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There is no need of a single commodity to base a currency on (i.e. none is a sufficient base). The market dynamics aggregate across all the commodities being traded to decide the exchange rate between currencies.
The costs of goods fluctuate all the time for many reasons. We enjoy the illusion of certain stabilities - e.g. "The pound in your pocket" unaffected by the devaluation of sterling (Wilson, 1967).
For some currencies there is also government interaction for 'common' federal money (e.g. European union, and other Unions).
Conceptual elements of climate can be traded, but habitability isn't decided by the parties to the trade, hence the problem.
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The "pros" are just playing the part of Barnum and Bailey; riding the wave of suckers that don't have the means to survive the volatility. No smarts required; just cash (the old stuff).
The "pros" are swimming in cash (and real-time data); that's why they're in the game. It's the "fool and his money" angle they're playing.
Blinded by the light.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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Pretty much right on the mark.
Another perspective to add to your list - think of it for what it is: gambling.
If you get involved in gambling with someone and the odds of either of you winning is 50%, the one of you with the most money has the better chance of winning. That's because there are streaks of wins and losses. Eventually one streak will be long enough to wipe out one of the players and that's more like as the difference in assets increases.
In a way, it's a complimentary description to your "surviving the volatility".
Another offshoot of your reply, two components that are relatable (Barnum and "fool and his money") - which a famous quote usually attributed to P.T. Barnum: "There's a sucker born every minute".
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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This is actually a very good description of hyperinflation. When it occurred it Weimar Germany, the central bankers lamented that they couldn't print money fast enough! That was true, though it was their prior printing that caused the crisis. When confidence in a currency is lost, velocity goes to the moon because everyone spends their currency immediately, for anything of value, because prices will be higher tomorrow...tonight...a couple of hours from now.
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I was first vaguely aware of this as a child - my stamp collection had an unused stamp. It was overprinted (not worth new paper, I suppose) as 100 Million Reichsmarks. Excitement waned as I discovered how much it was not worth.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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100 million? Meh[^]. 
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I wouldn't give one ningy for your quatloos.
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First of all apologies to the purists; the sub-continent of India; and much of Asia, but....
Curry & Chips has to be the perfect East/West culinary marriage. 
Particularly, keeping back two or three chips to mop up the last bit of curry sauce and grains of salt. Obviously salt on curry is an absolute no-no, but it's essential for chips.
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ah curry with deep-fried aloo
the best
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There are times when it is exactly the right food. Particularly "Chinese takeaway curry" and chips.
And the same for the doner kebab, the deep fried Mars Bar (allegedly, never tried), the Chicken Parmo (ditto) ...
And they all share one thing in common: you have to be pretty drunk to appreciate them fully!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Chinese curry is the mutts - haven't had it since the last time I got pissed for years 
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I've seen "kebab" used to describe both meat on a rotisserie (Schawarma) and little meat patties grilled on a BBQ. Both can be good, when fresh. It's the stuff that has been cooking for hours (i.e. buying a kebab after the pubs' closing time) that you have to avoid.
If you do have an irresistible urge to eat a kebab at those hours, the drink might actually help kill some of the accumulated bacteria in the meat. 
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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The elephants leg in the window
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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pkfox wrote: The very tasty elephants leg in the window
With very hot chilli sauce and coleslaw ...
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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OriginalGriff wrote: With very hot chilli sauce and coleslaw
This is the way.
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Chips? Like Lays, the crips?
No, you meant French Fries, and those are horrible. Try Belgian, the Dutch way (meaning, with mayo, or kapsalon).
"Chips" is either a thin potato waffle or something inside the PC. And "Fish and Chips" is something, well, blasphemous.
As for your observation on sauces going well with fries.. well, some countries been pairing them for quite a while.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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Yes, with mayo.
Kapsalon, that a new one for me. It sounds much better than that poutine thing that came out of Quebec. What a gut-bomb that is.
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Quote: Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. -Edsger W. Dijkstra, computer scientist (11 May 1930-2002)
While many of us may immediately think of the "goto considered harmful" meme hearing his name, his boundary-crossing contributions to the evolution of modern programming as a discipline, and to many key aspects of algorithms, distributed computing, etc. are remarkable.
Happy Birthday, Edsger ![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
My favorite story about him is his invention of his shortest-path algorithm in twenty minutes while having coffee with his fiancée ... without paper and pencil.
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
modified 11-May-21 7:36am.
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Yes he was a special chap
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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'Special' is the word I use to describe most of the software engineers I work with...
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Caslen wrote: 'Special' is the word I use to describe most of the software engineers I work with...
My Mrs., a teacher, was certified for "Special Education" - is that what you mean?
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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No , I meant special as in gifted and intelligent
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I suppose that depends...who has she been teaching to?
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"The use of C  B L cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offence." - Edsger Dijkstra.
Cheers,
Vikram.
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