The sights and symbols of the “Freedom Convoy”

Plus, COVID-19’s brain mystery, Lunar New Year snacks, flower power and whether it’s time to let Canada’s “zombie businesses” die out [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. After initial reports that all-time great NFL quarterback Tom Brady plans to retire from football, those closest to the 44-year-old — including his father — [say a decision hasn’t been made](. Please keep long-tormented Buffalo Bills fans in your thoughts at this difficult time. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg convoy [The “Freedom Convoy” hit Ottawa — bringing anti-vaxxers, Trudeau contempt and Nazi imagery with it]( Thousands of protesters descended on Parliament Hill Saturday, sparked by the arrival of the so-called “Freedom Convoy.” There were no reports of physical violence by nightfall, though protesters angered local civic leaders and business owners alike by flaunting public health rules and appropriating prominent monuments in their demonstration. [Alex Ballingall and Raisa Patel recap the scene in Ottawa]( where some demonstrators cooked hot dogs and set off fireworks while others bore swastikas and invoked far-right populism. Andrew Francis Wallace/The Star economy [Failing businesses say they need more pandemic aid. How long should the government supply it?]( Thanks to government subsidies aimed at keeping Canadians afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of businesses that went bust in 2020 was actually lower than in 2019. Subsidies were a lifeline for once-successful enterprises, but they also spared businesses that were trending toward closure prior to the pandemic. As Rosa Saba reports, economists and taxpayer advocacy groups think it’s time to wean these “zombie businesses” off public funds — but small business owners say doing so now would render all of the government’s previous support moot. [Here’s what you need to know](. Drew Angerer/Getty Images health [How scientists are trying to decipher COVID-19's impact on our brains]( The World Health Organization calls it “post-COVID-19 condition” but you probably know it better as “long COVID,” a diverse range of symptoms — often including “brain fog” — that can persist months after an initial infection. As May Warren reports, researchers from the University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Hospital and CAMH are all working to crack the code on COVID’s lingering effects on brains. With as many as 78,000 Ontarians estimated to be living with long COVID, [a breakthrough can’t come soon enough](. Steve Russell/The Star bright spot [Jason Young won’t stop getting your private emails — especially the weird ones]( Once every three days or so, Jason Young receives an email meant for someone else. Sometimes it’s meant for another Jason; others, a John or Joanne. And it’s been like this since he created his first and only Gmail account 15 years ago. The strange part? None of it appears to be spam mail. From what Jason can tell, all of those missives — the lengthy Thanksgiving get-together email chain, the plane tickets and the, ahem, “sex day” calendar invite — are all real. [Michele Henry explains what Google thinks the issue could be — and how Young occasionally breaks his rule by responding back](. Evelyn Kwong/The Star year of the tiger [Ringing in the Lunar New Year with authentic Chinese treats]( With Tuesday’s Lunar New Year fast approaching, Evelyn Kwong caught up with Wai Tack Kee founder Joe Tam, who has been working double-time alongside his wife, Alice, and daughter, Audrey, to keep up with the massive demand for traditional Chinese snacks. The Hong Kong transplant has been sharing his expertly crafted delectables with Torontonians for 17 years now. [Evy learned the meaning behind seven of Wai Tack Kee’s top snacks (and snuck a taste or two herself)](. UP CLOSE Rick Madonik/The Star Spend time on Twitter and you’ll invariably come across a crowd-pleasing prompt from Richmond Hill-based music industry vet Eric Alper — What song has the best intro? What movie traumatized you as a kid? Who is the best SNL cast member of all time? You can be cynical about the response-baiting tactics, but Alper tells Stuart Berman that his goal isn’t self-promotion or expanding his virtual reach. [Gather around one of the internet’s most popular water coolers](. pick THIS Wild North Flowers January’s almost over but spring is likely still several bone-chilling blizzards away — making it the perfect time for a decorative and sweet-smelling pick-me-up. Jennifer Fowlow of Wild North Flowers, a floral studio specializing in Ontario-grown blooms, shares her picks [for five of the best flower shops and services around the GTA](. Thanks for reading — especially you, Jason Young. The Clash’s “London Calling” boasts the best song intro ever, never show your kids “The Secret of NIMH,” and every SNL cast member is equally talented, except for Rob Schneider. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_102862), and Lex will see you back here Monday. [The Star]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [Become a Star Subscriber]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](