Last month I was telling you petroleum is passé. In the ensuing four weeks, I would have to say, "not so fast." From a carbon-based energy view, at least, in the last few weeks, Germany and some other Europeans are now talking about starting up some old coal boilers to fill the gaps in natural gas supply.

Where are interest rates going? Who knows?

Plastic is passé, but it seems like many things we get from Amazon these days are in plastic bags, not our beloved corrugated boxes. What is going on here?

There is a shortage of employees, yet the business news channels are talking about companies rescinding employment offers.

I haven't felt this unsettled since the late 1970's, when the oldest of you readers may have been at a university or working as a 4^th hand in a paper mill basement.

Fasten your seatbelts, we are in for a rocky ride.

Jim Thompson is CEO of Paperitalo Publications.