“Mexico is being battered by its worst drought in seven decades, which has devastated farm life and is expected to continue into next year.  The lack of rainfall has affected almost 70 percent of the country,” with the northern states experiencing the most severe drought.  “The government has cut its forecast for corn production [the staple crop] two times in 2011,” and nearly half-a-million cattle have died in desert-like pastures.  The deputy director of Mexico’s National Water Commission has noted that since the dry season is now underway, the nation’s hopes lie with rainfall next June.

With the ongoing debt crisis in Europe, the specter of an EU break-up looms ominously over the continent.  Many nations now see the negative repercussions of such a breakup and are calling for action to prevent it.  This week Poland’s Foreign Affairs Minister made a sobering appeal from Berlin:  “I will probably be the first Polish foreign minister in history to say so, but here it is.  I fear German power less than I am beginning to fear German inactivity.

Plunging European real estate values have China eyeing future infrastructure purchases.  Despite European nations being loath to sell their infrastructure to China (e.g., railroads, power companies, and factories), Chinese investors are circling and waiting for prices to “hit bottom.”  China’s Minister of Commerce made the following statement this week:  “Next year, we will send a delegation for promoting trade and investment to the European countries...

At some time or another, we have all been temporarily lost—turned around, going the wrong way, on the wrong road, or at the wrong address. Perhaps we received bad directions, saw a misleading road sign or missed a turn, or encountered unforeseen obstacles in our path. How do we get to where we are trying to go?

Losing our way may be only a minor, temporary irritation, with the only real consequence being the loss of time spent backtracking or driving farther, which may make us late. Once we make the necessary corrections, we are not lost anymore.

At some time or another, we have all been temporarily lost—turned around, going the wrong way, on the wrong road or at the wrong address. Perhaps we received bad directions, saw a misleading road sign or missed a turn, or encountered unforeseen obstacles in our path. How do we get to where we are trying to go?