Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]
Discussion
Of all the things immutable for storing value, why isn't the price of gold linked to inflation (globally)?
There are genuine limits to the amount of gold in the world, and it is used as a store of wealth by individuals (and governments), but it never seems to move in line with inflation?
There are genuine limits to the amount of gold in the world, and it is used as a store of wealth by individuals (and governments), but it never seems to move in line with inflation?
Brother D said:
There are genuine limits to the amount of gold in the world, and it is used as a store of wealth by individuals (and governments), but it never seems to move in line with inflation?
The fact that's it's finite explains the reason. 'Paper' money can loose value as more of it can be printed. When this happens, its relative value decreases. You can't print or make more gold so its value is more stable. Though it's wrong to say it's price isn't influenced by inflation. When inflation rises, demand in gold increases as more people use it as means to hedge against inflation; increased demand = increased price. StevieBee said:
Some years back the Honda / BAR F1 team attempted (and IIRC) succeeded in breaking the land-speed record for a wheel-driven car (as apposed to the jet-propelled cars), using an adapted F1 car. The principle change was to aero, removing the wings but retaining just enough 'ground-effect' to keep it planted. They maxed out at something like 420 kph. The factors limiting more were the tyres that have a rotational speed limit before they break apart, and the length of the desert they had to play with (11 miles). They reported that car continued to accelerate but the rate of acceleration decreased the faster it got.
420kph is about 260mph. Top fuel dragsters which are wheel driven regually pass 300mph so the tyres can take it. They also break the Honda / BAR record in only quarter of a mile not 11 miles
Edited by Cotty on Wednesday 3rd April 10:37
StevieBee said:
Clockwork Cupcake said:
StevieBee said:
Some years back the Honda / BAR F1 team attempted (and IIRC) succeeded in breaking the land-speed record for a wheel-driven car (as apposed to the jet-propelled cars), using an adapted F1 car. The principle change was to aero, removing the wings but retaining just enough 'ground-effect' to keep it planted. They maxed out at something like 420 kph. The factors limiting more were the tyres that have a rotational speed limit before they break apart, and the length of the desert they had to play with (11 miles). They reported that car continued to accelerate but the rate of acceleration decreased the faster it got.
Are you sure? The final official World Land Speed record for a wheel-driven car was 648.73 kph (403.10 mph) by Donald Campell in 1964 and the record currently stands at 745.187 kph (463.038 mph) which was set in 2018Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_speed_record
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vehicle_spee...
Mind you, given BAR were basically Red Bull in all but name I wouldn't put it past them to claim it anyway.
Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Tuesday 2nd April 19:44
F1 nerd incoming alert......
BAR became Honda which became Brawn which became Mercedes. Pre BAR they were Tyrell.
Red Bull Started life as Stewart GP, then Ford (under the Jaguar brand) before Red Bull hoovered them up.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Saw that on rhe documentary about Brawn. He also got a stupid amount of 'free' support didn't he?
Yes effectively. Honda calculated it would cost them somewhere in the region of £90m to close down the factories and make everyone redundant so Brawn gave them an opportunity to give that money to him instead and save face.48k said:
Nerd augmentation alert: Ross Brawn paid Honda £1 to buy the F1 company and form Brawn GP. Brawn paid in cash and the boss of Honda still to this day has the £1 coin that Ross Brawn gave him.
BMW sold Rover cars for a similar token amount. It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
Clockwork Cupcake said:
BMW sold Rover cars for a similar token amount.
It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
The football team I support (Wolves) was sold for £10, because the guy selling wrote off £50 million and at least wanted to be able to frame the £10 note that effectively cost him £50m It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
Sycamore said:
Clockwork Cupcake said:
BMW sold Rover cars for a similar token amount.
It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
The football team I support (Wolves) was sold for £10, because the guy selling wrote off £50 million and at least wanted to be able to frame the £10 note that effectively cost him £50m It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
boyse7en said:
Do all mammals have more or less the same body temperature, or do some run hotter or cooler? Is a Blue Whale's core temperature lower than an Elephant's? Does a vet need to have a big chart showing the internal temps of everything from gerbils to giraffes?
If my wife's feet are anything to go by, I'd say no.toasty said:
Sycamore said:
Clockwork Cupcake said:
BMW sold Rover cars for a similar token amount.
It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
The football team I support (Wolves) was sold for £10, because the guy selling wrote off £50 million and at least wanted to be able to frame the £10 note that effectively cost him £50m It's because, under UK law, there has to be a 'consideration' when something is sold (ie. money has to change hands) and by convention it is usually £1 when a company is effectively gifted. It could be 1p but £1 is the norm.
boyse7en said:
Do all mammals have more or less the same body temperature, or do some run hotter or cooler? Is a Blue Whale's core temperature lower than an Elephant's? Does a vet need to have a big chart showing the internal temps of everything from gerbils to giraffes?
I thought this was an interesting question so I looked it up. Turns out most mammals normal body temperature ranges are broadly similar. Around 38 to 40 Celcius.Given that all mammals share (ultimately) common ancestry and environmental history that seems reasonable.
Birds in general tend to run a bit warmer, for whatever reason.
Some species adapted for specific conditions have greater tolerance. Camels for example vary over a wide range in response to environmental changes and "onboard" water reserves.
Some small species which have notably fast metabolisms (shrews?) also vary but to their detriment as they tend to be very short lived. (And in shrews case, nasty tempered, as I can confirm having been badly bitten by one).
In short I doubt a vet would need a chart but might want Google on his phone in case he bumps into an unfamiliar species.
Then there are variations between individuals of the same species. Juveniles in general tend to be a tiddy bit warmer than their adult counterparts and females regulate differently to males in general. Female mammals are usually better at preserving core warmth (and thus survival) than males which prioritise peripheral mobility. So women survive longer in cold water than men but they don't like it.
Good question.
Edited by Error_404_Username_not_found on Wednesday 3rd April 17:45
Roofless Toothless said:
boyse7en said:
Do all mammals have more or less the same body temperature, or do some run hotter or cooler? Is a Blue Whale's core temperature lower than an Elephant's? Does a vet need to have a big chart showing the internal temps of everything from gerbils to giraffes?
If my wife's feet are anything to go by, I'd say no.Doofus said:
Why do women always put a hand in front of their mouths when speaking if they're eating 'hand food' buf not when eating 'cutlery food'?
We do? Always? I've never done that and I don't recall any of my girl friends doing that either. 
Also, welcome back! I thought you had left PH as I haven't seen a post from you in ages.
Clockwork Cupcake said:
Doofus said:
Why do women always put a hand in front of their mouths when speaking if they're eating 'hand food' buf not when eating 'cutlery food'?
We do? Always? I've never done that and I don't recall any of my girl friends doing that either. Also, welcome back! I thought you had left PH as I haven't seen a post from you in ages.
No, I've not left entirely, I just took time out, and I'm trying to stop rising to all the gobs
tes. I've come to the realisations that most PHers either have no sense of humour, or are permanently in a state of heightened antagonism such that if I say anything in jest, some fathead will kick off, but also that if I express a serious opinion, nobody actually cares and, generally, neither do I.
And then there's the phalanx of incomprehensible illiterate f
kpigs who pointlessly eject endless ordure, and I can no longer be arsed to keep reminding them they're tts.So I turn up now and again to straighten the cushions, or turn the oven off AGAIN, and then go away.
A bit like playing Knock Down Ginger but then not running away before they've answered the door, so when they shout at me for interrupting Coronation Street, I can tell them that nobody cares.
Actually, it's not like that at all but, as above, nobody cares. Thank you for remembering me, CC.
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