President Obama needs to read some Abraham Lincoln

President Obama needs to read this very profound passage from our great President Abraham Lincoln.  It seems we have lost sight of what made our country great and are embracing socialist ideals.  Americans are becoming an entitlement society.  Expecting handouts and freebies from our government and the current leadership is more than willing to reward the lack of initiative.  We are a great country because we earned it!

Hedging against the European Union collapse with Gold

The European Union's problems just keep growing. First, it was Greece, which could still implode at any moment. Now it's Spain, which needed a $100 billion loan to prop up its economy. And the pundits say Italy and Portugal are not too healthy, either.

When investors think about hedging, one thing that comes to mind is Gold. Investing in gold is a great way to hedge against Europe's economic collapse and its ripple effects on the rest of the world. Any intelligent investor will want exposure in this market over the next few years.

The European Union has deep subterranean problems. The European Council's Van Rompuy has come up with an all-encompassing Grand Plan. This magical plan will provide for a European Treasury that has budgetary power over every nation in the EU; protect Eurobonds; provide a banking union that guarantees deposits; and of course, implement a bailout of all the banks. Enabling the Grand Plan requires a unified taxation policy, and regulated employment. And that sounds just like Orwell's Big Brother. The plan behind the Grand Plan is the mutualization of debt. Translation: Germany gets to pay for everything, because Spain, Italy, Greece and even the U.K. are in financial meltdown.

There's not enough money in the world to prop up the EU's failing economies. And when the EU finally succumbs to the Humpty Dumpty syndrome, the resulting splash, a veritable tsunami wave, will carry all the way to the US.  So what does a smart investor do? He protects his money. He looks around for a way to hedge. Gold mines are a good way to hedge. At the same time, investors that hedge by investing in gold mines like Yamana Gold (AUY) or Newmark Mining will protect themselves against currency depreciation. Some experts believe that the US is in a commodities  at the present juncture. Others maintain the bull market has ended. Nevertheless, despite the varying opinions and market fluctuations, the price of gold is still phenomenally high.

Bottom line is this: speculation in resource exploration stocks (gold mines) is the best way to hedge against what's going on in Europe.

Scarlett Johansson - One of Hollywood's best onscreen Smokers

There are very few more accomplished smokers in Hollywood than Scarlett Johansson.  She has a style that is rivaled by very few and is truly a throwback to the "good old days."  In a time where most shy away from smoking in movies, Scarlett truly stands out.

Her first time on screen was as a teen in An American Rhapsody.  She was only 16 during filming but it is pretty obvious she was not new to smoking at the time of filming.   Either that or she was a very quick learner!

Scarlett Johansson smoking

She was so good in Lost in Translation.  Not only a good smoking performance, but also a good movie in itself.  Very well acted.  Set in Japan, Scarlett and Bill Murray have a true chemistry and Scarlett’s smoking style is a definite attraction.

A Love Song for Bobby Long with John Travolta is what most consider her best smoking performance to date.  This movie best showcases her true smoking talents, including a couple of great nose exhales.  The movie is absolutely packed with her Scartlett Johansson smoking in fine fashion.

Scarlett Johansson nose exhale

Unfortunately, for someone who smokes so much onscreen and is such an open smoker, there are not a ton of candid photographs of Scarlett Johansson smoking.  Unlike most actresses who best smoking stuff are candids, Scarlett Johansson has her best work in film so far by a mile!