The Economy: Hundreds of millions of dogs and burgers will be inhaled and millions of gallons of brewskies will be quaffed by Dudes and Dudettes in the Grand American Tradition this weekend. GDP will spike. Presidential candidates may go for a smile. We’ll doff our caps or curtsey for those that gave the ultimate sacrifice while continuing another Great American Tradition of thumbing our noses at authority. The weekend spike in GDP caused by the national hedonistic orgy will be offset on Tuesday by a GDP dip as productivity-crushing hangovers reduce economic activity to near-zero. The economy will gradually recover until the evening of Thursday June 2nd, when relief partying for the coming weekend will create an economic stall that will persist until the following Monday, June 6th. Have a Great Holiday. We’ll catch you on the rebound.
Food for Thought: On Memorial Day: Memorial Day is the holiday for remembering the people who died while serving in our armed forces. The holiday originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War. The name of the holiday gradually morphed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day after World War II. In 1968 Congress passed legislation which moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, from their traditional dates to a specific Monday in order to create three-day weekends. The change moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day which is celebrated November 11th; the anniversary of the end of World War I. Memorial Day is a day honoring the men and women who died while serving, whereas Veterans Day honors all U.S. military veterans. Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer. On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is flown at half-mast (or half-staff for you Army and Air Farce types …Go Navy Beat Army!).