the "natural" value unit should be related to your assets/income and your expenses. So pricing things in oil, or in Euros, makes sense depending on who you are, where you are and what you do.

 I think this is very well said Migeru, with the exception of pricing in oil.  IMO, an American who plans to live primarily in the US should therefore value his earnings and investments in dollars.  s/he should diversify investments around the world, with a good percentage in Europe and Asia, so he can take advantage of those growing economies, as well as any dollar weakening such as we have experienced in the last six years.  (though of course the worm turns, and a strengthening dollar will have the revrese effect.)  but inflation is low in the US, relative purchasing power is extremely high, and your standard of living is very much tied to those aspects of the currency.  and conversely a european should manage in euro's, with imho similar worldwide diversification.

but managing in oil or in gold does not make sense to me, nor does managing your affairs in cans of soup or pasta, as your referenced article points out.