Wrist-ful thinking

Big hair and bright colours were key, but wild accessories helped complete ’80s fashion. Maybe you played basketball, maybe you didn’t—either way, you probably still owned a few sets of these striped beauties.

Fashion has changed a lot since then, and many accessories have gone beyond just being fashionable. In fact, researchers out of Northwestern University have just created the first wearable device to measure the health of your skin. 

You know where we’re living ;)

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

IN THE NEWS

President Trump shows his cards

U.S. president Donald Trump has an aggressive and erratic negotiating strategy, often difficult to predict. However, according to Canada’s former top trade negotiator, Steve Verheul, the president’s 180-degree turn on reciprocal tariffs this week proved he and his administration are susceptible to market pressure.

Despite the president’s repeated insistence that “there may be some pain” but “tariffs are the solution,” the dual spiral of American stock and bond markets on Wednesday was just too much to bear.

Knowing Trump’s pain threshold is a useful piece of information, says Verheul, and it can be used by America’s would-be and willing trade partners to convince him to acquiesce.

“I think retaliation can be a useful tool, and it’s unfortunate that most of the rest of the world didn’t see it that way,” Verheul said on a trade panel at the Broadbent Institute. “Because I think if there had been a more co-ordinated response from countries around the world, then we could have seen this fall away even more quickly.”

Despite Wednesday’s historic rally, markets closed down again yesterday after the relief subsided and investors remembered a great deal of global trade remains under an American tariff regime.

CANADA

Canadians continue avoiding United States

For the third straight month, Canadians expressed their frustration with their long-time ally by avoiding it at all costs.

According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians returning from the United States by car fell 32% in March compared to the year before, and air returns fell 13.5%.

On top of the resentment many are feeling since U.S. president Donald Trump began his trade war and threats of annexation, legitimate concerns are also growing for many that they may be treated harshly or even threatened at the border.

Several reports have emerged in recent weeks of foreigners being improperly sent to detention centres upon entry, or forced to hand over their electronic devices for unusual inspections.

The Canadian government even went so far as to issue a travel advisory last week, warning of the potential to experience these hurdles if travelling to the United States.

The loonie continues to hover around 70 U.S. cents, however, so choosing other travel destinations in the meantime may generate a better bang for your buck.

LEGAL

Police can now lay intoxication charges on private property

The Safer Roads & Communities Act, 2024 is now law in Ontario, and is designed to update the Highway Traffic Act with an expanded definition of “motor vehicle” and a provision that allows Ontario Provincial Police to charge intoxicated drivers on private property.

The update was made in order to bring clarity to a grey area when policing intoxicated driving. Previously, OPP were only permitted to administer sobriety tests to motorists on the highway, meaning a suspected intoxicated driver could hypothetically pull into their driveway before the police could stop them, evading what otherwise might be impaired driving charges.

Several cases just like this example, the most recent of which was decided in 2023, prompted the penning of the legislation and expanding OPP authority to require sobriety tests on or off the highway.

According to the OPP, 20,000 drivers had their licenses suspended for impaired driving in 2022, averaging about one every 26 minutes.

FEASTING FRIDAYS

What to eat for better sleep

Most people know it’s not healthy to eat anything too close to bed time, but even when we’re within the feasting window, what we eat can have a significant impact on our quality of sleep.

A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research analyzed data from 4,825 participants who used two apps: Asken for diet tracking, and Pokemon Sleep for sleep tracking (not kidding).

After cross-referencing the data, the Japanese researchers found those who consumed the most sodium and fat had the shortest total sleep time, whereas those who consumed the most protein and fibre had longer overall sleep time.

Using a mathematical model, they determined replacing just 6% of total energy intake with carbs instead of protein resulted in 12 minutes less sleep. Similar comparisons were made for other less healthy macronutrients.

"Continued consumption of a high-fat diet has been partially understood to reduce physical activity and increase rapid eye movements and sleep fragmentation through dopaminergic dysregulation," the researchers said.

SPACE

Oldest satellite homebound?

Vanguard-1 launched into a high elliptical orbit in 1958, making it the world’s oldest satellite still trekking through the universe.

An awkwardly-shaped and strange little tin can, Vanguard-1 was the second satellite ever sent into space, behind only Sputnik. While most satellites eventually burn up in the atmosphere and come crashing back to Earth, Vanguard-1 is still in orbit, though its flight may soon come to an end.

A team of engineers from Virginia-based consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton submitted a proposal to NASA detailing how the satellite could be retrieved and brought home safely to display as a piece of cosmic history and humanity’s short but sweet relationship with it.

According to the proposal, Vanguard could be repositioned to enter a low-earth orbit, and then hitch a ride with the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts did retrieve a satellite in the past during a spacewalk, using a Manned Maneuvering Unit (a.k.a. a jetpack).

“Future missions (space debris removal, materials capture for on-orbit manufacturing, and even deep space exploration) could build on techniques demonstrated in the retrieval of Vanguard 1,” the paper read. “Retrieving Vanguard 1 would be a challenge, but an achievable and invaluable step forward for the entire U.S. space community.”

CURIOSITIES

Bacta comes to life

Though scientists are still trying to figure out how to use the Force in real life, they have come up with a real-life version of another once-thought impossibility from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

According to Science Daily, researchers at Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth developed a gelatinous substance that actually possesses super-healing properties, just like the gooey stuff found in a bacta tank.

The hydrogel reportedly combines the properties of similar previous iterations, borrowing from each of them to create a bacta-like substance that mostly healed flesh wounds in an artificial test in under four hours and completely healed them within 24 hours.

The substance isn’t going to be saving the lives of Jedi anytime soon, but it may be an effective product for patching up the injuries suffered by those who insist on playing with real Light Sabers while pretending to use the Force.

MUSIC

55 years and one day ago, McCartney confirmed the end

When Brian Epstein died in 1967, the Beatles started to unravel, with Ringo Starr and George Harrison briefly quitting the band during sessions for the following year’s White Album.

There were plenty of reasons attributed to the slow death of the rock ‘n roll juggernaut, including creative differences, difference in managerial preferences, the Get Back sessions themselves, or—to put it bluntly—Yoko Ono.

George and Ringo were kind of playing chicken with their departures, but when John Lennon split, he didn’t look back. Three solo singles were already out by Feb. 1970, and when the Plastic Ono Band debuted in Toronto, Ringo knew it was officially over, even though Lennon hadn’t actually announced he’d permanently split. Nor had Paul.

However, out of the blue on April 10, 1970, promo material arrived for McCartney, his first solo record and the death knell of the Beatles.

Why did they break up, according to Paul?

"Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don't really know."

STAKE TRIVIA

8 track, 10 questions

We’re not really sure who comes up with these things, but it’s National Eight Track Tape Day and we’re stoked 😎 

They’re mostly obsolete these days, but once upon a time eight track tapes reigned supreme. Find out how well you remember the format with today’s trivia! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified on 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.