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<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zcopley/8337050500/">Flickr / zcopley</a></p></div>The power of fear is amazing to me.</p>
<p>For the most part, otherwise sane individuals will do all sorts of crazy things once things become a little bit dicey.</p>
<p>Want proof? Look no further than the <keyword id="18712" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gold">gold</keyword> market. How else can you explain the massive move in an otherwise worthless metal over the last decade?</p>
<p>If you are honest, ask yourself what real utility is there for gold?</p>
<p>Don’t recite what the so-called analysts or experts will tell you about gold being the only real currency in the world (it is not). Those folks will tell you that gold is the only thing that will protect you and your family when things go horribly wrong (fear mongering).</p>
<p>Really, what do you think the world is going to be like if things do really go horribly wrong? I highly doubt that gold bar will get you much if chaos truly takes hold.</p>
<h3>Where’s the cash?</h3>
<p>How about inflation?</p>
<p>Those who love gold spew all sorts of nonsense about inflation – again, all of it is fear-based.</p>
<p>The global powers are printing money across the globe. All that money is going to make paper currency worthless. Prices across the board are going to rise in an unrelenting, unstoppable wave of inflation.</p>
<p>Oh, really?</p>
<p>If there is so much cash out there. Where in the world is it? I know I don’t have it, do you?</p>
<p>For inflation to truly take hold there needs to be cash dispersed to the masses. That isn’t happening. Not even close.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but aside from being used in jewelry, gold does not have the utility the market is telling you today, even with the recent selling.</p>
<p>Sure there has been a ton of money made owning gold over the last decade, but that has little to do with true value of gold in a market. What it does tell you is that there is a ton of fear out there and that fear can create a massive bubble in any investment.</p>
<h3>The hot new currency</h3>
<p>Take for example, hmmm let me see . . . <keyword id="6354947" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bitcoin">Bitcoin</keyword>.</p>
<p>You know about Bitcoin, that supposedly hot new digital currency that everyone must have. Come on. Admit it, gold owners. You gave serious consideration to adding some Bitcoin to your portfolio or maybe you actually pulled the trigger and bought some before it collapsed.</p>
<p>You might laugh at the lunacy of Bitcoin, but is it any different than the lunacy of gold?</p>
<p>The answer is no, no and no again. Here are three very simple reasons why gold is like Bitcoin:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>All bets are off during the apocalypse.</strong> I’m pretty sure those dreams of buying a loaf of bread with your gold coins during Armageddon might not be as easy as you think. A better currency in that situation might be your gun and its ammunition. Or maybe gasoline, since transport will take on premium value if such a disaster were to occur. I guarantee you the zombies will scoff when you try to pawn your gold for anything of real value in such a scenario.</li>
<li><strong>When the air comes out of the bubble, the pain will be very real.</strong> A near 10% drop in the price of gold in one day is nothing. Bitcoin lost $100 in value in a matter of moments. Gold prices could see the same. Those gold ETFs have disaster written all over them. When the money starts to flow out, there will be nothing to backstop the selling. 10% is nothing to what could happen when gold really starts selling off.</li>
<li><strong>What someone needs to tell me is how gold and Bitcoin are NOT different.</strong> I suppose it is ultimately the market. At the moment the market is telling us that gold is indeed a real currency and Bitcoin is not, but frankly the two are more similar than they are different and that should be cause for alarm for anyone that owns gold.</li>
</ol>
<p>I can imagine the hate mail and negative comments I might get for raising this issue, but I stand by my beliefs: gold could collapse no differently than what happened with Bitcoin.</p>
<p>If you own the yellow metal, don’t be a fool. Take some of those fat profits off the table before it’s too late.</p>

Gold Could Collapse Just Like Bitcoin Did

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/burgerking/photos/pb.134615383218473.-2207520000.1412607089./943693372310666/?type=3&amp;theater">Burger King on Facebook</a></span></p><p class="caption">Burger King is sticking to what it does best. </p></div><p></p></div></div>The third largest fast-food chain in the world is blowing up - and no one is paying attention. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/restaurant-brands-poised-for-growth-2016-1">recent Morgan Stanley report</a> called the parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons, Restaurant Brands International, an "underappreciated story" that most people are misunderstanding. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The company's success goes beyond what is on the menu at both chains - though that certainly helps. Burger King's US sales may make headlines the most frequently, but they only represent a third of the business. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are four key strategies that are driving Restaurant Brands International's success.</span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em; color: #000000;">1. Give Tim Hortons Burger King's playbook</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"To grow our presence globally with Tim's, we'll continue to work with our existing partners as well as new partners to expand all around the world, similar to how we've scaled our Burger King brand over the last few years," CEO Daniel Schwartz said in the company's </span><a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/3607736-restaurant-brands-internationals-qsr-ceo-daniel-schwartz-on-q3-2015-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single"><span style="font-weight: 400;">third quarter earnings call</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in October.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://investorplace.com/2013/07/tim-hortons-gets-in-on-the-gluten-free-game/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29">Investorplace.com</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Burger King's </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-burger-king-to-buy-tim-hortons-for-11-bn-2014-8"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$11 billion acquisition</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of Tim Hortons has not resulted in any menu crossovers. Instead, it has provided the chance to share strategies between the brands, to the benefit of Tim Hortons, which has struggled with international expansion in the past.</span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em; color: #000000;">2. Go international</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Burger King and Tim Hortons are on major expansion sprees. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In late 2015, Tim Hortons announced plans to open more than 150 Tim Hortons locations in the Cincinnati area in the next decade, as part of its global expansion plan. Burger King is currently planning hundreds of new locations in countries including </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">France, India, the Ivory Coast, and Morocco.</span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em; color: #000000;">3. Trust franchisees</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both brands' international expansion plans are through partnerships with franchisees. Almost 100% of Burger King locations are owned by franchisees, a model that Tim Hortons is increasingly planning to follow. </span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em; color: #000000;">4. Give customers the spice they crave</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson/Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Burger King adopted a strategy two years ago to launch fewer, more impactful products, as opposed to continually cycling through limited time offerings. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two of these super successful introductions in 2015 were Fiery Chicken Fries and the Extra Long Jalapeno Cheeseburger, which the company reported helped drive sales growth. By focusing on what the company knows customers want, Restaurant Brands International has managed to cut costs and introduce offerings that get results. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-closing-stores-february-8-e-coli-marketing-finance-2016-1">Chipotle will be closing all of its stores on February 8 for one day</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="90N2o3MDE6CFB4NPQPTbhXJ-qcOdIqUI" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Morgan Stanley says this 'underappreciated' restaurant brand is about to explode

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>Burger King is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-to-merge-with-tim-hortons-2014-8">buying</a> Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons for $11.4 billion.</p>
<p>The move will create the third largest fast food company in the world. Combined, the companies are worth about $18 billion and have more than 18,000 restaurants in 100 countries.</p>
<p>Tim Hortons has been called Canada's "most treasured" brand. It's also the country's most ubiquitous, <span>accounting for 26% of all fast food revenues in 2012 with more than 3,600 outlets nationwide, according to Eurmonitor International. </span></p>
<p><span><span>McDonald's, a distant second, accounted for 11% of all fast food revenues in Canada in the same year.</span></span></p>
<p>Tim Hortons also accounted for 39% of all fast food transactions in 2012. The chain boasts that it sells <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">eight out of 10 cups of coffee in the country. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">But few people have heard of Tim Hortons in the U.S., where it has just 866 outlets.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The map below shows Horton's locations in the U.S. and Southern Canada.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In the U.S., only 30% of consumers are aware of the brand, compared to more than 90% for Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, according to a survey of 20,000 people by YouGov BrandIndex, a consumer research service.</span></span></p>
<p>However, those aware of Tim Hortons rate it highly on value and quality, meaning it's well positioned to compete against its bigger rivals, the survey found.</p>
<p>The charts below show where Tim Hortons stands relative to Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts on quality and value.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>

Tim Hortons Is Insanely Popular In Canada

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>As Tim Hortons attempts to expand in the US, it is facing the harsh reality that Americans might not be&#xa0;as committed to the coffee chain as cultish Canadian customers. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Wednesday and Thursday, more than 20 Tim Hortons locations abruptly closed in Maine, New York City, and upstate New York. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Local news stations reported that employees didn't receive much advance notice, with a one employee telling </span><a href="http://www.syracuse.com/storefront/index.ssf/2015/11/tim_hortons_syracuse.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Syracuse.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the company showed "no respect" for employees, with the surprise layoffs on the cusp of the holiday season. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Employees were further infuriated because they reported that many of the closed locations performed well and met sales targets. Despite this, they say that the company decided to close all locations in the area. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Customers were also displeased&#xa0;by the sudden closures. One customer in Lewiston, Maine told </span><a href="http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2015/11/18/tim-hortons-pizza-huts-close-without-explanation/1822247"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the Sun Journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the location closed up shop so abruptly that employees turned off the lights as he was still finishing his cup of green tea.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"In line with our vision to deliver a great Guest experience while building and strengthening the Tim Hortons brand, we continuously review the performance of our restaurants," a Tim Hortons spokesperson said in a statement to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business Insider</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. "As we build the foundation for accelerated growth in the U.S., we have decided to close some restaurants in New York&#xa0;<span>and Maine</span>."</span></p><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;<div></div></p><p class="embed-spacer">&#xa0;<span style="font-weight: 400;">In October, Tim Hortons labeled the US a "must-win" area for the company. Currently, the chain has close to 900 locations in the US, compared to nearly 3,900 in Canada. The company recently announced a deal to open more than 150 Tim Hortons restaurants in the next 10 years in the Cincinnati area. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">At least the near to medium term... we'll look to build out density in the markets where we're present, as well as expand aggressively into new markets that are generally contiguous with the markets that we're already present in," parent company Restaurant Brands International CFO Josh Kobza said of Tim Hortons' expansion plans in last quarter's earning call. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clearly, with the sudden closure of locations across this&#xa0;geographical region, that build out may not be going exactly to plan.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div></div></span></p><p class="embed-spacer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Tim Hortons has expanded in the US, the chain doesn't have the same intense loyalty there as in Canada.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tim Hortons is a uniquely Canadian chain, launching in Hamilton, Ontario&#xa0;in 1964. When the chain was bought by Burger King's parent company, Restaurant Brands International, in 2014, the chain had to reassure Canadian customers it would remain "</span><a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/1718748/goodbye-tim-hortons-hello-restaurant-brands-international/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">a</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">n independent, iconic Canadian brand.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">"</span></p><p><span><div></div></span></p><p class="embed-spacer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has certainly done that, with same-store sales growing 5.4% in the third quarter in Canada, compared to 4.3% in the US. The&#xa0;biggest issues aren't at home - they&#xa0;are figuring out the best way to expand throughout the rest of the world.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-like-eat-food-grown-space-nasa-2015-11">This is what it's like to eat food grown in a 'space garden'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="l5eWh2eDrtdBaSYSf1RiuC1DKIbTcscZ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Tim Hortons just abruptly shuttered more than 20 locations in the US

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Tim Hortons' shares are soaring on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-is-in-talks-to-buy-canadas-most-famous-donut-chain-to-avoid-us-taxes-2014-8">the news</a> that Burger King is in talks to buy the Canadian coffee chain.</p>
<p>Both companies' shares increased on the news. The move would create the third largest fast food company in the world. </p>
<p><span>Combined, the companies would be worth about $18 billion and have more than </span><span>18,000 restaurants in 100 countries.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Tim Hortons alone is worth about $8.4 billion. It's the largest coffee chain in Canada with 4,546 restaurants, including 866 in the U.S.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The chain boasts that it sells eight out of 10 cups of coffee in Canada, where it has 3,630 outlets. That's equal to about 36,000 locations in the U.S. on a per capita basis, which is double the number of McDonald's in the U.S., the </span><a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/burger-king-in-talks-to-buy-tim-hortons/?_php=true&amp;_type=blogs&amp;_r=0">New York Times</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> writes.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The map below shows Horton's locations in the U.S. and Southern Canada. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Tim Hortons sold just one coffee blend until last week, when it added a dark roast. The company </span><a href="http://www.timhortons.com/us/en/corporate/profile.php">promises</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> that all of its coffee is served within 20 minutes of being brewed, or it's thrown out.</span></span></p>
<p><span>The chain, once called Canada's "<a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/2009/06/29/tim_hortons_canadian_again.html">most treasured brand</a>," also sells tea, smoothies, and food including donuts, made-to-order paninis, wraps and soups.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The company was founded by hockey legend Tim Horton. The first location opened in Ontario in 1964 and it made its U.S. debut 20 years later. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span>Wendy's bought Tim Hortons in 1995 when it had just 1,000 stores, then spun it off in 2006. During its decade of ownership, Wendy's opened a number of joint stores, like the one pictured below.</span></p>
<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>The chain's same-store sales grew 2.6% in Canada and 5.9% in the U.S. in the most recent quarter. Traffic has been declining for nine consecutive quarters in Canada, however, and it was flat in the U.S. last quarter, compared to the previous year.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Tim Hortons CEO Marc Caira blamed the traffic trends on a "new era of low growth, competitive intensity, evolving consumer demands and changing technology," in a recent <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/2391365-tim-hortons-thi-ceo-marc-caira-on-q2-2014-results-earnings-call-transcript?all=true&amp;find=tim%2Bhortons">earnings call</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>The company is betting on menu innovation to keep driving sales growth and eventually attract new customers.</span></span></p>
<p>"We have identified some key trends we are seeing in the market, including changing demographics, increased emphasis on nutrition, health and wellness and a desire for bold flavors along with fresh quality ingredients," Caira said. "Menu innovation is also an important part of our strategy to grow [customers'] average check. We plan to introduce more value-added premium products, as well as appealing side dishes that will encourage our guests to purchase combos."</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">For decades, the chain was best known for its coffee and donuts. Now, the chain is putting more emphasis on its made-to-order sandwiches, like the </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Angus Steak Melt Panini below.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The breakfast menu includes sandwiches, paninis and bagels with a combination of eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage or turkey sausage. The chain also sells pastries and muffins.</span></span></p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>

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