Over easy

Egghead was eggceptional. The character was created for the ’60s Batman series, and played by Hollywood icon Vincent Price. Like all villains, Batman scrambled his evil plans, but Egghead was special because…he always cracked you up 🤣

Speaking of cracking eggs, you probably always crack ‘em on their side—after all, they’re most vulnerable that way. Or so we thought. A rigorous egg drop study completed by MIT has actually proven that eggshells are stronger on their sides. 

But they all crack under the right circumstances ;)

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

SPONSORED BY ZENBEV

Celebrating 1000 Issues

We’re giving away a $1000 Amazon eGift Card to celebrate our 1000th issue. For every poll you vote in between now and May 14th you’ll earn one entry into the giveaway, so vote below to get in on the action. The winner will be drawn on May 15th!**

Shout out to Zenbev for sponsoring our milestone 1000th issue and giveaway.

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IN THE NEWS

U.S. envoy says ties can strengthen with Canada

United States Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, spoke with Mercedes Stephenson on The West Block on Sunday, saying tariffs may not be fully lifted in the run up to a new trade relationship with Canada, but that the opportunity is there for that relationship to be even stronger than the one the two countries have historically enjoyed.

He alluded to the noticeably respectful demeanor both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney displayed in their Oval Office meeting last week, and referred to it as a foundation for a new and stronger bond.

“People have talked about a restart or a reset, and I kind of shy away from that,” he said. “Yeah, we had a few rough months and those types of things. But we have strong economic ties, we have strong national security ties, we have personal ties…There is so much to this foundation. We will be stronger in the future, and watching the prime minister and the president, they both want that same outcome.”

He emphasized tariffs will likely not be completely eliminated, and pointed to the bilateral agreement the U.S. struck with the United Kingdom last week, which retained the 10% baseline tariffs.

On top of trade, he also spoke about national security, including Canada’s need to dramatically increase its military spending and reinforcement of its Arctic region, which are both major priorities for Carney.

HEALTH

MedicAlert connects to 911

MedicAlert bracelets are probably among the most effective and important inventions in medical history, and the MedicAlert Canada Foundation is taking its success and reinvesting in new ways to help save lives.

The non-profit announced a plan to launch technology that will allow 911 medical dispatchers to automatically access the health records of a MedicAlert member who requires care.

The software will be embedded on the emergency response services side, and when a phone call is made by a person in need, the MedicAlert software will automatically source the records of the member the phone number belongs to. Those records will in turn be available to the first responders at the scene, allowing them more immediate insight into the health background of the patient, potentially saving lives.

“All of this happens in less than a second,” said MedicAlert Canada President Leslie McGill. “Before they even dispatch someone to respond to the emergency, they can actually see all of the medical conditions, all of the information that’s available in that record, and what that does is help the first responder prepare before they even get to the scene.”

GOVERNMENT

U.S. bill proposes longer visa-free stays for Canadians

The United States House of Representatives has a bipartisan bill on the table that would allow Canadian Snowbirds to stay in the United States longer without having to obtain a visa.

Cosponsored by Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Laurel Lee of Florida and Greg Stanton of Arizona, the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act would extend the visa-free period from the current 180 days to 240 days, allowing Canadians up to eight months in the United States without visa papers.

The bill was tabled as a new way to incentivize Canadians to visit and invest in the United States, both of which have slowed dramatically since President Donald Trump took office and began threatening to absorb Canada as the 51st American state.

“We’re supporting job growth, strengthening our bond with our closest neighbors, and helping local communities thrive,” said Lee in a statement.

The Trump administration recently moved to require Canadians to register with the U.S. government if visiting for more than 30 days. The Canadian Snowbird Association condemned the policy, and said as much in a letter sent to the U.S. government after it was implemented.

TRAVEL TUESDAYS

Wanna get paid to travel the world?

Shop Home Styles is a British furniture and homewares retail website, and they’re in search of what they’re calling an “Interior Trends Consultant” to travel the world.

In terms of qualifications, you basically just have to be obsessed with interior design. No professional experience? No problem. They’re willing to pay £100k, as long as you’re willing to travel wherever you’re sent on short notice, and have a knack for social media and content creation.

“At Shop Home Styles, we believe that the best interiors are inspired by the world around us, and now we’re on the hunt for someone to help us find them,” the job posting reads. “We’re offering one lucky interiors enthusiast the chance to become our very first Interior Trends Consultant, a globe-trotting role designed to uncover the freshest, boldest and most exciting home design inspiration from around the world.

If that’s not enough, then this winning pitch certainly will be:

“As our Interior Trends Consultant, you’ll travel to design hotspots like Japan, Morocco, Mexico and Scandinavia, soaking up local aesthetics and emerging styles. You’ll stay in luxurious hotels, explore artisan markets, hidden boutiques, and trend-setting neighbourhoods—all while creating content and reporting back to our team with your finds.”

That sounds like the kind of job description that would make anyone claim to be a lifelong interior design enthusiast.

SCIENCE

How do genetics impact sleep?

A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found a woman in her 70s who’s lived her entire life barely sleeping at all, and has suffered no related consequences because of a genetic mutation.

Scientists in China conducted the study, zeroing in on the four mutations determined to be related to naturally short sleep: DEC2, NPSR1, GRM1, and ADRB1. However, during their research, they discovered a new one called the salt-inducible kinase 3—or SIK3.

This particular mutation was found in the study participant, who claimed she went through life only sleeping about three hours a night. Their research found she actually averaged about 6.3 hours, which is still considerably low; human beings generally need between 7 and 9 hours, or they’ll experience the symptoms and ramifications of sleep deprivation.

To make sure SIK3 was indeed responsible for her short sleep, the study’s authors simulated it in mice, and confirmed their theory.

“These findings advance our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of sleep, highlight the broader implications of kinase activity in sleep regulation across species, and provide further support for potential therapeutic strategies to enhance sleep efficiency,” they wrote.

CURIOSITIES

Why does time seem to stand still when exercising?

Time flies when you’re having a good time…but what about when you’re not having a good time? For example, even though plenty get immense satisfaction from running on a treadmill, when the tank is running on empty and the run is supposed to almost be over, most feel like the timer on the machine is slowing down.

It turns out this is a legitimate phenomenon that ostensibly causes people to perceive time is slowing down by about 9%.

“During exercise […] it seems likely that the stimulus of physical activity creates a heightened associative state of impulse awareness and causes a perceived slowing of time,” reports a small study, released last year by researchers from the UK and the Netherlands.

“The chronological clock reaches 30 [seconds] after the individual indicates/perceives 30 [seconds] has elapsed,” the study reads, “giving the impression that the chronological clock is moving [too] slow.”

The researchers also found time continued to slow for the participants the more intense and uncomfortable the workout became, with some perceiving a slowdown of up to 25%.

CULTURE

Coca-Cola gets its own sign

Gallaudet University is the world’s leading academic institution for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and after years of collaboration with Coca-Cola executives, they’ve officially introduced a Coca-Cola sign into American Sign Language.

The sign was debuted in a reimagining of the classic “Hilltop” ad Coke ran in 1971, featuring a diverse group of young people atop a hill singing, “I Want To Buy The World A Coke.”

The ASL version begins with the original commercial, and then fades into the reimagined tribute filmed by and of students at Gallaudet’s Washington, D.C. campus. Instead of singing, they’re signing, revealing the sign for Coke is made by spelling out the word’s letters in a rhythmic hand motion intended to resemble Coke’s signature ribbon.

"It is more than fitting that The Coca-Cola Company is the first global corporation to receive a sign created by students at Gallaudet University," said Storm Smith, Gallaudet University's Director of Storytelling. "We are deeply honored to have partnered with Coca-Cola on this. Our hope is that many other global brands will now follow in Coca-Cola's footsteps, recognizing the extraordinary value a global sign name brings and the importance of creating a stronger connection with our global signing communities."

STAKE TRIVIA

Muppet madness

Well folks, it’s National Frog Jumping Day! Yes, it’s kind of a weird day to celebrate, but it did get us thinking about the world’s most famous frog 😏 

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, you name it—the Muppets are all on the table 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.

**SEE FULL 1000TH ISSUE GIVEAWAY RULES HERE.