Augrim stones were used for counting and basic mathematics.
More generally, augrim refers to reckoning with Arabic numerals,
that is, counting and calculating.
It is supposed that "augrim" is an Old English corruption of "algorithm,"
which is itself a corruption of "al-Khuwarizimi," a reference
to 9th Century Arab mathematician Abu Jafar Muhammed ibn Musa al-Khuwarizmi,
who wrote a book entitled al-jabr wa al-muqabalah ("Calculating by Restoration
and Reduction"). This is also the source of the word "algebra."
Au (from the Latin aurum) is also the symbol for Gold.
It has an atomic number of 79 and an atomic weight of 196.9665.
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We perform analysis on price trends for precious metals, including
Gold and Silver.
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Historic Price Data
London Bullion Market Association, London Gold and Silver Statistics
Prediction
Ten findings from William Sherdan's The Fortune Sellers: The Big
Business of Buying and Selling Predictions:
- The forecasting skill of economists is on average about as good
as guessing. In fact, predictions by the politically driven Council of
Economic Advisors, Federal Reserve Board and Congressional Budget Office
were often worse than guessing.
- Economists cannot predict the turning points in the economy. Of 48
predictions made by economists, 46 missed the turning points.
- Economic forecasting accuracy declines with longer lead times.
- No economic forecasters consistently lead the pack in accuracy.
- No economic ideology consistently produces superior forecasts.
- No economic forecaster has consistently higher forecasting skills
predicting any particular economic statistic.
- Consensus forecasts do not improve accuracy (although the press loves them).
- Psychological bias affects forecasters and their forecasts. Some
economists are naturally optimistic and bullish, others are consistently
pessimistic bears.
- Increased sophistication provides no improvement in forecasting
accuracy. Remember the Long-Term Capital Management hedge fund? Two
brilliant Nobel Economists backed by Wall Street's elite nearly sabotaged
the world economy.
- There is no evidence that economic forecasting has improved in
recent decades. In fact, forecasting appears to be deteriorating as
partisan politics, Wall Street gaming and unpredictable global events
invent new illusions.
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