EU vs USA

There are many major cultural differences between Europeans and Americans. But perhaps nothing encapsulates their many dissimilarities than their contrasting views on vacation.

(H/T Sarnia Asset Management)

As the cliche goes, Europeans work to live, and Americans live to work. To each their own.

Happy Birthday: America Turns 249

In celebration of America's birthday, the U.S. Census Bureau ("CB") releases some fun facts every year. E.g., when America declared her independence from Great Britain in July 1776, there were an estimated 2.5 million people* in the 13 original colonies (vs ~7 million in the U.K.); today, per the live U.S. population clock on the CB website, there are over 342.0 million Americans** (vs 69.5 million Britons). Or that in 2024 the U.S. imported $4.7 million worth of American flags and exported(?) $2.0 million worth. Or that in 2024, the U.S. imported $470 million of fireworks. In any case, Happy 4th of July!

*Approximately 450,000 of the 2.5 million were African Americans, who pointedly didn't gain their independence in 1776.

**Approximately 42 million of whom are African Americans.