What I read this week.
Here are a few things I found interesting this week on the web.
America's 20 Most Popular National Parks, Ranked - This Thrillist article showcases the best national parks in the U.S., focusing on iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. It highlights their breathtaking landscapes, historical importance, and recreational opportunities, making them top picks for anyone looking to experience America's natural beauty and outdoor activities.
Venice starts charging day-trippers—Starting in spring 2024, Venice will charge day-trippers a €5 fee on peak days to manage tourism and protect residents' quality of life. This fee, not aimed at profit, applies to visitors not staying overnight and is part of efforts to address overtourism in the iconic city.
A mix of Slowing Growth, Firm Inflation Worries Investors -The U.S. economy experienced moderate growth in the first quarter of 2024, with a reported increase in GDP of 1.6%. This growth rate was somewhat lower than earlier predictions by the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model, which had estimated a slightly higher growth rate just before the official figures were released.
Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos - Two Americans, Ryan Watson, and Tyler Wenrich, face minimum 12-year prison sentences in Turks and Caicos for inadvertently carrying ammunition in their luggage. The charges follow a recent mandate imposing strict penalties for such offenses. Both individuals, legal gun owners, passed through TSA checks without issues before their arrests.
Ads are still the profit engine for Alphabet - Despite shifts in the broader tech landscape, Alphabet's profitability continues to be strongly driven by its advertising revenue. This trend underscores the enduring significance of ads to the company's financial health, even as it explores and expands into other technological sectors.
Other things to check out:
Perplexity—Perplexity.ai is an AI-powered search engine that provides natural language answers by summarizing and citing relevant information from across the Internet. I now use this app more than Google.
Perplexity Jeff Weir Oil Works - Instagram
Things to stream
Civil War - Not streaming yet, but you can see it in theaters now.
Peter Santenello - YouTube
Books
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Stone Maidens by Lloyd Devereux Richards
Found on X…
