While goals are not necessary for activity or even productivity, they provide us with a relative standard against which to measure the effectiveness of our efforts, aiding us in the elusive quest for fulfillment.

FORBES: Don't Be A Slave To Circumstance -- Set Goals

The reason for the fall in support appeared to be that pensioners felt the Tory government had allowed them to slip behind the rest of society in terms of their relative standard of living, and felt it had not proved trustworthy.

BBC: Going for grey

Where am I, relative to some standard?

WSJ: Learning How Your Start-Up Stacks Up

Those elected officials and the parties they represent who best perform relative to the growth standard are most likely to be the winners in the Congressional and Presidential elections that lie ahead.

FORBES: President Obama Challenges The GOP With A Growth Standard

By the standard measure of purchasing-power parity, which reflects currencies' relative buying power, all of South-East Asia's currencies are now undervalued.

ECONOMIST: Asian currencies

While it is not likely that the company would promote the actual rulings relative to Jihad or do so with the actual intent to cause violence, this will not be the standard.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Shariah��s Black Box