The Facts about May Day
ZWF #12: Sunday, May 01, 2022
Today is May 1, also known as May Day. But what exactly is May Day? May Day is recognized around the world as a day to celebrate labor, workers, and improvements in conditions. In the United States, it may have a more impactful meaning than ever this year.
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, a look inside the history of May Day, and an updated look at the NBA Playoffs as the Conference Semifinals begin. Plus, a look at some of the top headlines in news and sports from the past week.
Also, you should go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 60 features a breakdown of the second round of the French presidential election, which took place last week. You’ll want to get all the facts regarding this pivotal race across the pond. Download and listen to the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Zander’s Weekend Facts is here to give you the facts about what has been going on in the world around us this past week. You’ll just have to read these facts, instead of listening to them on the Zander’s Facts podcast.
Here is Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, May 01, 2022:
What is May Day?
If you haven’t already caught on, today is May Day. Perhaps surprisingly, that title means something more than just a simple rhyme. The first day of May has been celebrated in some regions, mostly in Europe, for centuries as the beginning of summer and a festival is held to recognize the transition to the warmer months of the year. In recent times, May Day has been recognized as a traditional holiday marked with festivals around Europe and in some parts of North America. However, it is also known as International Workers’ Day around the world.
International Workers’ Day first came in 1889 as recognition of a labor strike that eventually turned violent and is remembered as the Haymarket affair, which began on May 1, 1886. The date was first chosen by the Marxist International Socialist Congress but has gone mainstream in the years since. The date is now a public holiday in countries around the world to recognize laborers and the working class. Marches, parades, and celebrations are held each year in an effort to promote an eight-hour workday along with better conditions for workers.
In fact, most countries around the world recognized May 1 as International Workers’ Day. Some countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, and Finland celebrate another public holiday on May 1. In Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, there is no holiday officially recognized on May 1, but a holiday to recognize labor does exist. In the U.S., Labor Day has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1894.
Efforts to move Labor Day from the first Monday of September to May 1 have faced stiff resistance in the U.S. for decades. It’s historical relations with communists along with efforts to strengthen the working-class worldwide have proven keen to International Workers’ Day not catching on in America. However, as the following NPR article explains, that has been changing over the past few years.
Read this NPR article to learn more about May Day and its complicated apprehension in the U.S.: NPR - What is May Day? For the most part, the opposite of capitalism
The next round of the Playoffs
The NBA Playoffs continue into the next round today, as the Conference Semifinal round commences. The First Round of the postseason ended on Friday night, when the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games to advance. In both the Eastern and Western Conferences, the top four seeds won their First Round matchups and advanced to the second round. That is the first time that has happened in three years, since the 2019 Playoffs.
Here is a look at the current NBA Playoffs bracket before today’s games tip-off:
Two Conference Semifinal matchups begin today, while the other two matchups will begin tomorrow. Today, the #3 Milwaukee Bucks will face the #2 Boston Celtics with Game #1 of that Eastern Conference series tipping off at 1:00 pm et on ABC. Then, the #3 Golden State Warriors begin their series with the #2 Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference at 3:30 pm et on ABC.
Tomorrow, the Eastern Conference between the #4 Philadelphia 76ers and #1 Miami Heat begins at 7:30 pm et on TNT. Then at 10:00 pm et on TNT, the #4 Dallas Mavericks face the #1 Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference.
Each series will last until a team wins four games, with the winners advancing to the Conference Finals. The Conference Semifinal round begins today and will last a maximum of two weeks. The NBA Playoffs continue through the end of the NBA Finals in mid-June and are available on ABC, ESPN, and TNT.
For more on the NBA Playoffs: NBA - NBA Playoffs
Rapid-fire Facts
With another week of government decisions facing ridicule, here are the past week’s top headlines:
The United States Postal Service’s plan to buy gasoline-powered delivery vehicles to replace current vehicles for the next decade has garnered legal attention. On Thursday, sixteen states announced a lawsuit against USPS, claiming that the plan did not adequately account for the environmental harm the vehicles would bring. Postal service trucks only get around 8.6 miles per gallon, and the agency is planning to spend $11.3 billion over the next decade on them.
The New York Court of Appeals ruled against new congressional maps in New York State that many saw as favoring Democrats. The court ruled that the New York State legislature, which is led by Democrats, did not have the authority to redraw the maps after an independent redistricting commission did not come to an agreement on maps to use for the next decade. The court also ruled that the map was gerrymandered in favor of Democrats, which is in violation of the state constitution. Since new maps will have to be drawn, judges on the court suggested that primary elections in the state will likely have to be delayed from June to August.
California’s attorney general announced an investigation into some of the largest oil and gas companies in the country due to the claim the companies profited off of misleading statements to the public regarding recycling. Attorney General Rob Bonta said that the plastics industries’ claims that the plastics crisis can be solved by recycling is not true, since “The truth is": The vast majority of plastic cannot be recycled.” Bonta also cited a 2020 investigation conducted by NPR and PBS, which concluded similar accusations against oil and gas companies.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposal that would ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The move was heralded by health and civil rights groups, which argued that higher rates of smoking-related illnesses and deaths among black Americans is partly due to these products. If the ban goes into effect, it would not be for another two years or so.
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Another postseason event begins, and there is news from all over the soccer universe. Here’s a look at what’s inside ZF SC this week:
The hockey postseason gets underway tomorrow, with 16 teams starting their runs for the NHL’s Stanley Cup. You can check out the NHL links for previews of each of the first round series as well as a bracket visual. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Monday and can be watched on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, TBS, and TNT. Here are the matchups in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
East: #1 Florida Panthers vs #4 Washington Capitals
East: #2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs #3 Tampa Bay Lightning
East: #1 Carolina Hurricanes vs #4 Boston Bruins
East: #2 New York Rangers vs #3 Pittsburgh Penguins
West: #1 Colorado Avalanche vs #4 Nashville Predators
West: #2 Minnesota Wild vs #3 St. Louis Blues
West: #1 Calgary Flames vs #4 Dallas Star
West: #2 Edmonton Oilers vs #3 Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has been suspended by MLB for 324 games, or two full seasons. Bauer, who has not played since July 2, 2021, has been accused of sexual assault for two incidents that took place last year. Another woman came forward with allegations against Bauer this week, which Bauer has denied along with the previous allegations. Bauer tweeted that he is appealing the decision.
NCAA President Mark Emmert announced that he will step down from his position atop collegiate sports by June 2023, or when a successor is ready to take over. Emmert had been president of the organization since October 2010, and led the NCAA through significant turmoil. For college sports fans and observers, the announcement was met with a majority of applause for college sports and disdain for Emmert’s tenure.
Major developments emerged in the race for Chelsea F.C. this week. First, it was revealed that a consortium led by Todd Boehly is the preferred bidder for the English soccer club. Boehly is the founder of Eldridge Industries, and is currently a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Sparks. Additionally, a late bid for the club was made by English billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose offer is believed to be more than any other bid. However, significant questions remain for England’s richest man, as his offer appears to have come too late for any significant consideration.
Miami will be getting a new sporting venue, as city officials approved a lease that will allow a new soccer-specific stadium to be built. Miami commissioners voted to allow for a stadium and commercial center on 73 acres of city-owned property near the Miami International Airport. The stadium will be used by MLS club Inter Miami, with discussions currently scheduled with the University of Miami for the school to play football games at the stadium. The vote was crucial for club owners as the project had been heavily scrutinized and the vote had been delayed four times before Thursday night’s decision.
The CONCACAF Champions League is finishing up this week with the top soccer clubs in North America fighting to be crowned the continent’s finest. The second leg of the Final takes place this Wednesday, with MLS’ Seattle Sounders taking on Liga MX’s Pumas UNAM. In the first leg of the final, Seattle and Pumas drew 2-2 in Mexico. This Wednesday’s second and final leg will take place at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The Sounders recently announced that over 61,000 tickets have been sold and a sell out of the stadium would only require another 8,000 or so tickets to be sold. As of now, the match will break the Champions League record for attendance at a final match, with the overall record for a Champions League match currently sitting at 66,208. The second leg of the final will take place this Wednesday at 10:00pm et and is available to watch on FS1 and UniMás.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to Episode 60 wherever you get your podcasts. Also, go listen to this past week’s ZF Flashback, a look back at September’s German elections. Check out Zander’s Facts’ Linktree page for more on anything Zander’s Facts related: Zander's Facts on Linktree
The Zander’s Facts podcast returns with an all-new episode this Wednesday! Listen in to Episode 61 as Zander’s Facts’ expert on the situation in Ukraine, Dr. Bobby, Director of the Russian Program at Virginia Tech, joins the pod. We’ll bring you an in-depth look at the latest developments from eastern Europe. Remember to check out the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast, coming out this Wednesday morning!
Do remember to check out the next edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts next Sunday! If you haven’t already, make sure to sign up with the link below to get Zander’s Weekend Facts in your email inbox every Sunday so you don’t miss anything!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The Facts in print return next Sunday, May 08, 2022.
