Attention all personnel

You had to be top brass to score a salute from Hawkeye, and that Radar was. Apart from being a decent guy and his uncanny sixth sense, he had wicked skills on the mic. Over the PA system and on the camp radio station, he delivered some of the all-time funniest lines on M*A*S*H.

Many of us had to master microphone skills over Zoom in recent years, and it turns out that’s quite important. A recent study showed that the quality of your microphone can profoundly impact people’s perceptions of what you’re saying. 

Remember though, what’s on the inside counts ;)

(Love nostalgia? Play today’s trivia below for a chance to win a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card!)

WEEKLY POLL

What are we thinking?

IN THE NEWS

Global recession on horizon

Unless U.S. president Donald Trump makes a giant pivot, the whole world will likely be in a recession by summer, according to economists who spoke with CBC News.

"I don't know how we would avoid it," Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, told CBC News’ Power and Politics. "This is a pretty dark scenario, both for the U.S. and, by extension, Canada and the rest of the world."

Could Trump’s major reversal on global reciprocal tariffs yesterday be the pivot Zandi and others have warned is necessary? Potentially, but time will have to tell on that front, given the tendency for the president to make massive and unpredictable moves at the drop of a dime.

One thing most economists agree on, though, is that if tariffs are part of Trump’s long-term playbook, the word “recession” won’t be far from anyone’s mind in the near future.

"If the U.S. does not change its policy stance on tariffs… we would expect a recession to be defined in the next six months," says Tu Nguyen, an economist with RSM Canada. 

"I think it's reasonable to say that we are entering one as we speak,” she said, noting it’s unclear how many countries would actually have to be impacted, but that if the European Union or China were to remain American targets, it would be difficult to see any outcome that didn’t include some type of recession.

BUSINESS

Layoffs continue amid tariff uncertainty

A growing number of businesses are laying off employees across Canada, as U.S. president Donald Trump’s trade war continues to stoke pervasive uncertainty.

Stellantis, for example, initiated a temporary shutdown of its plant in Windsor, Ont., citing American trade policy as the reason.

In a statement, Stellantis said the “immediate actions we must take include temporarily pausing production at some of our Canadian and Mexican assembly plants,” which will also have “an impact to several of our U.S. powertrain and stamping facilities that support those operations.”

“This will impact roughly 3,200 employees at Windsor Assembly Plant,” the statement read.

Prepac Manufacturing Ltd., which was operating out of Delta, B.C., announced it would be moving those operations to North Carolina, causing the layoffs of 170 Canadian employees. The company was founded in B.C. in 1979.

Winnipeg Robotics firm, Eascan Automatic Inc. laid off around a third of its workforce in February, citing American tariffs as contributory.

“Every day, we have projects that were ready to move forward being put on hold by our clients,” Eascan said. “The main feedback we receive is that, due to the uncertainty of the current economic scenario, manufacturers are finding it difficult to plan or justify their capital expenditures.”

CONSUMER

Average asking rents drop for 6th straight month

According to a report published by Rentals.ca and Urbanation, average asking rents were $2,119 in March, falling 2.8% in what was the sixth straight month of year over year decline.

At the same time, rents were up 1.5% from February, increasing for the first time since September as affordability conditions became more favourable to consumers looking for a new place.

“However, rents are likely to continue facing downward pressure in the near-term due to the expected negative economic impact and job losses caused by the trade conflict with the U.S.,” said Urbanation president Shaun Hildebrand in a press release.

Average asking rents are bound to rise over the long term, but the report revealed the market is still overvalued, with rents roughly 17.8% higher today than they were prior to the pandemic.

Houses and townhomes saw the steepest decline in March, though, dropping 5.6% to $2,186, followed by condominiums, which fell 3.8% to $2,232, and purpose-built rentals, which fell 1.5% to $2,086.

THIRSTY THURSDAYS

Perfectly pairing beer and food

Jared Rouben has mastered the art of pairing when it comes to beer and food, largely because of the way he brews his beer in the first place. He’s not left with the need to get creative about which beer pairs well with a certain food, because his brewing process itself is conducted with that objective in mind.

“I started as a classically-trained chef, and when I was in culinary school, I started a beer club,” he says. “I started that club in response to a wine club having a pretty high price point for events and a minimum GPA. And it was about that time I started seeing the similarities between brewing and cooking.” 

As the brewmaster at Moody Tongue Brewing Company, he’s in charge of the restaurant’s Michelin-star menu and its selection of perfectly tailored beers. Have you ever heard of Orange Blossom Belgian Blonde, Caramelized Chocolate Churro Porter or Shaved Black Truffle Pilsner? You can find them all at Moody Tongue.

But he also advises the importance of something as simple as glassware; his is handblown, and 100% crystal.

“It opens up some of the beers that need more time, like our Cassis, which is reminiscent of Bordeaux,” Rouben says of the beers he serves from decanters.

Care to hear more of his secrets? read on here.

HEALTH

Try the sit-to-stand test

The sit-to-stand test (STS) is a common way for general practitioners to assess the health of older adults and to identify potential issues. It’s simple enough to perform at home, though; all you need is a chair, and the will to sit down and stand up as many times as possible in 30 seconds.

"It tells us about their strength, their balance and their flexibility,” says Jugdeep Dhesi, a consultant geriatrician at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London. “We know that there's some studies that suggest that it can help to inform whether people are at risk of things like falls, cardiovascular issues or even at a higher risk of dying."

The test is usually conducted to assess structural issues older folks may have. Sit in the middle of a chair with no arm rests, cross your arms and place your hands on opposing shoulders, and then go. The average STS count for men 60-64 is 14, and 12 for women of the same age. The number understandably shrinks the older we get.

It’s also useful for younger people to assess the muscle strength of their core and lower body, as well as their cardiovascular health; after all, doing this test as fast as possible for 30 seconds will almost definitely cause anyone to break a sweat.

CURIOSITIES

Cubs welcome new fan

The Chicago Cubs have at least one new fan taking up residence in the outfield of Wrigley Field, but that one fan could soon yield several goslings.

A Canada goose was spotted in the iconic greenery that lines Wrigley’s outfield over the weekend, leading several good samaritans to keep the area clear of human onlookers. They were cleverly dubbed the geesekeepers.

It appears the goose—nicknamed “Suzuki” by fans after outfielder Seiya Suzuki—has indeed been nesting, which means without wildlife officials acting to safely relocate her, she’ll probably be in and out of the ballpark for at least the next few weeks.

“At the Friendly Confines, we truly mean it when we say everyone’s welcome, including the goose and her nest who took up residence in the bleachers,” said Cubs Senior Director of Communications Jennifer Martinez. “We’re giving her the space she needs while we’ve been working closely with a wildlife organization to manage the situation safely and responsibly, in full accordance with state law."

Suzuki was first spotted on Saturday, and the Cubs have had a winning record since.

MUSIC

Metallica documentary accompanies M72 tour

A new Metallica documentary is getting a limited release in lockstep with the band’s upcoming M72 tour, with the film hitting select theaters during the same days the tour will be passing through each city the film is screening in.

Called Metallica Saved My Life, it features fan testimonials of the positive impact the band has had on their lives, and will also feature commentary from the band members themselves.

"As a few of you may know, we've been working behind the scenes the last couple of years on a new film that will be released later this year starring you guys!" the band said in a statement. "Metallica Saved My Life explores our world through the lives of fans who have supported each other through highs, lows, trials and triumphs for over four decades. And yeah, we're in it a little bit too.

"You have the chance to view the film first with a sneak peek at theaters in most of our upcoming tour stops in North America. It's not quite finished yet, but we can't wait for you to see it and let us know what you think.”

You can view the limited release dates for the film here.

STAKE TRIVIA

A family affair

They may push your buttons more than anyone else you know, but few bonds are as strong as those between siblings. Happy National Siblings Day to you and your brothers and sisters, Staker! 🤗 

From entertainers to musicians, and even some evil twins, we’ll be quizzing you on all things siblings with today’s trivia! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified tomorrow afternoon—keep an eye on your inbox!*

Have a great day ahead Staker!

Today’s issue written by Michael Cowan, Joey Cowan, and Maureen Norman.


*SEE FULL STAKE TRIVIA CONTEST RULES HERE.