For Pete's sake

Some things, like the smell of Play-Doh, are simply unforgettable. One look at that tin and we bet you’re conjuring it up right now. But you know who probably had enough of it? Play-Doh Pete, the brand’s beret-wearing mascot, who was famous for pitching things like the Funny Pumper. Cool toy, absurd name 🤣

With the right colours and moulds, you could make anything with Play-Doh, including your own mascots. Maybe that’s how The Mascot Company starts things off. They make life-sized mascots for companies all around the world.

They could probably do wonders with raisins ;)

General Motors and its subsidiary OnStar announced last year that they had stopped sharing motorists’ data with third party companies like LexisNexis. They made the announcement in an effort to quell backlash over the revelation of the data sharing in the first place, and now they’ve agreed to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission that’s expected to be ratified in 30 days.

The FTC said it was "taking action against General Motors (GM) and OnStar over allegations they collected, used, and sold drivers' precise geolocation data and driving behavior information from millions of vehicles—data that can be used to set insurance rates—without adequately notifying consumers and obtaining their affirmative consent."

GM and OnStar did not admit to or deny the allegations made in the FTC’s claim. According to the agency, the settlement terms include GM and OnStar being banned “for five years from disclosing consumers' sensitive geolocation and driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies.”

The automaker released a statement after settling the claim, saying, "In September, we consolidated many of our US privacy statements into a single, simpler statement as part of our broader work to keep raising the bar on privacy…As part of the agreement, GM will obtain affirmative customer consent to collect, use, or disclose certain types of connected vehicle data (with exceptions for certain purposes)."

Despite various governmental efforts around the world to control overcrowding from record levels of tourism, there appears to be no sign of demand abating in the near future.

The after-effects of the pandemic continue to be felt in some of the world’s biggest tourism hubs, some of which have made headlines in recent months as local pushback has led to clashes with those visiting their cities.

“The whole industry needs to be a lot more proactive,” said Paula Vlamings, chief impact officer of global nonprofit Tourism Cares, a sustainable tourism firm.

“‘How do we conduct business? How do we market these destinations, and how do we serve the local communities that are being impacted?’ All that really needs a sustainable strategy going into the future, because more and more people are coming through the floodgates and coming into these destinations.”

And what does the opening of floodgates look like? Despite efforts to quell demand, Spain still welcomed 90 million people in a 5% increase of tourists last year. Eastward, tens of millions have descended on Rome in celebration of the Catholic Jubilee.

In response to the ongoing chaos—particularly in European tourism—the popularity of “second city” tourism is expected to continue growing this year, as wayfarers and wanderers pivot their plans.

Norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne illness in the United States, causing roughly 20 million cases annually, and resulting in harsh gastrointestinal symptoms that last up to three days.

While fatalities are extremely rare, norovirus results in hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits and about 100,000 hospitalizations every year.

There are several strains of norovirus that have previously been difficult to recreate in a lab in order to develop a vaccine. That’s no longer the case, though, with Moderna using the same mRNA technology that underpinned the COVID vaccine to create norovirus-like particles (VLPs) for a vaccine.

The COVID vaccine was designed to induce human cells to produce a protein that the immune system would recognize as a threat. The norovirus vaccine currently being tested trains the immune system to target VLPs, allowing the vaccine to be administered effectively without actually having to expose the recipient to even small samples of the virus.

The phase III trial will recruit 25,000 subjects from over 250 research sites around the world, 100 of which are in the United States. It’s expected to last around two years, with hopes of FDA approval expected thereafter.

Every now and then, a discovery is made revealing just how advanced and cosmopolitan ancient societies were, and how much further along humanity could have been if not for war, famine, and disease.

Take for example the recent archeological finding in Pompeii, reminding us today that homes in ancient Roman cities weren’t necessarily just for food and shelter.

Conducting a dig in the Regio IX district, archeologists discovered a large private spa complex attached to an even bigger banquet hall.

"Everything was functional to the staging of a ‘show,’ at the centre of which was the owner himself," said Pompeii archeological director Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

"The III style paintings with subjects from the Trojan War, the athletes in the peristyle—everything had to give the spaces an atmosphere of Greekness, that is, of culture, erudition as well as idleness."

Up to 30 guests would be welcomed into the complex for an ancient bath in several stages, including in the “calidarium (hot), tepidarium (warm), and frigidarium (cold),” before proceeding to the “Black Hall” banquet room for dinner.

"The audience, grateful and hungry, would have applauded with sincere admiration [for] the show orchestrated by the host and after an evening in his ‘gymnasium’ would have talked about it for a long time,” said Zuchtriegel.

The list of artists who’ve signed on to the Los Angeles fires benefit concert continues to grow.

Several big names were just confirmed as participants, including John Fogerty, Graham Nash, Stevie Wonder and the Black Crowes. They’ll be joining a long list of heavy hitters already confirmed, including Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Sting, Joni Mitchell, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Steven Stills, Earth, Wind & and Fire, Green Day, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The benefit is scheduled to take place on Jan. 30 at the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome, both located in Inglewood, just 20 miles south of the Pacific Palisades, where thousands of homes were destroyed

The event is intended to raise money for tens of thousands in southern California whose lives and wellbeing have literally been burned to the ground. It will be live-streamed on most major platforms, broadcast in select AMC movie theaters across several markets, and donation links will be visible throughout for those who are able to give.

In 1985, the DeLorean became a pop cultural symbol thanks to Back to the Future, but production of the sports car began on this day in ’81.

From Dukes of Hazzard to Cannonball Run, plenty of iconic sports cars have graced our screens. Think you know your stuff? Start your engines, and try today’s trivia! If you cross the finish line, you’ll earn yourself 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.