why

[totient]

... are IRS forms laid out using picas vertically and tenths of an inch horizontally?

I guess it's not as bad as car tire sizes, which are inches vertically and millimeters horizontally (and even that is a simplification). But still. What were they thinking?

(yes, Arisia's W3s are due tomorrow, why do you ask?)

Comments

[thomb.livejournal.com]

It's normally assumed that people who want to do things with a printer will use specially constructed software; the printed forms are for people who are filling them in by hand.

And they presumably have stunningly old legacy stuff to make the printed forms.

legacy equipment

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's it: typewriters do tenths by picas!