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Teapots have come a long way from the copper or iron teapots that were often used during the 19th century. They had to be handled with care because they were often heated over open flames. Today, kettles are usually heated on electric or gas stoves or can be plugged directly into the wall.

One of the many benefits of the kettle is that you can easily pour boiling water into a bowl, sink, or cup quickly and efficiently. If you boil water in a pot, you could end up spilling water in your cup or bowl and all over your counter. Steam from a kettle generally does not reach the face or hands. With a pot, the steam can rise up and burn your face. If you’re stirring as you pour, the steam from a pot could burn your hand.

Electric kettles are especially good because they boil water in about half the time of stovetop varieties and are just as portable. Electric kettles can sit on your counter, or if you have limited space, they can be stored inside a deep cabinet or drawer. Another benefit of the electric kettle is the fact that you can take it to work. If you want to enjoy a hot cup of tea at any time of the day, you can boil water in your electric kettle and have a cup of tea right at your desk. Some varieties of electric kettles are small enough to be used comfortably in a cubicle.

If you don’t already have one, consider buying a teapot. The next time you want to enjoy a nice cup of tea or instant coffee or grab a bowl of instant hot cereal, your kettle will come in handy. You will be able to pour your water quickly and cleanly. If you work in an office and crave the convenience of being able to have a cup of tea or instant coffee at your desk, then an electric kettle might just become your new favorite office piece of equipment.

Digital Marketing

Does wisdom come with age?

It is said that there are two sure ways to access wisdom.

He lives next door to the Dalai Lama, or
Living more time.

Since moving to Dharamshala and finding the Dalai Lama at home might cause difficulties, we can only hope that wisdom comes with aging.

Although Winnie the Pooh’s owl is a symbol of sagacity and Athena is recognized as the Greek goddess of wisdom, there are No consensus on a definition of wisdom. And while the exact relationship between age and wisdom is unclear, aging is often associated with increased wisdom. Even in studies where participants were asked to nominate people they considered wise, the average age of nominees was 55 or older: Gandhi, Confucius, Socrates, the Pope, Queen Elizabeth.

A long list of qualities appears time and again in studies examining the subject of wisdom, including:

intelligence (including emotional intelligence) and knowledge,
an understanding of human nature,
emotional resilience,
modesty,
the ability to learn from experience,
opening, and
Superior judgment and problem solving skills.

So a link between age and wisdom is understandable.

The seminal Berlin Wisdom Project found not only that the old are not wiser, but that wisdom also begins to decline around 75. However, when emotional factors are included, the old seem to have a better chance of becoming wiser than younger people who have not had enough experience.

The concept of wisdom increasing with age did not become the subject of scientific study until the 1950s, when psychoanalyst Erik Erikson created a theory of eight stages of the human life cycle. In Erikson’s last stage, old age, people struggle with the balance between their personal sense of wholeness and defeat in the face of death and physical disintegration. If integrity wins, the result, according to Erikson, is wisdom.

In the 1980s, Erikson updated his life cycle with the knowledge that had come to him upon reaching the age of 87. Erikson decided that the lesson learned at each of the stages prior to that eighth cycle somehow added to the potential wisdom of old age. .

It seems that Oscar Wilde came close to hitting the nail on the head when he said: ‘With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.’

Relationship

Gift ideas for mom on Mother’s Day

For some, Mother’s Day gift ideas come very easily. For others… well, we settle for what we have to work with. For the past few years, ever since I discovered “gift cards,” that’s been my go-to gift-giving. Yes, easy and predictable if done repeatedly over the years.

Why not give her a gift that will surprise and delight her with that special touch of adding a poem? If you decide not to be predictable (as I did) this year, then ask yourself these questions:

What is my mom passionate about? What are her hobbies? What are her likes and dislikes? He likes art? Films? Flowers? comedy? Reading? Craft? What about traveling? Does she have any special needs? What language does she feel most comfortable speaking?

If she is more comfortable speaking Spanish, then a card with poetry in that language will probably move her and surprise her. She knows that you are not a poet and that she will probably appreciate even more the effort to find that special poet in her own language.

The surprise part will be that it was so unpredictable! So go ahead and get him that poem. It can also be written on your card to accompany your gift.

Also, try to avoid last minute shopping! We all know how stressful it can be to bump into people or get jostled by other shoppers passing by.

Happy Mother’s Day Finding Adventure Gift!

Legal Law

The locksmith trade: the good, the bad and the ugly

Thinking of becoming a locksmith? Many people ask me about my profession when I arrive at a workplace. The idea of working with the public, working with hand tools, making a quick buck off closing calls, and of course the power and ability to open doors, cars, and safes is quite intoxicating to some people. I don’t place help-seeking ads, but I nevertheless promise one unsolicited resume per month via email. It usually comes from an anxious teen looking to do an apprenticeship. OJT (on the job training) is a good way to go if you can get the job. This is precisely how I started. That and reading every trade magazine I could get my hands on, endless hours researching the web, taking classes, attending trade shows, and talking to any locksmith who would take the time to chat with me (and many would, as long as I wasn’t). one of your competitors). But that’s how it is for most lockout athletes. Once you start working as a locksmith, it gets under your skin. It consumes you and becomes an obsession. That’s not exactly a bad thing after all; Being (God willing) financially successful in what you enjoy is a great way to pay the bills. However, there is a price to pay that does not fit the lifestyle of most people and therefore the purpose of this article.

The good: helping the public and earning a few bucks while doing it. First of all, I rarely charge to open a car or house when a child is locked inside. When I get the call, usually from a panicked father saying his son is locked in a car, I rush to the scene. There are few better moments for me as a locksmith than seeing the relief in a mother’s eyes as I open the door and she lifts her son out of a sweltering car on a hot summer day. “You are my HERO,” she says as she hugs her son tearfully. “No charge, ma’am. We don’t charge for children locked in cars. If you’d like, for a small fee, I can make you a copy of your car door key so it’s less likely to happen again.” They almost always say yes, and the key payment is often accompanied by a tip. The “extra offer” is simply to cover my gas outlay on the call, and the tip, if any, buys me lunch.

The rest of my jobs are typically for-profit jobs. Still, more than half of what I collect goes back to the company in the form of gas, insurance, advertising, business organization, license fees, vehicle maintenance, tools, supplies, and other expenses.

As a locksmith you will never get rich, but if you play your cards right you could retire just fine. The plan, as I read in a popular trade magazine, is to sell a well-established store with a long list of customer accounts, while owning and collecting rent on the property the store is located on. It’s even better if you own an entire complex and also collect rent from your shop’s neighbors. I personally know a retired locksmith who did exactly this and I understand he is doing quite well.

Many locksmiths make and sell tools and/or reference books, or teach classes (like me) to supplement their income.

The bad: being on call 24/7. After-hours and weekend service can account for a large part, if not most, of your revenue in the beginning. Then there are the late night calls. 2 am, half drunk and can’t find his car keys: “I’m sorry sir, I can’t help you drive your car tonight, but if you call me in the morning, I’ll be happy to help you.”

The locksmith industry is a highly regulated (but necessarily) security industry. The licenses, insurance and bonds you must carry can cost a small fortune. I have a city business license, a state locksmith license, a state locksmith and security contractor license, two insurance policies (general liability and commercial vehicle insurance), two different bonds, and am a member of two major organizations national commercials. In California, you must be fingerprinted and pass state and federal background tests. I am also a member of a few local organizations including the Chico Chamber of Commerce and the North Valley Property Owners Association.

The cost of running a business like this can be overwhelming and there is always another tool you need to buy, another software upgrade or parts/tools that need to be ordered. I am currently saving for a high security key machine that retails for $5,800.

Let’s not forget the paperwork. You will need to keep legal forms for clients to fill out and detailed records of who, what, where and when. The last thing you want to do is make car or house keys for someone who does not have the authority to possess a key to that property.

Lastly, buy yourself a nice shirt and tie because there’s a good chance you’ll be in a court of law before long for, among other things, domestic disputes.

The ugly: evictions, repossessions (REOs), and re-keys after a domestic dispute. There are few things as humble in this profession as writing a bill for after-hours service and handing over new keys to someone with a new black eye. I vividly remember a woman standing over a hole in the drywall where her head had been forcibly inserted just hours before. The local sheriffs know me because it’s not uncommon to perform security checks and change passwords while they’re still there, filling out their report.

Can you say fleas? Yeah, I keep flea powder in the truck now because you never know what condition a recently foreclosed home is going to be in.

Angry former tenants who have been evicted can also file a challenge. Sometimes the locks are disabled or destroyed, and I keep latex gloves in the van in case I ever have to pick another lock that he peed on.

The bottom line: I’m pretty happy being a locksmith, most of the time. The salary, the freedom of work (I can leave my hours open if my kids have a school event), and the satisfaction of helping people while making a profit for myself keeps me going.

My advice to you:

1. Do your research before entering the market as a locksmith. My city has too many locksmiths per capita. There is barely enough work to go around most of the time.

2. Get with another locksmith and be willing to move, as you may have to sign a “non-compete” contract that says you won’t stop being your boss’s competitor. Locksmith schools are fine, but an experienced locksmith can show you some tricks of the trade that can help you make higher profits or get jobs done better and faster than the basic skills taught in most schools.

3. Be willing to pay your fair share. It will take many years to build a customer base and a name of your own. A wise locksmith once told me that it takes at least three years before they (customers) know you’re there, and seven before they realize you’re gone.

4. When you start out on your own, get a recognizable logo and put it on everything: your truck, bills, handout pens, and any other piece of advertising (see our logo below).

5. CYA Document everything and have professionally prepared, pre-printed legal forms for your clients to fill out.

6. Don’t get too carried away. If you have other obligations, such as a spouse and/or children, be sure to make time for them. It’s hard to turn off the phone or reject calls because you’re turning down money, but you can’t make up for lost days.

A former employer of mine occasionally tells the story of how he made $2,000 in one weekend fielding calls to his locksmith on call, while out on a boat on Shasta Lake with his wife. It was a weird holiday weekend for them and he spent a good part of the day on the phone. She died of cancer two short years later, and then she told me that she would give anything to get that day back. I know this story personally as I was the clerk on call that weekend.

To quote Uncle Ben (from Spider-Man the Movie): “With great power comes great responsibility.” The ability to unlock doors, bypass alarm systems, unlock safes, and inside knowledge of customers’ security systems has been the bane of unscrupulous locksmiths. In short, if you can’t handle temptation, don’t practice.

Finally: Never take advantage of someone. As Grandpa always said, it can take a lifetime to build a good reputation, but just a moment to ruin it.

Good luck in whatever you decide, unless of course you are planning to open a locksmith shop in my service area.

Lifestyle Fashion

Natural colon cleansing recipe to cleanse your colon at home

How to do a natural colon cleanse

If you want to perform a natural colon cleanse, which is considered safer than a chemical product, you will need a natural colon cleanse prescription. Some of these involve certain drink mixes that will cause the bowels to move, while others are used as an enema and injected directly into the intestines to cause a bowel movement.

Homemade mixtures are a holistic way to perform a colon cleanse. Some of the popular ingredients found in most of these homemade colon cleanse recipes are psyllium husk, fiber, juices, flaxseed, aloe vera, bentonite clay, cayenne pepper, probiotics. , fennel, curacao and other herbs.

Recipes to try colon cleansing

These are some examples of a natural recipe to cleanse the colon:

Lemon Ginger Cleanser

Take a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger, a quarter cup of lemon juice and add it to about 500 milliliters of boiled water. You can add honey to taste. Drink it throughout the day and it will induce bowel movements to cleanse the colon.

Papaya and flaxseed cleanser

Take half a papaya and cut it into pieces, plus half a chopped banana, and mix with two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in two cups of water. Mix to make your drink. You can drink it as needed to help your bowls stay regular.

Apple Juice Fiber-Rich Cleanse

Take two cups of apple juice and mix one tablespoon of bentonite clay, one teaspoon of psyllimum husk seeds, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Then add some distilled water to make it a drinkable consistency. Drink this mixture once a day for a week and be sure to also drink plenty of water.

Colon Cleansing Soup

Combine two cups of vegetable broth with half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Then add two cucumbers and two avocados after removing the seeds, peels and cut them into small pieces. Then add half a whole chopped onion, three closed cubes of roasted garlic, one seeded and chopped jalapeño pepper, a tablespoon of cilantro and a tablespoon of parsley. Don’t heat it, just mix it up and eat it once a day.

These are all examples of a natural colon cleanse recipe that you can try to relieve constipation and remove any toxins or excess material that may be clogging your colon. It is much safer to use these natural ingredients to help make your body healthier and soon you will feel much better and lighter too!

Pets

Monoculture agriculture: disadvantages and negative effects on the environment

The term monoculture in agriculture it refers to the cultivation of a single crop over a large area. Monoculture is the norm in most large-scale commercial agriculture in the US and in many parts of the world. Monoculture has certain short-term benefits, mainly in terms of economies of scale and automation of the production process (and therefore reduced labor costs). However, in the long term, the disadvantages of monoculture are overwhelming: this method of cultivation has numerous negative effects on the environment, and moreover, these negative effects tend to be amplified in the long term. This article weighs the pros and cons of this kind of uniform approach to farming and points out some alternative practices that are more sustainable, both environmentally and economically, and therefore superior in all respects in the long run.

Pros and cons of monoculture: what are its advantages?

It is immediately apparent that I am not a fan or advocate of monoculture. But there are some direct and strongly compelling reasons why people engage in this destructive practice. Before discussing why this practice is so harmful, I find it fruitful to first examine its benefits or advantages.

The main advantage is the economy of scale, mainly through automation. Especially in the US, labor costs are very high, so anything that can reduce the use of labor in agriculture is very likely to result in cost savings. This is often true even when automation reduces yield per acre. For example, if a crop has been grown, it can often be harvested in different ways, with different levels of automation. More automation in harvesting could result in more waste, such as grain left in the fields, but if it requires less labor (such as one person driving a large machine that covers the ground very quickly, rather than several people driving smaller and slower machines). , or many people harvesting the crop by hand) may be superior in a cost-benefit analysis, even if it results in more waste.

Disadvantages of monoculture:

The most compelling disadvantage of monoculture agriculture is that it is not adaptable. Wild ecosystems are diverse, and so are wild populations of plants and animals. An ecosystem contains many different species, each with unique adaptations to its environment and different strengths and weaknesses in response to changing conditions. Similarly, the natural population of a plant or animal species has genetic variability, with each individual plant or animal having slightly different traits. In addition, each population, and the ecosystem as a whole, is constantly changing, adapting to changing environmental conditions and to the conditions imposed by the other populations and species in the system.

Monoculture smooths out this variability, destroying diversity and replacing it with, at best, a single species, and at worst (as is the norm in the US), a single crop: rows and rows of crops. genetically identical, essentially cloned, reproduced through cuttings or genetically modified seeds.

Susceptibility to pests:

The ecological landscape of monoculture is that there is a wide variety of genetically identical plants, against a background of wild pests, including fungi, bacteria, insects and many other organisms. Each of these pests has a wild population with its own biodiversity, and their populations are constantly changing and adapting to be able to eat crops or benefit from the presence of whatever crops are being grown. Monoculture crops, however, are not changing and are not able to adapt because they have no genetic variability and are not allowed to reproduce naturally. Plant pests, weeds, also adapt, planting in crop fields, taking advantage of additional sunlight, as most monoculture crops let in a lot of light and do not make the most of the sun’s energy.

The only way to control pests in this setting is to spend increasing energy and resources on chemical control, either by spraying crops with pesticides, fungicides, or bactericides, or by genetically engineering crops so they can produce these. chemical products. themselves. But without natural adaptation, pests will eventually evolve to resist any of these defenses. The monoculture setup is inherently doomed, as it is working against the natural ways in which ecosystems function. It is completely unsustainable in the long term.

Negative environmental impacts of monoculture:

As monoculture agriculture requires increasing levels of chemical inputs, the negative impacts on the environment are also continually increasing. Although people often prefer to use safer chemicals when they exist, and use them in the lowest possible concentration, any safe chemical will necessarily stop working. Many of the chemicals used in commercial agriculture are known to be toxic and/or carcinogenic, or have other negative impacts on humans. But even chemicals that are safe for human consumption or exposure can have negative impacts on the environment; for example, roundup, a widely used herbicide, is much more toxic to amphibians than it is to humans.

Other negative effects of monoculture:

In addition to the negative environmental effects, monoculture also destroys our culture. Monoculture and large-scale industrial agriculture are largely responsible for or associated with the alienation of Americans from the practice of agriculture and the shift from an economy in which a large portion of the people were directly involved in agriculture. towards a society in which people see food as an industrial product to be bought in a store, with little idea where it comes from.

Beyond monoculture: how you can help protect the environment and food and agricultural culture:

Fortunately, the empire of factory farming and large-scale monoculture is crumbling. You can do your part by learning more about gardening, experimenting with growing some of your own foods, even if you only have a small garden in town, or even growing some indoors or on a porch or balcony if you don’t have a garden. You can also explore farmers markets for locally grown food and encourage small-scale, local production through diversified farming methods, using your money to support these farmers. As we return to diversified agriculture, we will be more connected to our food and also help protect our environment.

Real Estate

Leases – What to look out for

When it comes to lease agreements, they can sometimes be difficult to read, especially if you don’t know what to look for. A lease is made by a landlord and then signed by the tenant (you). You will find that most leases are made up for one year. You will be able to find some that are short-term leases, but this is not common. Regardless of the length of the lease you are signing, you should be sure to read it very carefully to make sure nothing illegal has been put into it.

For most people, reading a lease can be a daunting and somewhat confusing task. But this step must be taken because you must read the different clauses that are included in the lease. For example, there could be a pet, maintenance, or sublet clause. Be sure to read each clause of the lease carefully, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or get clarification on anything you’re unsure about.

Things to consider when reading a lease

One of the most important things to look for is any clause that tells you that you must pay for all damages or repairs to the property. It doesn’t matter what state you live in, this is illegal. The property owner is responsible for all damages and repairs to a property. Some examples of things he or she is responsible for are structural repairs, appliances that come with the property, and anything to do with heating and plumbing.

Another really important thing to keep in mind when reading your lease is to make sure that your security deposit is not part of your rent. Your security deposit is given to the landlord when you move out, and when you move out and the house is still in good condition, your deposit will be returned to you.

You should be sure to review the part of the lease that talks about your utility bills. If you move into a house, it’s normal to have to pay all the utilities. Now this clause can cause some problems. If you are asked to pay for your own electricity and water and you move into a building that only has one meter for the entire building, then this is illegal.

The landlord cannot ask you and the other tenants to split the cost of water and electricity. In this case, you are obligated to pay for those utilities. Now if the building has a separate meter for each unit, then it is perfectly legal for the landlord to ask you to pay for these utilities. Just be careful and be sure to check your meter situation before you sign your lease.

By making sure you are reading your lease, you are ultimately protecting yourself. If at any point while you are reading the lease and something concerns you or you don’t like, be sure to talk to your landlord. When both parties are satisfied with the lease, you can sign it. A lease is given to protect all parties involved and to make sure there are no misunderstandings along the way.

Shopping Product Reviews

10 tips to combat stress and fatigue

If you’ve been told that you’re a workaholic, you may want to take note. You don’t have to have an 8 to 5 job to be a workaholic. When the balance tips toward constant work of any kind instead of work/play balance, you probably know it, but you may not be listening for the signs and symptoms along the way. By ignoring the signs, stress can cause a great deterioration in health.

Your body can tell you that you’re under too much stress through insomnia, overeating, fatigue, and fuzzy thinking with trouble remembering and concentrating. I add in binge eating, because so many head straight for comfort food when stress mounts.

As stress continues to overwhelm the body, the immune system will be affected and system collapse will be inevitable.

Here are some suggestions for winning the day over stress and fatigue once your body starts waving a red flag:

Take an inventory of your life to determine if there is anything that is making you deeply unhappy, including work, relationships, weight, etc. If any area in your life is crying out for attention, then do it. Seek help from a professional or friend or go on a retreat and rearrange your priorities.
Are you eating too many sweets? Sugar is addictive and well known to cause health problems. Lower your sugar intake or eliminate it completely from your diet. Poor nutrition will affect your mood, especially excess sugar.
Exercise every day, even for 15 to 20 minutes a day. The exercise does not have to be aerobic or heavy. Gardening, walking or dancing around the house to your favorite music will do you a lot of good to improve circulation and fatigue.
Regular massage relieves any toxins and tension that may have built up in the muscles due to stress. Take your own bottle of emu oil and ask to have it rubbed into your sore muscles. Your skin will feel silky smooth and you will also get temporary relief from sore muscles. Make sure the emu oil you buy has the seal of the American Emu Association, or it may be contaminated.
It’s always a good idea to retire to beautiful, peaceful surroundings, whether it’s for a day or a weekend to re-energize. When you come back you will see things with a clearer mind.
Be productive and be content to focus only on today. The burden of yesterday’s problems plus tomorrow’s worries may be too heavy to bear. The heavy load weighs you down and fatigue sets in. Overload makes you want to sleep, but worrying thoughts create insomnia.
Take the day off and visit a homeless shelter to volunteer and help others. Your spirit will soar with gratitude and thanks.
Take a day just to daydream. Your mind can manifest anything you focus on and believe. If you constantly focus on worries and problems, you magnify and attract those things into your life. Instead, magnify the good things that you would like to see in your life. You should exercise this for at least a few minutes a day.
Be thankful for what you have. Make a list of the good things in your life and think about them every day.
Stay away from multitasking. Studies have shown that we get more done when we focus on one thing at a time.

Sports

Rare Gold Coins Versus Stocks: Five Clues Why Gold Coins Are the Best Bet in Late 2007

If appearance has anything to do with it, rare gold coins would always outperform stocks. They’re charming, beautiful, have a nice weight to them, and because they’ve been around for a while, they represent an intriguing part of the story.

But there are other reasons, timely reasons, to add more gold coins than stocks to your portfolio today… although making a claim like that can be dangerously close to blasphemy for traditional stock investors. However, ignore the available clues at your own risk. For example…

Hint #1: Call options point to higher gold. This analysis is by Prieur du Plessis and Adrian Douglas. In summary, these two men noted that the December 2007 gold call option contracts were indeed sizeable, currently numbering about 122,000. What’s more, they outnumbered the puts 2 to 1.

Based on this “positive rise in gold,” both du Plessis and Douglas believe that gold is on the threshold of a big price jump. It is not the first time that Douglas believes this way. In November 2005, he predicted a rise in the price of gold from its $460 level, based on a similar buildup of gold call options. Two months later, gold was $100 higher. Next…

Hint #2: Demand for gold continues to rise; The supply of gold continues to decline. The situation here has only gotten worse. According to a recent report from the World Gold Council, global demand for gold is 30% up from a year ago, while supply continues to head south. The world’s largest gold producer, South Africa, hit an 84-year low despite high gold prices. And the world’s top gold producers have seen a nearly 20% drop in production since 2001.

It goes without saying that higher demand and lower supply lead to higher prices.

Clue #3: “Triple Threats” from the Housing Dilemma. Harvard economist Martin Feldstein has warned that we face a triple threat from the housing recession. According to Bloomberg’s Sept. 2 report on his Jackson Hole speech, “Feldstein described a housing “triple threat”: a “deep drop” in home and construction prices; higher borrowing costs and a “freeze” in credit markets stemming from prime sub-losses, and fewer home equity loans and refinanced mortgages, leading to lower consumer spending.

The overall effect, needless to say, will have terrifying consequences. “The economy could suffer a very serious recession,” he added. All the more reasons to branch out into the shiny stuff.

Clue #4: The United States is going the way of the Roman Empire – Comptroller General, David Walker. Oh! You know you’re in trouble when the guy in charge of government accountability finds “striking similarities” between the US and the Roman Empire. The end of the Roman Empire. Among his comments, the US suffers from “declining moral values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility on the part of central government.” He is so serious that he even refused to approve the “books” of the government. Ugh again.

How does this relate to gold and stocks? When high-profile members of our own government come out and warn us of the coming “economic tsunami,” it’s time to find refuge in gold.

Clue #5: Inflation, Inflation and More Inflation. Despite all the government statistics in the world, we all know that inflation is working. We know that every time we fill up our tanks. And somewhere in the back of our minds, we know that rising energy prices have to be bad for the economy, that it affects everyone and anyone who sells anything. That intuition is, unsurprisingly, rooted in the facts. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, “nine of the ten post-World War II recessions were preceded by a sharp rise in oil prices.”

With the Fed rushing to defer a recession by cutting rates, we also know, somewhere in our psyche, that the dollar will only weaken further, perhaps dangerously so, due to its current historical weakness with each of these rate cuts. And the end result of all this change is inflation. We are going to need more dollars to buy what yesterday’s dollars used to buy.

You’ve no doubt heard the adage: “In 1911, an ounce of gold could buy a very nice suit. Today, it still can.” That is to say that gold is keeping up with inflation. She did it in 1911. She’s still doing it now, almost a hundred years later. Which is what makes gold the weapon of choice for fighting inflation.

But why stay on the defensive with gold?

In 1995, a Penn State economist, Dr. Raymond Lombra, did a study that he presented to Congress. This 40 page report “proved” that rare coins, including rare gold coins, were among the highest performing assets over the last 25 years (and that included stocks). He also reported that “rare coins dominate gold bullion as a diversifying asset.” These “numismatic coins” do this by reducing volatility while providing better returns.

Lombra’s most recent study from 2003 found the same situation. From 1979 to 2003, rare coins, such as rare gold, earned the highest average annual rate of return and outperformed gold bullion as an investment and inflation hedge.

But whether you prefer to take a more aggressive position with rare gold coins rather than stocks or just want a proven financial safe haven, the time may be right for gold. And that may be an understatement.

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