Palmer heads prevail

Who’d have thought that a group of bored-looking models pretending to play music to accompany Robert Palmer would make such a compelling video? But hey, it was the ‘80s. The video was unforgettable, and Addicted to Love was a #1 hit.

Speaking of palmers, have you recently noticed basketball players holding strange devices on the bench and during breaks? They’re actually called Narwhals, and are used by players to cool their palms and improve performance.

What would the Thompson Twins think? ;)

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

IN THE NEWS

Trump pauses tariffs on USMCA-compliant goods

Two days after imposing sweeping 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, U.S. president Donald Trump abruptly pulled back, signing executive orders to delay tariffs on USMCA-compliant goods until April 2. According to the Associated Press, 62% of Canadian goods will still be subject to tariffs under those conditions.

Trump announced the pause for Mexico late morning yesterday, but waited until mid-afternoon to engage with Canada. He and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly had a heated phone call that rose to one side using profanity out of frustration.

Shortly after, Trump took to Truth Social to baselessly accuse Trudeau of using a trade war to run for office again. Shortly after that, the White House announced the pause for tariffs on Canadian goods, as well.

Despite the mild reprieve, Canada isn’t backing down, according to Trudeau.

"We are in a moment right now where Canada has a very, very strong bargaining position, because Canadians are so united and unequivocal about standing up for our country and standing up for our fellow citizens and being very firm that this is an unjustified and unjustifiable trade war launched by the Americans," he said.

GOVERNMENT

Trudeau’s last day isn’t clear

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took questions the other day, including one about when his last day in office actually will be, after President Donald Trump baselessly accused Trudeau of using the trade war to stay in office.

“That will be up to a conversation between the new leader and myself to figure out how long a transition is needed,” he said. “It should happen reasonably quickly. But there’s a lot of things to do in a transition like this, particularly at this complicated time.”

The new Liberal leader will be selected and announced at an event this Sunday held in Ottawa, with polls heavily favouring Mark Carney, followed by Chrystia Freeland.

Part of what’s complicating matters is that the new leader will be selected Sunday, but must be sworn in to actually assume the office of Prime Minister. Parliament is prorogued until March 24, and speculation has been building for weeks that an election will be called immediately after the new leader is selected.

BUSINESS

Canadian Tire restructures in tariff response

Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. is investing $2 billion over four years to restructure its business in a way that integrates its subsidiary properties horizontally, rather than sticking to the holding company model.

The move is intended to make its brands more agile in a fast-changing international political economy, and will foster growth for its flagship Canadian Tire, along with Pro Hockey Life, SportChek, Mark’s, and Park City.

Tariffs on Canadian goods may be on pause, but the volatile market suggests they could be reactivated at any point, and Canadian Tire also has to worry about tariffs on products made in China.

The True North plan will reportedly minimize the impact tariffs will have on the company, though the plan also involves several store closures, including 17 Atmosphere locations.

“We will operate more efficiently and go to market more strategically, harnessing our banners and loyalty system to elevate our scale,” Canadian Tire CEO Greg Hicks said in a statement.

FEASTING FRIDAYS

Why tomatoes don’t kill us

For centuries, it was believed that the Roman emperor Augustus died from being poisoned by a tomato. However, if that was indeed the case, then why are we able to eat tomatoes without being poisoned today? A recent study provides new insight but may not have solved the puzzle.

Published in Science Advances, the study looked into the “steroidal glycoalkaloids", a toxic acid that’s found in the tomatoes we do eat, and identified a “complex epigenetic and genetic network” within the tomato that causes the initially toxic acid to basically become tomato juice.

Analyzing the entire maturation process of a germinated tomato, the researchers discovered that “the same chemicals that cause tomatoes to ripen into redder, softer, and sweeter fruits also work to break down poisonous glycoalkaloids into the less toxic esculeoside A compound,” they said.

Specifically, as outlined in a subsequent commentary published two weeks ago, the researchers identified a protein (DML2) that essentially acts as a security guard frisking patrons on the way into a stadium, forcing cells in the tomato to be drained of their toxins during the ripening process.

OUTDOORS

Countdown to the garden party

The clocks will spring forward this Sunday, meaning spring has almost sprung and gardening season is following right behind it.

Gardening has been enjoying a renaissance of popularity over the last few years, possibly as a carry-over hobby for many who took it up during the pandemic lockdowns. While a simple and cathartic exercise, there are plenty of little niches when it comes to gardening if you’re looking to specialize and level-up your garden this year.

For example, there’s vertical gardening for those looking to cultivate something majestic with minimal available space.

"Some of these [systems] are for ornamental plantings on walls and others are for growing vegetables in tight spaces in vertical systems," says Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "Many of the systems employ hydroponics and capturing and recycling of water."

There’s also the edible garden, for those looking to not just grow something pretty, but feed their family and friends with a classic array of inflation-free backyard vegetables.

How ’bout waterwise gardening or lived-in gardens? Read on here for more.

ENVIRONMENT

Largest iceberg on earth runs aground

When you think of icebergs, you probably think of giant ocean-blue translucent glaciers or the rock that took out the Titanic. You probably don’t think of an ice structure the size of Rhode Island, but that’s exactly how big A23a is, and that’s after it calved in 1986.

After dislodging from the Antarctic icesheet, it became the largest iceberg on earth, and at 39 years of age, it’s also the oldest. It just spent five years drifting across the South Ocean, and finally ran aground 56 miles south of South Georgia, an island chain east of the southern tip of Argentina.

“If the iceberg stays grounded, we don’t expect it to significantly affect the local wildlife of South Georgia,” said Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, in a survey release.

“In the last few decades, the many icebergs that end up taking this route through the Southern Ocean soon break up, disperse and melt. Commercial fisheries have been disrupted in the past however, and as the berg breaks into smaller pieces, this might make fishing operations in the area both more difficult and potentially hazardous.”

The iceberg weighs roughly a trillion metric tons, but now that it’s grounded, experts expect it will break up into several smaller pieces.

PSYCHOLOGY

Recurring dreams

Recurring dreams are typically of the eerie variety, leaving the dreamer feeling spooked, confused, alert, or even exposed. They are one of the most human experiences we have, and there’s plenty to be learned when you have one.

Usually, if you’re having the same dream repetitively, it means your subconscious is trying to tell you something important—or at least something you’ve been holding back or burying and it wants out.

The urgency probably means the message is of a serious nature, rather than just something innocuous; it’s a message you will want to receive, though it will almost certainly be coded.

Our subconscious mind communicates in symbols rather than words, so try paying attention to the potentially symbolic features of the dream; i.e. a wave, a tooth, an eagle, a shadow, a treasure chest, etc.

Only you can decode a dream you’re having, but if you’ve been having the same one over and over, its meaning may not be obvious at first, but when it hits you, you’ll know it.

STAKE TRIVIA

Time keeps on slippin’

After several darker months, it’s time to turn the clocks forward this Sunday! 🕰️ 

And since we’ll basically be time travelling, today’s trivia is all about songs or movies having to do with time or time travel! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card ;)

Winner will be announced Monday afternoon—keep an eye on your inbox!*

Have a great weekend Staker!

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


*SEE FULL STAKE TRIVIA CONTEST RULES HERE.