Spring Forward
We changed our clocks over the weekend. It's dark again in the morning, the early evenings will brighten up. So it goes every year, and who really knows why? There's a reason, of course, but does it matter? In our wisdom, we creatures have decided to mess with our clocks. It's really as simple as that.
On the home front, this week brings an exam, for which we've been assiduously studying lo these past couple of months. Having ramped up the study for a couple of weeks now, it'll be good to get the test behind us and get back to a more "normal routine." That's one where the weekend, Sunday in particular, provides a bit of a respite from the daily grind. Having spend the last two weekends with head buried in the somewhat dizzying details of the latest research in retirement planning and investing, it'll be good to clear the decks and let the fresh air flow over and through this addled brain.
Of course, the rest of the world ignores us when we've got something special to attend to. Markets continue to gyrate, sometimes violently; Democrats and Republicans continue to berate each other as they spend our hard-earned tax dollars on whatever legislation they think will get them a vote or take one from the other guy; and Americans in general continue to blovate, with men now leading the rush to obesity and the consequences thereof - and this in the face of a healthy growth in the fitness industry.
While markets and politicians have always behaved thusly, it's a bit daunting to see our fellow citizens physically expanding even as their mental acuity continues to diminish. Of course, these trends aren't distributed evenly throughout the population. Older folks continue to lead the way in expanding girth, part of which derives from the natural inclination of an aging body. As for that diminished ability to think, though, there's nothing natural about it. We're not talking about old folks who suffer diminishing mental power here. It's that growing contingent of young people who, after years of formal education, can't seem to think their way out of a paper bag. Add to this the fact that fewer and fewer read, and more and more literally can't write a complete sentence, never mind a paragraph, and one has to wonder what the future has in store for our country.
Of course, there are exceptions, a sample of which we'll share. It comes from Italy which recently shocked the pooh-bahs at the EU by voting robustly for a party that advocates border control and an overall skeptical attitude toward the political class in Brussels that continually meddles in their affairs. This young man can speak (albeit rapidly) in a surprisingly rational manner. He explains what's been going on in Italy for a number of years. If you haven't followed any of this, you'll certainly be brought up to speed, particularly about how and why Italians have absorbed a growing number of migrants from Africa.
Why should this matter to you? I can think of two reasons. First, the Italian election put to rest the idea that "anti-establishment" sentiment (Brexit, Trump, etc.) has shot its wad. Second, this guy's video provides us with a graphic illustration of a subject that have been getting more and more attention lately: human trafficking. If you're not sure what that is, watch this video.
Both sentiment against the establishment sand the ugly reality of human trafficking have already impacted our lives, whether you realize it or not. We could do without the human trafficking of course. As for the anti-establishment trend, you're likely not a fan if you're either one of the powers-that-be or have thrown your hat in with them. For the rest of us, the idea of fat cats at least sweating a bit isn't all that bad. Indeed, unlike the faut "Arab Spring" foisted on the public a few years back, this trend may have some teeth and may yield some positive results. We'll have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, hang in there. Springing forward always takes a few days of adjustment. You'll get there.
On the home front, this week brings an exam, for which we've been assiduously studying lo these past couple of months. Having ramped up the study for a couple of weeks now, it'll be good to get the test behind us and get back to a more "normal routine." That's one where the weekend, Sunday in particular, provides a bit of a respite from the daily grind. Having spend the last two weekends with head buried in the somewhat dizzying details of the latest research in retirement planning and investing, it'll be good to clear the decks and let the fresh air flow over and through this addled brain.
Of course, the rest of the world ignores us when we've got something special to attend to. Markets continue to gyrate, sometimes violently; Democrats and Republicans continue to berate each other as they spend our hard-earned tax dollars on whatever legislation they think will get them a vote or take one from the other guy; and Americans in general continue to blovate, with men now leading the rush to obesity and the consequences thereof - and this in the face of a healthy growth in the fitness industry.
While markets and politicians have always behaved thusly, it's a bit daunting to see our fellow citizens physically expanding even as their mental acuity continues to diminish. Of course, these trends aren't distributed evenly throughout the population. Older folks continue to lead the way in expanding girth, part of which derives from the natural inclination of an aging body. As for that diminished ability to think, though, there's nothing natural about it. We're not talking about old folks who suffer diminishing mental power here. It's that growing contingent of young people who, after years of formal education, can't seem to think their way out of a paper bag. Add to this the fact that fewer and fewer read, and more and more literally can't write a complete sentence, never mind a paragraph, and one has to wonder what the future has in store for our country.
Of course, there are exceptions, a sample of which we'll share. It comes from Italy which recently shocked the pooh-bahs at the EU by voting robustly for a party that advocates border control and an overall skeptical attitude toward the political class in Brussels that continually meddles in their affairs. This young man can speak (albeit rapidly) in a surprisingly rational manner. He explains what's been going on in Italy for a number of years. If you haven't followed any of this, you'll certainly be brought up to speed, particularly about how and why Italians have absorbed a growing number of migrants from Africa.
Why should this matter to you? I can think of two reasons. First, the Italian election put to rest the idea that "anti-establishment" sentiment (Brexit, Trump, etc.) has shot its wad. Second, this guy's video provides us with a graphic illustration of a subject that have been getting more and more attention lately: human trafficking. If you're not sure what that is, watch this video.
Both sentiment against the establishment sand the ugly reality of human trafficking have already impacted our lives, whether you realize it or not. We could do without the human trafficking of course. As for the anti-establishment trend, you're likely not a fan if you're either one of the powers-that-be or have thrown your hat in with them. For the rest of us, the idea of fat cats at least sweating a bit isn't all that bad. Indeed, unlike the faut "Arab Spring" foisted on the public a few years back, this trend may have some teeth and may yield some positive results. We'll have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, hang in there. Springing forward always takes a few days of adjustment. You'll get there.
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