HAL'S HEADLINES: Power Thieves, Butterfly Signs & Music's Battle Against Cancer
THEY’RE STEALING MY POWER!
It’s been an interesting week. It began on Monday with the discovery that a neighbour next to one of my rental properties in the North End had plugged a very long extension cord into my outdoor outlet. I’m not sure what they were powering, but the cord ran through a window into their home. A video I posted on social media — and an update I shared the next day — went viral, garnering over half a million views on X alone.
At first, I just unplugged the cord and threw it back over the fence. However, when I plugged it back in the next day, I tripped the breaker in the basement. Within hours, the cord was plugged in again — but the outlet is dead, so at least my precious hydro is safe. Judging by the comments on my post, this isn’t all that rare. One follower said a neighbour stole water from his outside tap for almost two years before he noticed.
I still can’t believe the kahoonas it takes to do something like this. I suppose I could have called the police (but they’re busy enough as it is) or cut the cord like many commenters suggested. But I don’t want trouble — I just want people to get along and not steal from each other.
SPECIAL BUTTERFLY VISIT
It’s been three years since my mom Ada passed away. On the anniversary of her death on Thursday, I was sitting on the deck after finishing my radio show and had a very special visitor at lunch. A baby monarch butterfly kept landing on or near my plate. It left and returned several times, spending 10 to 15 minutes near me.
You don’t have to believe this — but I do. Butterflies are messengers from the spiritual world. This beautiful monarch was definitely a message from my mom on a tough day.
BEST A/C SETTING
As we get deeper into summer, there may be more heated debates around the thermostat in your home. Jackie and I don’t always agree on the temperature either. But if you’re looking for the sweet spot between comfort and energy efficiency, experts say the ideal daytime temperature is 25°C. They also recommend bumping it up a few degrees at night or when heading out.
HOCKEY IMPACTS THE BRAIN
Die-hard hockey fans don’t just watch the game — they feel it at a biological level. Canadian researchers strapped portable brain scanners on superfans and casual viewers, then played clips of a British hockey game to avoid hometown bias. The superfans showed significantly more brain activity.
Casual viewers lit up during obvious moments, like goals. Superfans, on the other hand, responded to subtle plays that required deeper knowledge of the sport. In other words, true fandom doesn’t just live in the heart — it’s wired straight into the brain.
MUSIC CAN KILL CANCER
I’ve always said the power of music is impressive — but who knew it might actually kill cancer? Scientists in Brazil discovered a fascinating link between music and cancer treatment. They exposed both healthy and cancerous cell cultures to different styles of music.
When they played Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 , nearly 20% of the cancerous cells were destroyed within days. The healthy cells weren’t harmed. Other songs had no impact. Researchers think it may have to do with specific audio frequencies, rhythmic patterns, or how the cells physically vibrate in response to sound. Fascinating stuff!
FACE YOGA TREND
Remember when hot yoga first became a thing? I tried it once. For the people around me, it became “not-so-hot” yoga. (Come on — admit it, I made you smile.)
Now, there’s face yoga. Thanks to social media, people are working out their facial muscles. Believers say it lifts, tones, and reduces puffiness — no creams, needles, or filters needed. Experts say it may improve blood flow and relieve stress too. Who knew?
— Hal is the host of Connecting Winnipeg weekday mornings from 10 to noon on 680 CJOB, and a guest writer for the Winnipeg Sun. You can email him at hal@halanderson.ca .
Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca .
