CONVERSATION STARTERS

96 percent of retailers surveyed by the National Retail Federation have been a victim of organized retail crime -- that is, shoplifting with the intent of selling the goods. Thieves embarking on this type of shoplifting typically sell the stolen goods on street corners, flea markets or pawn shops. In a particularly brazen move, they may also return the stolen goods to the store for a fraudulent refund. Often, the goods are sold through online auction websites.

The top 20 most shoplifted items:

1. Diabetic testing strips
2. High-end liquor
3. Laptop computers
4. Cigarettes
5. Infant formula
6. Denim jeans
7. Digital cameras
8. Allergy medicine
9. Designer clothing
10. Handbags
11. Lotions and creams
12. Cell phones
13. LCD televisions and monitors
14. Kitchen Aid mixers
15. Pregnancy tests
16. Pain relievers
17. High-end vacuum cleaners
18. Energy drinks
19. Weight loss pills
20. Electric toothbrushes and replacement heads

The top 10 cities for shoplifting:

• Atlanta
• Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Houston
• Los Angeles/Orange County, California
• Miami
• New York City
• Phoenix
• San Francisco/Oakland

THIS MONTH IS

i>National Stress Free Family Holiday Month-- The no. 1 cause of holiday stress is spending too much money! That's the word from a recent FranklinCovey survey asking over 15,000 customers what causes them stress during the most wonderful time of the year. 87% admitted that holiday activities do cause stress, while 49% confessed to being relieved when it was all over. Here are the top 10 most stressful holiday activities in ranked order of most stressful to least stressful:

1. Spending too much money
2. Creating a specific holiday budget
3. Deciding what gift to buy for whom
4. Managing workload to take time off
5. Not enough time to shop
6. Not enough time for events
7. Sending gifts and cards on time
8. Taking care of physical well-being
9. Relationships with family, friends and co-workers
10. Decorating for or hosting a holiday party

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Ladies, Women's Health"The Average Woman" knows you have a lot on your mind here's what the magazine says you are thinking about:

• 50% of you have seen a therapist
• 72% of you say you have a good memory
• 82% of you remember your dreams
• 64% of women are most often thinking about their 'to-do list'
• 13% of women are most often thinking about work
• 11% of women are most often thinking about food
• 9% of women are most often thinking about sex
• 64% of women think messing with a guy's head is twisted
• 36% of women think messing with a guy's head is entertaining
• 32% of women never take a "mental health" day off from work
• 25% of women take one "mental health" day off once every few months
• 18% of women take a "mental health" day off every month
• 72% of women admit to mood swings
• 48% of women think Sudoku is confusing
• 93% of women believe in mind over matter

TOP FIVE NEW CHARACTERS THAT COULD RESULT WITH DISNEY BUYING LUCASFILM

1. 3CPObi-won Kinobi
2. Darth McDuck
3. Geppetobi-wan Kinobi
4. Jabba the Tiki-Tiki-Tiki-Tiki Hut
5. Pinochhi-obi-wan Kinobi

Top Things Kids Today Will Miss Out On:

1. Camera Film
2. Landline Phones
3. Real Books
4. Being Lost
5. Music Videos on MTV
6. Walkmans
7. The Glory Days of Nick At Night
8. Ditto Machine
9. Wrist Watch
10. Clock With Hands

HAPPY HAUNTING (AREA HAUNTED HOUSES)

The Grand Theater Haunted House in Tracy.

The Boys & girls Club Haunted House open 5-10 daily at 1137 Graphics Dr. in Modesto.

Del Osso Farm in Lathrop.

Dutch Hollow Corn Maze...Clairabel & oakdale in Modesto.

Fantazzia Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Patterson.

R..A.M. FARMS IN Turlock.

Resendez Family Fruit Barn in Hughson.

HALLOWEEN REVEALS YOUR PERSONALITY

Goblins and ghouls and ghost, oh my. Halloween is fun for the whole family. And how you participate can reveal the real you behind that scary mask. Discover something new about yourself by answering these questions and seeing what they reveal:

On Halloween, you usually:

1. Hand out goodies to trick-or-treaters.
2. Attend a party.
3. Go with a group to a haunted house for charity.
4. Watch a horror flick.

The costume you'd most likely wear is:

1. A ghost
2. Cowboy or cowgirl
3. Superhero
4. Pirate

Your favorite Halloween treat is:

1. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
2. SweeTarts
3. Chocolate bar
4. Tootsie Roll Pops

When you were a kid, the scariest monsters of all were:

1. Vampires
2. Zombies
3. Ghosts
4. Trolls

Analysis

Mostly "a" - You're fun loving but never the center of attention. You sometimes let others take advantage of your good nature, but there's little in life that frightens you.

Mostly "b" - You love dressing up and showing off to others, but you're thoughtful and never greedy with friends and family. You also get the job done, no matter what it takes.

Mostly "c" - You're a perfectionist and a bit bossy, but you never fail to impress your gang with a fancy costume. You're a high achiever and people naturally follow your lead.

Mostly "d" - You're quiet and reserved, celebrating Halloween in a low key fashion. You're costume reveals your creative, whimsical side, and you're sure to wear it more than once.

TOP HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

(Hollywood Reporter) Expect a lot of superheroes walking around the streets this Halloween. Characters from The Avengers are the most in-demand movie-inspired costumes this year, according to a survey of more than 1,000 moviegoers conducted by Fandango. Among 2012 releases, Avengers characters took the top four spots with males, with Chris Hemsworth's Thor edging out the other characters from the summer's box office hit. The complete top 10 rankings for costumes inspired by 2012 releases are as follows:

Men:

1. Thor (The Avengers)
2. Iron Man (The Avengers)
3. Captain America (The Avengers)
4. Hulk (The Avengers)
5. Batman (The Dark Knight Rises)
6. James Bond (Skyfall)
7. Ted the Raunchy Teddy Bear (Ted)
8. Gandalf (The Hobbit)
9. Magic Mike (Magic Mike)
10. Wreck-It-Ralph (Wreck-It Ralph)

Women:

1. Catwoman (The Dark Knight Rises)
2. Katniss (The Hunger Games)
3. Snow White (Snow White and the Huntsman)
4. Queen Ravenna (Snow White and the Huntsman)
5. Black Widow (The Avengers)
6. Red-Eyed Bella the Vampire (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2)
7. Effie Trinket (The Hunger Games)
8. Selene (Underworld: Awakening)
9. Merida (Brave)
10. Alice (Resident Evil: Retribution)

HALLOWEEN PET TIPS

Halloween's no treat for housepets. Take these tips from the experts to keep your dog or cat from having an unhappy holiday.

• Get an ID tag. Agitated critters often slip through doors opened for trick-or-treaters. Outside, the apparent chaos of ghouls, goblins and witches can send the terrified creatures running. If someone finally finds your lost pet, you'll be glad for a tag that tells how to call or find you.
• Give indoor pets some room. We mean shut them in a room away from all the candy-grabbing action. You'll reduce the chances of your furry pal escaping and reduce the stress created by wave after wave of wildly dressed strangers.
• Bring outdoor pets inside. Too often, vile tricksters resort to harming animals. Keep them safe by at least hiding them in a safe haven like the garage or laundry room, or a quiet room in the house.
• No candy for critters. Treats can ruin animals' teeth, upset their stomachs and even kill them. Chocolate has chemicals that make it especially toxic. Just one square of chocolate candy can kill a small dog.