On 2014-02-16 09:22 AM, Steve Allen wrote:
On Sun 2014-02-16T09:07:11 -0800, Brooks Harris hath writ:
I wonder why they avoid making clear definitions of Standard time
and Daylight? Is it because previous precedent had already confused
the meanings of the terms, or maybe because they emanate from the
"Western world" and can't be agreed on internationally? Or something
else?
These are questions better posed in the context of the tz mail list.
Perhaps. But it revolves around UTC.
In that list there exist examples where the pronouncements of
impending (or sometimes already implemented) time changes are
accompanied by words where the bureaucrats in charge show that
they believe there is some sort of international scheme for
time zones. Apparently nobody told them that there are no rules
and that they can choose any offset they like and any dates of
changes that they like.
I think "bureaucrats in charge" would be relieved and pleased if the
*where* an "international scheme for
time zones". After all, time-keeping is fundamental to commerce and
culture in general. Most governments are going to want to interact with
the world in cooperative ways where time is concerned.
They are also now dependent on computers and software implementations of
time. In may respects, its the behavior of computers that define the
"common use" of timekeeping. And its with computers where many of the
interoperability problems originate.
So maybe there's now an opportunity for some standards body to create a
comprehensive and rigorous standard that spanned UTC to local time.
I would not be surprised if the ISO folks found that in many
jurisdictions there is no statutory basis for the summer/daylight
terminology, so no source of clear definitions.
Sure. But some, like the US, do have reasonably complete definitions
(even if they change details unexpectedly). Many follow that example in
the hopes of being compatible. Clear definitions won't come from
governments - they need to originate with the experts in the timekeeping
community.
Only a comprehensive plan which aims to fix the obvious and well known
problems is going to head off the "kill Leap Seconds" movement.
I tried to explore how that might be started and was blown to bits. OK,
if not me, who's going to try? Or will we just roll over and watch 4500
years of timekeeping tradition evaporate?
-Brooks
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