1. The U.S.-Colombia Trade Agreement on Its First Anniversary:  Between May 2012 and March 2013, U.S. merchandise exports to Colombia grew to $15.9 billion — a 20% increase from the same period a year earlier. More here. 2. TED TALK: … read more >

1. The St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index Fell This Week to the Lowest Level Since July 20, 2007, Almost Six Years Ago. 2. VIDEO: Caught on camera, California police break into a couple’s home and taser them. Is this … read more >

1. Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon Granted to All Persons of European Descent, from GMU Professor Walter E. Williams, Gracious and Generous Grantor. 2.  The Northern spotted owl might very well be the most expensive avian sub-species on the planet, … read more >

1. Markets in Everything: Pfizer will now sell you Viagra directly at Viagra.com to get around the counterfeiters. 2. Gallup Poll: Americans’ financial worry has eased to the lowest level since before the recession. 3. Rasmussen Daily Consumer Confidence Index Reaches … read more >

1. Two technologies, announced separately in science journals this week, are the latest advances that use biological systems as models to design materials and machines: a) a digital camera with 200 lenses that mimics the compound eyes of ants may help … read more >

1. First Trust Portfolios says “Growth is Back” and predicts 3.1% growth in real GDP for Q1. 2. TED TALK: Linguist John McWhorter says that there’s much more to texting — linguistically, culturally — than it seems, and it’s all good … read more >

1. From today’s BLS report on state employment and unemployment: Oil-rich North Dakota once again led the country with the lowest state jobless rate at 3.3% in March. Oil-rich Texas led the country in employment gains over the last year … read more >

1. Markets in Everything: Interactive beer bottles. 2. Markets in Everything: Boogeyman wanted at Russian drive-in movie theater to scare audience. 3. Markets in Everything: Female teen developer raises $125,000 for startup by auctioning off 10% of her future income … read more >

1. Markets in Everything: Funeral home in China offers fake funerals for the living. 2. Markets in Everything: ReDigi is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell pre-owned digital music. 3. New tax in Maryland on rain water. … read more >

1. Renewables: Utility bills in states with a renewable energy portfolio standard are 40% higher than in states without one. 2. Inequity: Obama declares today ‘National Equal Pay Day,’ despite paying his female staffers 13% less than their male counterparts. … read more >