This article from the Associated Press (via the Salt Lake Tribune) is about standards.  Surprisingly, it ran on the front page---must have been a slow news day.  Apparently, October 14th was national standards day.  If I'd have known, I'd have baked a cake and worn a costume.  At any rate, the article gives a number of good examples about why standards are important---they are the key to interoperability, a catch phrase these days what with eGovernment and Homeland Security issues.