May 11, 2020

A contractor, when done performing a deep-clean of a library in Newmarket, U.K., put the books back on the shelves incorrectly. Library employees returned the following day to discover the shelves were lined with books arranged from largest to smallest — and their alphabetical organizing system upended. The New York Post, April 25, 2020

In March, the savings rate surged to 13.1%, the highest since November of 1981. Last month, Americans held $2.17 trillion in their savings accounts. CNN, April 30, 2020

Brazil’s economy is falling apart as it has become the Latin American epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter, Brazil’s stock market declined by 51% with its currency losing 37%, the steepest fall since 1994. Axios, April 30, 2020

In the three weeks of its digital release, the “Trolls” sequel has made more money for Universal pictures than the original did during five months in theaters. The prospects for PVOD (Premium Video on Demand) is especially alluring for studios because they retain about 80% of the digital rental or purchase fee- compared with about 50% of box-office sales. The Wall Street Journal, April 28, 2020

In the 30 years until this March, the compounding effects of reinvested dividends would have accounted for almost half of the return on an S&P 500 index fund. Morning Brew, April 27, 2020

The Social Security Agency currently has 53,000 employees working from home and they are processing claims and appeals faster than before. The SSA’s backlog of pending cases has also fallen 11% and calls are reportedly being fielded faster as well. NPR, May 5, 2020

“History repeats itself twice, the first time as tragedy and the second time as farce.” Karl Marx

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