Opinion

If nonstop pressure from your job is wearing you down, hang in there, because relief may be on the way. A four-day workweek is becoming increasingly likely. That extra day will make employees calmer, more productive, and happier, and for many it can’t come soon enough. Even employers support this idea.

In theory, retirement is supposed to offer a chance to relax, to spend more time with family and friends, and pursue new interests and hobbies.  But real life doesn’t always work out like theory, in this case because many retirees are financially pressured and need more income to make ends meet.  Social Security is helpful, but not enough to enable recipients to pay all of their bills.  So, to paraphrase the Yiddish expression: How does the cat get over the water?    

Many people worry about a nuclear war, but others believe that if a doomsday conflict erupts, it will be fought with a very different kind of weapon: horrific cyberattacks. They note that sinister forces out there already have successfully attacked major companies and strategic targets. Are they planning even worse?

Oil is one of the few bright spots in the economy now.  Last September the price rose to nearly $94/barrel, and market commentators predicted it would hit $100 and then go even higher.  Fortunately, they were wrong, and cash-strapped consumers got a much-needed break.  The question now is: “How much longer will the good times last?”  

Do you feel safe riding New York’s subways?  This question can mean do you worry about becoming a victim of crime, but it can also mean, is the subway system safe?  Both are applicable, but the latter even more so, because parts of the system appear to be falling apart.     

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.