SFD SATURDAY
MORNING WEEKLY 111

Let me take this back about 25 years to one of the early Eastern European trips my wife and I took.

FRANKIE’S FAVOURITE EATERIES 

Let me take this back about 25 years to one of the early Eastern European trips my wife and I took.

We started in Poland, driving through the great cities along the way—Krakow, then Prague in the Czech Republic—and eventually made our way into Hungary.

Budapest. Budapest.

We happened to arrive on St. Stephen’s Day, Hungary’s national holiday.

Budapest, like many great cities of the world, is split by a river—like Paris and the Seine or Istanbul and the Bosphorus. In this case it’s Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube River. Buda rises up on a massive hill, while Pest stretches out flat along the river.

That evening we started noticing hundreds… then thousands… of people walking toward the river. We had no idea why. For a moment I even thought something might be wrong.

But then it started.

The entire city lines up along the river on the Pest side, looking across to the hills of Buda. Suddenly the music begins—grand, dramatic, almost royal—and an enormous fireworks show launches from the hills and bridges.

For over an hour the sky explodes with fireworks choreographed to music.

To this day, it is the greatest fireworks display I’ve ever seen. It truly has to be seen to be believed.

That same weekend also hosts the Formula 1 race, and Budapest is famous for its thermal baths. But this memory isn’t about the baths…

It’s about food.

On the Pest side there’s a great pedestrian street called Váci Utca—similar to our Queen Street—where a lot of life happens.

Down in the basement of a long-standing restaurant called Fatal, I had one of the most memorable meals of my life. I still remember the traditional Hungarian spätzle dumplings, incredible goulash, rich fish soups, and the kind of hearty dishes and desserts Hungarians are known for.

It’s one of those places that gives you exactly what you want when traveling—great food, atmosphere, and a story you’ll remember decades later.

I actually checked today…

It’s still there.

Maybe it’s time for another visit.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

ChatGPT inches closer to 1 billion weekly users — and counting

If you thought everyone you know was casually chatting with an AI, you’re not far off. OpenAI just announced that ChatGPT now has a staggering 900 million weekly active users — that’s nearly one in eight humans on the planet checking in for advice, ideas, or just a friendly conversation with a chatbot. And 50 million of them are paying subscribers, proving that people will happily shell out for AI companionship (and help with essays, emails, and endless “what should I make for dinner?” questions).

The surge from 800 million users last October highlights how quickly ChatGPT has become part of everyday life. OpenAI credits the growth to improvements in speed, reliability, safety, and overall performance — basically making the chatbot feel less like a robot and more like a helpful coworker who never sleeps.

As if that wasn’t enough, OpenAI also revealed a $110 billion private funding round, including $50 billion from Amazon and $30 billion each from Nvidia and SoftBank, valuing the company at a whopping $730 billion. Whether you’re using it to write, learn, plan, or just settle a debate about which pizza topping reigns supreme, one thing is clear: ChatGPT isn’t just popular — it’s officially in the big leagues.

REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT

On The Scene “Party of The Week”

Selected photos from the 2026 Actor Awards. Big time behind the scenes. Here first!

By George Pimentel

Take a sneak peek at this week’s event photos, your 🫵 backstage pass. 

WORD OF THE WEEK

Nettle

What It Means

To nettle someone is to make them angry or annoyed.

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

Did you know this about jellyfish? 

UNTAMED PODCAST

LISTEN BELOW

OTHER POSH THINGS

Liberowe at London Fashion Week: Poise in Motion

I was invited to attend Liberowe's presentation during the recent London Fashion Week (on 22 Feb 2026) From the moment I entered the space, it was clear: this was not about front rows or flashbulbs. One was invited to move around the garments — to walk, to explore, to remain in motion. Liberowe exists through movement and continuity — from the studio, to the making, to the garment, and ultimately to the woman who will wear it.

I loved that idea. Continuity. Fashion not as a moment, but as a thread.

Founded by Paris-born designer Talia Loubaton, the collection felt rooted in early memories — those first fascinations with fabric, texture, drape, sparks and ornaments. I could sense the devotion in making.

The craftsmanship drew me in immediately. Tweed, bouclé, velvet — familiar, but explored with restraint. Peplums unfolding into soft architectural shapes. Tailoring that held its line without feeling rigid. There was structure, yes — but also lightness.

Poise without heaviness.

The colours are deep and wintered: oxblood, forest green, charcoal. A velvet suit that felt quietly powerful. A brocade coat that framed the shoulders with intention. Silk dresses that skimmed rather than announced themselves.

Nothing screamed for attention.

Everything felt considered and grounded in time.

There is also something beautifully European about Liberowe’s construction. Made in the London studio, with embroideries from India and fabrics sourced from France and Italy, the collection feels geographically fluid — yet emotionally cohesive.

This is Liberowe — the anatomy of a collection.

For those of us who are drawn to fashion not as noise but as narrative — as something that holds memory, craft and intention — this February showing marked an important moment.

It is an enduring collection. The Liberowe showing gave a sense of longevity, and, for me, a meditative moment in fashion. I loved every piece with its discipline in the tailoring, to the air within the silhouette.

By: N i r i t  S u m e r u k  A b b o u 

FRANKIE’S SONG OF THE WEEK

Such a great little fun one by a master 

100 WEEKS OF POSITIVE MESSAGES

Frankie did 100 days of positive messages 3 years ago. He wanted to center them around mental health and positivity. We will post them each week for 100 weeks.

60/100

In other words, bite your tongue and let it go.

I love this saying.

One of my dear friends @rdavidson23 got it from his dad, who got it from his dad.

Patience.

Always remember that the person in front of you has a story as well.

It is not an easy thing to do but if you can forgive, forget and move on you will doing yourself lots of favours.

It is a long road.

🧠A Weekly Dose of Psychology You Didn’t Know You Needed 🧠

Hi everyone! I’m Maya, I hold an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and Psychology (basically, I can analyze both a crime scene and your overly complicated coffee order). I’m also an incoming Master of Arts candidate in Counselling Psychology, which means I spend a lot of time thinking about how the human brain works, and why it sometimes does the exact opposite of what we want it to do.

Psych Fact #36: Cats can boost your mood — even without touching them.

It’s no secret that playing with or cuddling a cat can reduce stress, but the science is even quirkier. Studies show that watching cats or listening to their purring can trigger oxytocin release — the same “feel-good” hormone your brain produces during social bonding.

Even more interesting: cats’ purring falls within a frequency range that may actually promote healing and calm the nervous system. Some research suggests it can even help reduce inflammation and promote bone and tissue health — basically, your brain and body interpret it as a soothing signal.

And here’s a fun twist: your brain often perceives cats as unpredictable and curious, which keeps your attention engaged and can subtly improve focus and mindfulness. Watching a cat explore a room or chase a toy is like a tiny meditation for your brain.

Haha, maybe I’m biased because I treat my cat like a human child, but if you’re a cat hater, you probably won’t enjoy this one.

So if your week feels a little chaotic, a few minutes of cat observation might do more than just make you smile — it could give your brain a little reset too.

Until next time,
Maya 🧠✨

TRIVIA

Category: Disney Edition!

What kind of animal is Sebastian in The Little Mermaid?

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In Aladdin, what is the name of Aladdin’s mischievous monkey sidekick?

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Which Disney movie features a sidekick named Pascal?

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In Mulan, what is the name of the tiny dragon sent to be Mulan’s guardian?

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CHRIS’ CORNER

March Madness is Coming Soon

The buzzer beaters, the underdogs pulling a mammoth upset, the bracket pools with friends and colleagues: the NCAA Tournament, better known as March Madness, is one of the most amazing events around.

Selection Sunday is coming on March 15 with the tournament tipping-off with play-in games on March 17 and March 18. The proper brackets get going on March 19.

Really, the first weekend of tournament play (including the opening Thursday) is the best thing going. Game after game starting around noon and ending after midnight as the tournament starts on the east coast and heads west.

Sixty-four teams to 32 to the Sweet Sixteen to the Elite Eight to the Final Four and eventually the national championship game.

It’s funny because unless a team I picked to win, or the Syracuse Orange (I became a fan when I went to see games with my uncle at the Carrier Dome), is in the Final Four, I find it a lot less interesting than all the rounds that led us there.

Side note: Unless they pull off a miracle and win the ACC postseason tournament, the Orange will not be in the NCAA Tournament this year.

For several years, I’ve run my own bracket pool with friends and family – and sometimes friends’ family members – and it’s always a lot of fun. Everyone pitches in a nominal amount and makes their picks.

It’s pretty popular among participants because in the last few weeks I already had a bunch of regulars ask me, “are you doing the March Madness pool again?”

So, of course, I had to oblige and get it set up a couple of weeks early.

I’ll have a prediction column posted on my Patreon (link below the byline) closer to the start of the tournament.

But for this piece, I’ll mention that the top seeds will likely be names even casual fans will recognize. Predicted number-1 seeds in each of the four regions are Duke, UConn, Michigan, and Arizona.

Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what upsets can occur. I always pick a couple mid-level seeds (say 5 to 12) to make deep runs in the tournament. Right now I’m leaning towards Miami and NC State as potential dark horses to win at least three rounds.

I still have time to change my mind and go all ridiculous on some crazy upsets, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you get a chance, sign up for a March Madness bracket pool, it’s sure to be a lot of fun.

That’s it for me! Ciao for Now!

P.S. If you get a chance, please visit my website and subscribe.

By Chris Occhiuzzi

UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS

WEATHER THIS WEEK

TORONTO

MIAMI

PARIS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Some people wake up and want to be mad at someone... They can't help themselves and anything you say they will find the opposite. Get used to that or don't, the choice is ultimately up to you. It will be hard to change them.”

-SFD 

CONTRIBUTIONS

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Thank you

- Frankie

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Super Frankie is lazy. He loves technology because it makes life simpler. Technology is spawned from ideas that make life easier. He is the founder of Busys.ca which is a company that sells/leases and services printers, laptops, document management software, copiers, IT services, and phone systems throughout North America and Europe.

LET’S CONNECT

*These articles, jokes, and stories are written by individuals handpicked by SFD for their unique way of thinking and writing. While SFD appreciates their styles, he does not necessarily endorse their opinions. This newsletter is designed to bring a smile to your face. If you prefer not to receive this weekly newsletter, please feel free to unsubscribe. You will be missed.