] Globalization starts with getting the details right.
] Inconsistent use of SI units and international
] standard paper sizes remain today a primary
] cause for U.S. businesses failing to meet
] the expectations of the global economy.

[ Fascinating read! I'm down with being unique, except in the cases where the US can't seem to play nice with the rest of the world. Standards people, STANDARDS! I want metric now.

And while i'm dreaming, i want web browsers to conform to their respective specs and standards too... for fucks sake. -k]

The ISO paper size concept

In the ISO paper size system, the height-to-width ratio of all pages is the square root of two (1.4142 : 1). In other words, the width and the height of a page relate to each other like the side and the diagonal of a square. This aspect ratio is especially convenient for a paper size. If you put two such pages next to each other, or equivalently cut one parallel to its shorter side into two equal pieces, then the resulting page will have again the same width/height ratio.

Wow. Thats as logical and rational as the metric system. Totally unAmerican and unacceptable!