Flower power

In the early ’70s Herbal Essence jumped onto the scene to keep the mops of the long-haired freaky people looking out of sight. But it didn’t just tame tresses, it also soothed the soul with a delicious scent that promised a garden of earthly delights 😉

Speaking of scents, travelers with Air France can expect a sensually elevated experience in the near future. The airline has launched its very own fragrance, AF001, which they’ll soon be incorporating into their travel experiences!

Now that’s workin’ overtime ;)

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

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), just 4.06 million previously owned homes changed hands last year, marking the lowest annual sales total since 1995.

Would-be buyers continued to be sidelined for the majority of the year by elevated mortgage rates and sky-high prices caused by the ongoing housing shortage.

According to Freddie Mac, rates on 30-year contracts rose to 7.04% last week, and have consistently risen since they bottomed out at 6% in September. Last year’s average was 7.22%.

At the same time, the market did see an increase in activity late last year, with sales rising 2.2% in December compared to November.

“Home sales in the final months of the year showed solid recovery despite elevated mortgage rates,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun in a release. “Consumers clearly understand the long-term benefits of homeownership. Job and wage gains, along with increased inventory, are positively impacting the market.”

Still, mortgage rates are not expected to ease in a meaningful way this year as the economy continues to outpace expectations.

A new study published in the journal Science Advances looked into the effects microplastics can have on blood flow in humans by simulating exposure in mice.

Microplastics are small shards of plastic that have become one of the most serious pollutants caused by human activity, and have been discovered in a wide array of items humans consume inclucing food and water.

The hazardous effects of these microscopic shards vary depending on how small they are. The study’s authors injected three different sizes—micro, smaller micro, and nano—into the bloodstreams of mice, and took particular interest in the effects of the micro-sized shards and the damage they can cause.

They found the micro-sized bits were ingested by the rodents’ immune cells which grew larger and lodged in the bloodstream, obstructing and damaging it within just 30 minutes.

Memory, movement, speed, and motor function impairment were also observed fairly quickly in the mice. Though many seemingly recovered over the span of four weeks, several displayed sustained damage to their blood vessels and immune function, signalling a potentially catastrophic health risk.

The United Kingdom is currently considering legislation that would allow big tech and streaming platforms to use existing and copyrighted music to be used to train AI algorithms for the purpose of generating music.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Paul McCartney implored the government to reconsider, saying at the very least that creators should be compensated for the use of such tools if not outright protected from it.

"You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don't own it, and they don't have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," McCartney said.

"The truth is, the money's going somewhere. And it gets on the streaming platforms. Somebody's getting it, and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn't just be some tech giant somewhere. Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote 'Yesterday'?"

The law would have an “opt out” provision, allowing artists to request their music not be subject to use by AI algorithms. McCartney said it should preclude such use by default, instead allowing artists to opt in should they be so inclined.

Do you remember watching The Flintstones at lunch while you chowed down on a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup?

Whether you yabadabadoo or don’t, we’re throwing you back to the Stone Age with today’s Flintstones trivia! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Amazon 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.