Rather than writing about the market and the industry at the level of specifics, I have tried to take a more probing, macroscopic point of view and assemble my thoughts on what it is that has recently been giving me an uneasy feeling. At the start of 2013, I had a sense - it was almost a conviction - that there were changes under way throughout the world that were far wider in scope and far more momentous than I had anticipated. Perhaps I only feel that way because my perspective has changed as a result of seeing various things. I didn't have an opportunity to organize my ideas in writing before, but over the New Year's holidays I had some time to put my thoughts together. These are entirely my personal views.