Xref: utzoo comp.text:2330 comp.std.internat:390
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!killer!dcs!wnp
From: wnp@dcs.UUCP (Wolf N. Paul)
Newsgroups: comp.text,comp.std.internat
Subject: Re: All numeric representation of dates
Message-ID: <187@dcs.UUCP>
Date: 29 Aug 88 05:42:53 GMT
References: <1988Aug28.010835.17290@utzoo.uucp> <2882@hubcap.UUCP>
Reply-To: wnp@dcs.UUCP (Wolf N. Paul)
Organization: DCS, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 49

In article <2882@hubcap.UUCP> billwolf@hubcap.clemson.edu writes:
>From article <1988Aug28.010835.17290@utzoo.uucp>, by henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer):
>     Ah, I see... Tell me, do you think your odometer should present
>     the last two digits first, then some verbal representation of
>     the next-to-last two digits, followed by the remaining digits?
>
>     If not, then why should a chronometer be any different??

Can you read? Henry argued from the FAMILIARITY of the month names versus
numbers. If you can tell me of one place where the scheme you describe is 
more FAMILIAR to folks than an all-numeric mileage, then fine. If you can't,
stop using silly, contrived examples.

>     If you REALLY want to question methods of presenting time, why
>     not investigate the asinine 12-hour format used in the United
>     States?  The 24-hour, European standard is MUCH more sensible
>     than the American practice of ignoring the large carrier space
>     provided by the two-digit hour representation, and then requiring
>     the use of two extra alphabetical characters to indicate which
>     portion of the 24-hour carrier space is intended...
>
>     But in a country which continues to use the obsolescent British
>     measurements when even Britain has abandoned it in favor of the
>     far more sensible metric system, such stupidity is to be expected.

We are discussing (and questioning) representation of DATES, not the TIME
within a specific date :-).

And the "asinine American practice" you are flaming used to be, and still
is to some extent, the practice of ALL ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.

British measurements continue to be in quite some use in Britain, co-existing
with metric measurements only under the pressures created by EEC membership.
If you don't believe that, please explain why my in-laws in London still get
their milk delivered in pint bottles, why distances and speed limits are
posted in miles all over Britain, etc.

The only difference I notice in the use of metric measurements is that on
food packages in the US, the metric designation of weight or volume is enclosed
in parentheses, while in Britain both metric and imperial designations are shown
without parentheses.

Besides, what are you trying to do to Henry? He was under fire only recently
for apparently disagreeing with NASA -- do you want him to publicly disagree
with and flame the entire US population?
-- 
Wolf N. Paul * 3387 Sam Rayburn Run * Carrollton TX 75007 * (214) 306-9101
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