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From: garys@bunker.UUCP (Gary M. Samuelson)
Newsgroups: net.unix,net.internat
Subject: Re: Re:  Sundays
Message-ID: <1048@bunker.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Nov-85 16:47:44 EST
Article-I.D.: bunker.1048
Posted: Fri Nov 22 16:47:44 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 25-Nov-85 07:23:03 EST
References: <174@watmath.UUCP>
Organization: Bunker Ramo, Trumbull Ct
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Xref: watmath net.unix:6354 net.internat:84

> >>If anyone decides to write a brand new version of Unix, then
> >>this should be put straight once and for all. It is now over 15
> >>years since ISO decided that Monday is the first day of the
> >>week. Hence, we can number the days 0-6 or 1-7, but Monday
> >>should be first!

> > For several hundred years sunday has been the first day of the
> >week. Look at any calandar[sic].

French calendars have Monday first.

>  For several thousand years Sunday has been the last day of the
> week.  Look at any bible.
> 
>   But actually, I'll stick with the ISO argument.

Looking at my bible reveals that the word "Sunday" does not appear
at all.  The last day of the week is called the "Sabbath."  The first
day of the week is called simply that, the first day of the week.

But what difference does it make to the operating system which day
is first?  If you want to print a calendar, you can put any day you
like in column 1.  The internal encoding for the names of the days
of the week is arbitrary and should not have any external significance.
Suppose the names were hashed; then they might appear in any order
(no, you probably wouldn't hash a table with only seven entries;
that's not the point).

Gary Samuelson