We’ve been reading a lot about a potential trade war between the US and just about every other country on the planet. At the very top of the list is China. At present, we purchase about $340 billion/year more from China than they buy from us. Over the long term, this simply is not sustainable.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about our “out of control” national debt. At present, it is closing in on $21 trillion, roughly the size of our Gross Domestic Product.

First relevant question: What do all the other developed countries in the world carry re national debt?

Unfortunately, we are not in very good shape as a country. Obesity is a national problem. I can’t tell you how many relatively young children I see while up and about, that are way too heavy. Now extra weight is very much like those who want to give up smoking. There is the famous line: “It’s not hard giving up smoking, I’ve done it several dozen times.”

The elderly, those over 65 years old, are in the fastest rising demographic in our country.

More interesting than that is those aged 85 and over -- are the most rapidly growing elderly age group. Between 1960 and 1994, their numbers rose 274 percent!

This week, I thought I’d write about an unconventional way of looking at the world. Why? Because we’re much too serious about life. Hopefully, you’ll get some enjoyment from reading this.

A few days ago, I purchased some D cell batteries. I brought them home and thought, perhaps naively, I’d just rip the package open and then use the batteries. But, oh no, it was not to be that simple.

See the batteries were packaged in a shrink-wrapped bubble pack.

We lost one of the most brilliant minds this week. Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76. This genius spent his entire academic career trying to explain the universe. Why it is, where it came from, what is its future.

I’ve been a shareholder in the stock market for over 40 years. I can honestly tell you that when it comes to investing, no matter how smart you are, no one has any idea of what will happen on any given day.