Opinion

If asked to name the most competitive industry today, what would you say?  Autos, fast food, or maybe smartphones?  They’re all good choices, but retail is possibly the best.  It’s brutal, the pressure relentless, and it’s impacted by many things out of our control.  And that’s why so many are folding.

On June 18, some ardent Beatles fans will light candles in honor of Paul McCartney’s birthday.  Paul is one of the most popular singers in history, and lighting candles is their way of saluting him.  Other Beatles fans will light candles for a very different reason: as a memorial.  They believe Paul is dead and that he died in 1966.     

Is crazy weather around the world becoming the new normal?  It appears to be that way, as normal patterns have turned upside down, and there’s no indication this will change any time soon.  True, this has been happening gradually for years, but now it’s both more frequent and more intense.

Not too long ago, lots of people were convinced the world was becoming overpopulated. This idea was promoted in TV shows, movies, and books, and discussed at parties and other social events. But conversations these days are headed in a totally different direction: The world is becoming depopulated.  Which view is correct?  This is not just an academic question, because the answer will shape foreign policy, social programs, and both national and local budgets.  Are you ready for the dramatic changes coming our way?  

In case you haven’t noticed, the Presidential election is drawing closer, and very soon the candidates will tell us how they expect to solve all of the world’s problems.  There are two issues in particular that have not yet gotten much attention: the increase in childhood poverty, and the wealth gap between the super-rich and the rest of us. Both evoke strong emotions, and if presented to voters skillfully, could generate many votes.   

Many of us grumble every time we get a bill from the electric company, but we shouldn’t.  Actually, we should be happy because a bill means we are getting power.  And worse than getting a high bill would be getting no bill at all due to a power outage.  But if forecasts from industry experts are correct many of us could learn exactly what that’s like in the upcoming months.