Today is Thursday, May 1, 2025.
It is the 121st day of the year.
244 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
NOTABLE & NOTEWORTHY: A pair of hikers make an historic find.
KATY PERRY is focusing on the positives and one of HARVEY WEINSTEIN’s accusers testifies. More in SHOWBIZ.
ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL joins Season 2 of “Wednesday” and a “Desperate Housewives” reboot is in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
PRINCE WILLIAM is working on a score-setting to-do list when he assumes the throne. Details in ROYALS.
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Topline economic data from the first quarter of the year shows an expected, slight contraction in Gross Domestic Product, down 0.3%.
One of the four major components of GDP is a nation’s “net exports,” or total imports subtracted from total exports. In anticipation of PRESIDENT TRUMP’s tariffs, businesses in the first quarter increased their imports over 41% to shore up supply chains and inventories, which actually dragged down the GDP number.
This was more than enough to offset the nearly 22% increase in private investment spending on things like machinery, factories, and equipment, and a modest increase in consumption spending. At the same time, government spending ticked down.
A controlled burn of an overheated economy is much preferable to spending it into oblivion before it’s too late. [via BEA]
WORTH REMEMBERING: The United States experienced a recession in 2022, after two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, as every Econ 101 student has learned to define a recession for a century. But the Biden administration just decided not to call it a recession and the media went along with the lie. Remember that during the inevitable hair-on-fire-outrage about these GDP numbers.
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In February, two hikers in the Czech Republic stumbled upon treasure more than two centuries old, including gold coins and currency from various European countries dating as far back as the 1800s. They also found some personal items, like tobacco bags and bracelets.
All together, the find is worth about 7.5 MILLION Czech Crowns – or about $341,000.
A museum is analyzing the find and determining the origin of some of the artifacts. While the hikers who found the treasure freely gave it to the museum, they anticipate getting a finder’s fee once researchers can properly evaluate the value of everything. [via CBS News]
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Americans increasingly prefer staying in with friends over meeting people out socially.
A recent study shows 72% of respondents are happier in their living room with pals versus going out. Half of those who prefer to stay in say they’ve changed their preference in recent years, just because it’s cheaper.
There are practical reasons, too: 47% say it’s easier to have a conversation and that they avoid crowded places. About one-fourth say staying in means not having to dress up. [via Study Finds]
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When police in Ogden, Utah, responded to calls of a reckless driver last weekend, they followed the vehicle and saw the driver was indeed struggling to stay in the appropriate lane – because he was 7 years old.
The hungry kid hijacked the family vehicle to take his younger sister to McDonald’s, driving more than 9 miles. Police feared deploying emergency equipment to stop the vehicle might injure the child driver; fortunately, the vehicle disabled after clunking into a parking strip, and the kids were found nearby.
Police aren’t currently considering charges. The boy’s mom says, "He’s in a world of trouble, he’s probably grounded for the rest of his life.” [via People]
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A kangaroo named Sheila caused quite the commotion on an Alabama highway this week.
According to local authorities, a two-vehicle collision occurred around lunchtime Tuesday as drivers swerved to avoid hitting the escaped marsupial.
With traffic stopped, animal control was able to tranquilize Sheila, who was then picked up by her owner.
No injuries -- human or otherwise -- were reported. [via Washington Post]
FUN FACT: Owning a kangaroo (permit required) is legal in Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, and New Jersey. Residents of Wisconsin, West Virginia, and South Carolina may also own a kangaroo -- no permit required. [via Indy100]
WORTH NOTING: Alabama isn’t on the list…
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