Jump around

Since the episode aired, the expression has become so common you’d almost forget that Fonzie actually jumped a shark…on water skis…while wearing a leather jacket. Coolness be damned, it was so corny you almost wished the shark had got him 😂

If all shows were like Happy Days, you’d want to stop watching after season 5, episode 3. The reality is that some take time to heat up, and some never take off—statistical analysis might help you know when to quit while you’re ahead. 

After all, sometimes you might as well… ;)

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

IN THE NEWS

Consumer and business confidence freefall

The Bank of Canada published two reports detailing the freefall of both business and consumer confidence in light of the ongoing trade war that took a significant escalation last week with U.S. president Donald Trump unleashing global reciprocal tariffs.

During the last two business quarters, just 15% of businesses were operating on the assumption Canada would slip into a recession over the next year. The BoC’s most recent outlook survey found that number has now risen to 32%.

“Uncertainty surrounding financial, economic and political conditions remains the top concerns for firms and rose sharply this quarter,” the report said.

“Two-thirds of businesses believe that their costs would be pushed higher if widespread tariffs are implemented. As a consequence, many firms would increase their selling prices. Near-term inflation expectations are higher than last quarter, with firms believing the inflationary impacts from tariffs will outweigh reduced pressures from weak demand.”

The other report surveyed for consumer expectations and sentiments. It found a rising number of Canadian consumers are now concerned about losing their jobs, and as a result, are planning on lowering their overall spending.

CONSUMER

Insurance bills set to rise again this year

According to a report published by Canadian insurance aggregator, My Choice Financial, severe weather is expected to drive insurance premiums up again this year in some regions.

“It’s driven historic insured losses across the country. Particularly, we had a very severe single quarter in 2024 where we saw over $7 billion in insured losses in that single quarter last summer,” said Jason Clark, the national director of climate change and federal issues at the Insurance Bureau of Canada (ICB).

Last year was a staggering year for insurance losses, according to the ICB. It says $8.5 billion was paid out in 2024, up three times what was paid in 2024, and an astonishing 12 times the annual average between 2001 and 2010.

“What we’re seeing is the level of risk across the country is increasing, whether that’s the threat of hurricanes in Atlantic Canada, hailstorms in Alberta, or wildfire across the county. The costliest and most severe event we experience in Canada is flooding,” Clark said.

In fact, flood risk has become so costly, 1.5 million homes across Canada aren’t eligible for it, despite being the most at risk of facing extreme flooding.

GOVERNMENT

Ontario implements six month business tax deferral

The Ontario government announced it would allow businesses to defer certain taxes for six months in an effort to keep their cashflow healthy during what’s expected to be a significant economic downturn.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement yesterday, saying the trade war will likely drive business layoffs, and a tax deferral is a good way to help keep roughly $9 billion in the hands of those businesses in order to keep up with their payrolls.

“It’s for corporations who pay provincially-administered taxes, like fuel taxes and employer health taxes, so they can, basically get an interest-free loan for six months,” Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy told Newstalk 1010 Monday morning. “And then WSIB is real cash, which allows them to hire more workers, protect workers.”

Ford said on Friday he’s relieved Canada was mostly spared from U.S. president Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement last week, but the 25% levies being extracted from steel, aluminum, and certain auto parts are still going to negatively impact the country, and Ontario in particular.

“Let’s hope that President Trump comes to common sense here. The markets are tumbling again. Consumer confidence is down. Inflation’s happening. Investment has stalled. I’m thoroughly disappointed he’s taken this avenue,” Ford said.

TRAVEL TUESDAYS

What is “airport theory?”

Airport theory flies in the face of all conventional wisdom that anyone has ever had about making a flight on time. Show up three hours before a flight if you want to make it? Nonsense—try 15 minutes.

The theory really only applies, though, if you’ve checked in online and are only travelling with carry-on luggage.

Betsy Grunch, a neurosurgeon with 2.4 million TikTok followers, tested it recently. She arrived 26 minutes before her boarding time, and miraculously got to her gate—the closest one to the security checkpoint—in about 18 minutes.

Another content creator, James Shaw, tested the theory with plenty of time to spare.

“We don’t check bags, so we already had our carry-ons,” says Shaw. “It was a good time to do it because it was a spring break week here, so it was one of the busiest days that Tampa airport had seen. We never ran, we walked the whole time. It was super simple.”

He and his travel crew got to their gate in 13 minutes.

Lucky breaks or proof of a theory that contradicts everything we’ve ever known about airports?

SCIENCE

The way our bone cells age

A new study published in the journals Small and Aging Cell looked into how the trillions of cells that make up human bones age, potentially providing new insights into how to treat bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis.

The researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, found osteocytes—which direct bone build-up or breakdown based on perceived mechanical forces working around them—will stiffen when exposed to damaged (senescent) cells

"Imagine the cytoskeleton as the scaffolding inside a building," said Maryam Tilton, assistant professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and principal investigator of the study. "When this scaffolding becomes rigid and less flexible, the building can't adapt to changes and stresses, leading to structural problems.​ Similarly, stiffened osteocytes can't effectively regulate bone remodeling, contributing to bone loss."

Tilton and co.’s study investigated ways in which senescent cells could be better identified through biomarkers—such as the “toxic brew of molecules” they emanate—allowing for earlier and more preventative medical treatment to prevent the bone loss that comes with osteoporosis.

ODDITIES

YouTuber arrested for contacting remote tribe

Survival International, an organization devoted to the rights of indigenous tribes, released a statement condemning YouTuber Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov for trying to get facetime with one of the world’s last remaining uncontacted tribes.

The Sentinelese live on North Sentinel, an island the size of Manhattan in the Indian Ocean. They’re known for violently protecting their island, going so far as to kill to defend it.

Because they live completely isolated from the rest of the world, they’re extremely vulnerable to diseases that could be transmitted to them by outsiders. India has fully stopped attempting to make contact, and it’s been illegal to visit the island for years, a fact that didn’t stop Polyakov from doing so.

“In a reckless attempt to get attention on social media, his illegal actions could have wiped out the entire Sentinelese tribe through introducing new diseases such as flu to which they have no immunity,” reads the Survival International statement.

Polyakov faces a jail sentence from the Indian authorities who arrested him, which he will probably happily take over what could be the alternative. In 2018, American missionary John Allen Chau was attempting to proselytize to the North Sentinelese, and was killed by the tribe after making contact.

MUSIC

When background music doesn’t hit

A new study suggests background music can have a significant impact on the productivity of workers when they just don’t vibe with the song.

The study involved 166 participants listening to two playlists, one with pop-like, upbeat, and happy music of minimal complexity playing, the other with slower, sombre, and more complex music playing at a lower volume. They were also asked to rank the type of music they need playing in order to be productive based on four categories: volume, speed, complexity, and emotional intensity.

The researchers found that the less the playlist lined up with the attributes the participants indicated, the more distracting the playlist became, particularly for those who said they had trouble filtering different stimuli when attempting to complete a task.

"Music that doesn't fit what an employee needs to feel energized, manage emotions, and focus on task can have a real negative impact," said Kathleen Keeler, co-lead author of the study and assistant professor of management and human resources at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business.

"We found that a music misfit can lead employees to feel more fatigued, have trouble focusing, and not really enjoy being at work. And that, in turn, prompts them to engage in behaviors that can harm the organization.”

STAKE TRIVIA

Suffering succotash!

When you think about it, it’s pretty remarkable how so many of the characters we’ve loved fur-ever are animals 😂 

Are you feline lucky, Staker? Because we’ll be quizzing you on some iconic animal characters 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.