just wondering if anyone knows about this standard reasoning.
203724
Back in the late 1600's, the Dutch invented the two-sheet mold.   The average maximum stretch of an experienced vatman's arms was 44".  Many molds at that time were around 17" front to back because the laid lines and watermarks had to run from left to right.  Sounds big?...well to maximize the efficiency of paper making, a sheet this big was made, and then quartered, forming four 8.5" x 11" pieces. \n\nThis was well before paper machines dominated hand made paper labor.   A couple centuries later when machines dominated the trade (although many hand made paper makers still existed), and the United States decided on a standard paper size, they stuck with the same size so as to keep the hand made paper makers in business.\n\nOddly enough, the United States used two different sizes - the 8" x 10.5" and the 8.5" x 11".   Separate committees came up with separate standards, the 8" x 10.5" for the government and the 8.5" x 11" for the rest of us.  Once these committees found out about each other a couple years later, they agreed to disagree until the early 1980's when Reagan finally proclaimed that the 8.5" x 11" was the official standard sized paper.\n\nUnited States History\n\nNot until World War I or shortly after was a standard paper size agreed to in the United States.   Interestingly enough, within six months of each other, two different paper sizes were set as the standard; one for the government and one for the rest of us. \n\n1.   In 1921, the first director of the Bureau of the Budget established an interagency advisory group with the President's approval called the Permanent Conference on Printing which established the 8" x 10½" as the general U.S. government letterhead standard.   This extended an earlier establishment made by the former President Hoover, the Secretary of Commerce at the time, who established the 8" x 10½" as the standard letterhead size for his department. \n\n2.   Now, during the same year, a Committee on the Simplification of Paper Sizes consisting of printing industry representatives was appointed to work with the Bureau of Standards as part of Hoover's program for the Elimination of Waste in Industry.   This group came up with basic sizes for all types of printing and writing papers.  The size for "letter" was a 17" x 22" sheet while the "legal" size was 17" x 28" sheet.  The later known U.S. letter format was these sizes halved (8 ½" x 11" and 8 ½" by 14").\n\nEven in the selection of the 8 ½" x 11", no special analysis was made to prove this was the optimum size for commercial letterhead.   The Committee that developed the sizes did so using one objective - "to reduce inventory requirements for paper into sizes which would cut from a minimum trimming waste."
290507
I do not believe in conventional wisdom. I personally believe that it only increases the chances for people to do what ever is being questioned. I stick to one of the mottos of the Perkins School for the Blind near my town, "Let the child interact with the scissors, so he may cut himself and learn that they are sharp"
301744
As I understand the basics of the legal arguments here, its about freedom of choice.....an interesting concept, when the federal government spends millions of dollars every year to treat self-induced cancer.\n\nI feel about this one the same way I feel about helmet laws.  If you want to smoke or not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, fine.  But sign a waiver saying you won't take a dime from taxpayers to treat the result of your foolish decisions.
387411
Sorry,but you waited too long to ask this question.Your time is already up on submitting this work.You should have given more time for answers so as to draw your own conclusions.
536800
First, this isn't a question but rather a political statement.\n\nSecondly, it is based on wishes and not reality.
97826
Working on the basis of your question, you best answer will be one that agrees with you.\nBut if you are pointing it out because you disagree with this practice then your best answer will be one that disagrees with you.\nBut then you would be condoning the very practice you disagree with.\n\nWell, I will be waiting for your decision with baited breath!
376359
Sounds reasonable, It's nice to hear the voice of reason in this electronic cesspool, LOL! Seriously great idea.
434183
Makes exactly the same amount of sense, doesn't it?\n\nThere is a certain kind of "logic" that is so off-base that you can't argue with it other than to throw up your hands and give up. That kind of  logic, which includes "how can 2 billion people be wrong" (which obviously doesn't include the Chinese) also asks irrefutable questions of the nature of "If 'BURD' doesn't spell bird, what does it spell?", and so forth.\n\nWhen you give up in disgust, they believe they have won an argument.\n\nWhat I also don't understand is that if the Creator wants me to believe certain things, why have perverts, idiots and outright criminals been appointed to the task of teaching me?
556783
Sure, it makes logical sense as an idea. But how helpful are these categories in reasoning? I dont imagine that they would be very helpful at all since it is very unlikely to ever find two things that are exactly alike. They might look alike but dont forget about the very subatomic particles which comprise them. Just food for thought.
216686
There is a good discussion on this on a snopes.com messageboard (see link below). The best guess appears to be Air.
163588
This is one of those standard retorts that drives a stake through the hearts of bleedin' heart christians and their rabid war-mongering associates even.\nIt's a stumper for some, an opportunity for trotting out the prepared church answer for others.\nI am not one of either of these, thank the Dog!
676098
great point....    this is something that bothers many of us...  if you don't  have an answer - skip it,  and if you  have nothing good to say- say nothing..   obviously   too much common sense for some people...lol...
250480
Good for you.  Where's your justification for this statement or this just something that you pulled out of your a**?
649247
It was right, but I am thinking this is just an internet thing. But hey that is just my opinion. \n\nGood Luck!
110970
Anybody have any proof....one way or the other?
559696
The only opinion I have of this question is this-- This is a controversial question that begs for a subjective answer. You obviously are a deep thinker about perplexing arguments.
466183
Thing is that there a lot of people here that can give the proper answers, however there are many out there that take a wild guess, and in many cases just give absurd non-sense making comments.\nAlso, this is not a forum for making comments, as you know it's for people to come in ask questions and other people to attemp to give information.