Markets have been bumping around this morning … though little changed at the moment … as the situation between Russia and Ukraine is causing quite a bit of concern among investors.

Of course … just your typical stuff.  The U.S. authorizes Ukraine to fire U.S.-made missile into Russia.  Russia responds by changing its nuclear doctrine … allowing for the use of nuclear weapons even if attacked by non-nuclear weapons … and Sweden sends its 5 million households pamphlets on preparedness in case of an expanded war and points out increased risks of the use of nuclear weapons.

Great, just great.

As classmates, friends and … in fact, me … get older … conversations inevitably morph into possible changes coming up in social security.  An article below classifies this as “a Ponzi scheme with federal backing,” and it seems to me the public is very slowing becoming more accepting to something that was once deemed unthinkable … as it was akin to political suicide … a change to social security. While thoughts of tax-free benefits are being met with glee, I am afraid that proposal … even if it did occur … would not be the only change … amid a national debt that is continuing to explode.

I never was aware of it until recently, but “mouth tape” is gaining in popularity.  There are quite a few claimed benefits – which include reduction in snoring – but while you can buy this online (I did), there is one thing you should not try as a do-it-yourself type of person.  Don’t use duct tape!

You might want to take my final comment today sitting down.

On a final note … and I had to look this up … the United Nations has declared this to be “World Toilet Day,” giving homage to something we probably don’t appreciate enough.

If you’ve gone toilet shopping lately, you will note so many different styles … round, elongated, those with bidets and even “smart toilets” that can be controlled with phones (I am not here to judge).  And burglars have taken notice.

It seems that the local police station had its toilet stolen … but this is seen as the perfect crime and might never be solved, as

… the officers have nothing to go on.

Have a great day,

Joseph G. Witthohn, CFA

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