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Wal-Mart's latest expansion

No longer satisfied with being the world's largest retailer, largest grocer, third largest pharmacy (so far) and (eventually) largest bookseller, Wal-Mart is moving into a new sector: church.

In recent years Wal-Mart has hosted dozens of its employees' weddings. My heart breaks for Beverly McCutcheon, who got married at an upstate New York store. She has so internalized Wal-Mart's draconian labor policy that is almost seems romantic that her friends are economically imprisoned at work during normal wedding hours. Says Ms. McCutcheon,

We're a very close family here. All my co-workers are friends. They couldn't get the day off. So, I brought the wedding to Wal-Mart.

It is no mystery why Wal-Mart is more than happy to host the wedding. Ms McCutcheon again:

I think everybody should get married at Wal-Mart. What better place to get married. I can shop when I'm done.

Yes, why follow up the ceremony on the happiest day of your life with camraderie and dancing when everyone can just get back to work and you can pick up a new garden hose. Word is that Barbara and her new husband are honeymooning in the housewares department during her Monday lunch break.

(Thanks, Iain Aitch!)