The Word: On income inequality, lavender, and Judi Dench

On the front page:

Share the wealth. Seriously. According to a recent report released by Oxfam, the world’s richest one percent will own more than half of the world’s wealth by 2016. The findings were published just as this year’s World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, Switzerland. Winnie Byanyima, the organization’s executive director, has said she hopes that the report will encourage world leaders to address the ever-growing chasm of income inequality between the world’s richest and poorest citizens.    

Luka Magnotta will appeal his convictions. The 33-year-old Torontonian was convicted of first-degree murder last month in the death of Chinese student Jun Lin, but filed for an appeal in the Quebec Court of Appeal on Monday. Magnotta was initially sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years, but he claims in a legal document that Judge Guy Cournoyer “erred in law” in several ways, including refusing to dismiss a biased juror. A hearing will take place in Montreal next month.

On health:

The upsides of a non-platonic gym buddy. The couple that works out together, gets fit together.  

Smelling like lavender may make you seem more trustworthy. (And possibly feel more sleepy.)

On business:

Attention shoppers: Target’s closure announcement has incited a Black Friday–level shopping frenzy. 

One T.O. company has invented a pretty intelligent storage solution. The Smart Jar, invented by start-up SKE Labs, keeps track of the nutritional content and expiry dates of the food in your cupboards. 

On sports:

Road to the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots will face off against the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1. 

FIFA’s female players start a turf war. Specifically, they’re suing the soccer organization ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup to be held in cities across Canada, alleging that forcing them to play on artificial (not natural) grass is discriminatory.

On culture: 

Eastwood’s military drama makes a mark. American Sniper broke box-office records across North America this weekend.

On pure laziness:

This desk from Japan’s Trend Shop allows inactive users to keep up with the day’s work from the comfort of their own bed.

The final word…

“All the titans of industry are in this room. Judi Dench unbuckles her pants, and on her bum, as you say, is ‘JD loves HW.’” Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein reveals how Dame Judi Dench thanked him for her silver-screen success.