That nasty ol' blank screen

Most mornings I observe the same ritual. Get up early, post a "Song of the Day" on Facebook, then start looking for something to write about for a blog post. Some days it's easy to find a topic. So if you'll settle for a few ruminations, here we go.

• The financial news isn't particularly encouraging. I don't doubt that we are heading into a period of financial difficulty that could prove quite severe. Still, the shrieking of various Cassandras seems self-serving. It's not coincidental that many of the people casting the warnings are suggesting that precious metals are a safe haven. It's also not coincidental that most of them are selling precious metals. If holding precious metals is the only way to avoid ruin, it's odd that so many people are trying to sell them to you.
• I'm getting the distinct impression that any number of people want us to start a stampede. It's not just the Cassandras; I get the same vibe from some of the more vocal supporters of Donald Trump. While I'm largely sympathetic to the disgruntled conservatives who are flocking to the Trump banner, there's a lot of nonsense involved. If somehow Trump were to get elected, the best case scenario would be a presidency along the lines of the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger. We don't have time for that.
• As a Packers fan, I'm bummed out about losing Jordy Nelson for the season. If it had to happen, though, this is a good time for it to happen. An ACL injury is typically a year-long event, which mean that Nelson will be available for 2016. There is also sufficient time for the Packers to identify a replacement for Nelson and a number of candidates are available. I'm guessing they have a Plan B.