US duty-free shipping forces them to pay new fees or lose American customers.
-Jets visit Buffalo tonight to tangle with the Sabres.
Cyber Monday – The Big Flip. Cyber Monday is expected to surpass Black Friday in total online sales for the first time this year, according to analysts. Adobe Analytics estimates U.S. online spending today will hit ≈ US $14.2 billion, a 6.3 % increase from last year.
Recording Customer Service at Airlines. Airlines say you cannot record customer service interactions on their planes, but lawyers argue you legally can in public spaces. The debate highlights confusion over passengers’ rights versus airline policies.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/gopublic/westjet-airtransat-recording-disputes-9.6995311
Beef Hits Record High. Ground beef prices in Canada have soared to nearly $7 a pound, hitting an all-time high once again. Shoppers are feeling the strain as meat costs continue to climb.
Juice Jacking Warning. Tech Security experts warn against “juice jacking,” a cyber risk when devices are plugged into public charging stations. Hackers can steal data or install malware through compromised USB ports.
Zootopia 2 Box Office Success. Zootopia 2 is drawing large audiences and performing strongly at the box office. Moviegoers are encouraged to catch a fun, family-friendly film this weekend.
New Warnings About AI Toys. Authorities are issuing fresh warnings about AI-powered toys for children, citing safety and privacy concerns. Parents are urged to review features and supervise play carefully.
Accidental Coffee Art. People are sharing images of unintentional “coffee art” created by spilled or poured coffee. The viral trend celebrates random, amusing patterns in morning cups.
https://www.boredpanda.com/accidental-coffee-art-msn/#_
Oxford Names Word of the Year 2025. Oxford University Press has declared “rage bait” the word of the year for 2025. The term reflects the year’s focus on online content designed to provoke anger.
AI Reimagines Disney Characters. An artist uses AI to show what Disney characters would look like if they were real people. Twelve imaginative images explore this playful “what if” scenario.
https://www.boredpanda.com/realistic-disney-characters-artificial-intelligence-toyboyfan-msn/#_
