Sidebar date format is US only April 7, 2009 10:23 AM Subscribe
The date format of the sidebar is a bit confusing to non-US readers
4.06.2009 reads as the 4th June to me.
Could it be formatted in a less ambiguous way: 4 Jun 2009 or 2009.06.04
You're right, we should have changed that years ago. Changing...
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2009
2009.06.04
How would this be better? That is June 4th to me.
posted by Big_B at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2009
How would this be better? That is June 4th to me.
posted by Big_B at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2009
We're changing it to Month number so "April 4" and "May 12" will be the headers from now on.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:26 AM on April 7, 2009
Big_B writes "How would this be better? That is June 4th to me."
Is there anyone for who that isn't June 4th?
posted by Mitheral at 10:30 AM on April 7, 2009
Is there anyone for who that isn't June 4th?
posted by Mitheral at 10:30 AM on April 7, 2009
WHY CANT YOU LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH
posted by orville sash at 10:33 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by orville sash at 10:33 AM on April 7, 2009
¿Qué?
posted by Pronoiac at 10:40 AM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Pronoiac at 10:40 AM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: an ISO 8601 Certified Business!
Maybe we can get the front page ISO 9001 compliant next? I can't view it on the shop computers unless we have some sort of quality control.
After that, you can concentrate on ISO 13450 I'm just picking them at random now...
posted by backseatpilot at 10:42 AM on April 7, 2009
Maybe we can get the front page ISO 9001 compliant next? I can't view it on the shop computers unless we have some sort of quality control.
After that, you can concentrate on ISO 13450 I'm just picking them at random now...
posted by backseatpilot at 10:42 AM on April 7, 2009
I miss the old days when the sidebar dates were more ambiguous.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:46 AM on April 7, 2009 [12 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:46 AM on April 7, 2009 [12 favorites]
Third day of 清明 wasn't it? 己丑 or the 98th year of the Republic. Still, there's only twelve hours in the day, so sure mods have their 时辰 filled with other stuff.
posted by Abiezer at 10:49 AM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 10:49 AM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
2009.06.04
How would this be better? That is June 4th to me.
posted by Big_B at 6:26 PM on April 7 [+] [!]
Thats the ISO 8601 international short date format
But I think "April 6" is better here, we dont really need the year
posted by Lanark at 10:50 AM on April 7, 2009
How would this be better? That is June 4th to me.
posted by Big_B at 6:26 PM on April 7 [+] [!]
Thats the ISO 8601 international short date format
But I think "April 6" is better here, we dont really need the year
posted by Lanark at 10:50 AM on April 7, 2009
Better still, could do like the Singapore newspapers and tell us whether it's auspicious for moving house, starting a business or posting a single link to an op-ed.
posted by Abiezer at 10:51 AM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 10:51 AM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
All dates should be encoded as floating-point numbers.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:17 AM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by blue_beetle at 11:17 AM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
ISO 8601, definitely. It's complete, unambiguous, and an international standard. What's not to like?
posted by Crabby Appleton at 11:27 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by Crabby Appleton at 11:27 AM on April 7, 2009
י״ג בְּנִיסָן תשס״ט
posted by double block and bleed at 11:36 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by double block and bleed at 11:36 AM on April 7, 2009
I can't actually read Hebrew. I hope I didn't just say something stupid.
posted by double block and bleed at 11:38 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by double block and bleed at 11:38 AM on April 7, 2009
I can't actually read Hebrew. I hope I didn't just say something stupid.
Oh, it's not offensive. I mean, as long as you're not Greek. In which case, whooboy.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:53 AM on April 7, 2009
Oh, it's not offensive. I mean, as long as you're not Greek. In which case, whooboy.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:53 AM on April 7, 2009
Could the sidebar countdown until the end of the world on Dec 21, 2012 as predicted by the Mayans?
And on wikipedia research, Lemurrhea beats me to it.
posted by GuyZero at 11:55 AM on April 7, 2009
And on wikipedia research, Lemurrhea beats me to it.
posted by GuyZero at 11:55 AM on April 7, 2009
My hebrew is a bit rusty, but as Tommorrowful mentioned, I believe that what you are describing is illegal under the Geneva Convention and considered an abomination by most of the major world religions.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:08 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by blue_beetle at 12:08 PM on April 7, 2009
I'm glad this has been fixed. It's about time.
posted by Elmore at 12:56 PM on April 7, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Elmore at 12:56 PM on April 7, 2009 [3 favorites]
Time since:
last banning?
last SLYT post?
last server reset?
last pony request?
last relationship question?
last gun/israeli-palestine/lolxian/declawing/circumcision/lolfatties trainwreck?
last flameout?
posted by double block and bleed at 1:01 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
last banning?
last SLYT post?
last server reset?
last pony request?
last relationship question?
last gun/israeli-palestine/lolxian/declawing/circumcision/lolfatties trainwreck?
last flameout?
posted by double block and bleed at 1:01 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I switched over to the 2009.04.07 15:16 date/ time format a couple of years ago because it made organizing photos on my file-server so much easier. I had no idea that I was following ISO 8601.
That's kind of cool actually, because I've gotten no end of shit from coworkers who don't like the way it looks.
Now I can point to the fact that it's from International Organization for fucking Standardization! Booya!
posted by quin at 1:15 PM on April 7, 2009
That's kind of cool actually, because I've gotten no end of shit from coworkers who don't like the way it looks.
Now I can point to the fact that it's from International Organization for fucking Standardization! Booya!
posted by quin at 1:15 PM on April 7, 2009
How on earth can somebody called Lanark have the right to complain about anything being confusing?
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:32 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:32 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh man this means I've gotta do my tax soon. I don't work outside but I'm still gonna claim five bucks worth of sunscreen. Eat that, New South Wales hospital projects!
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:38 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:38 PM on April 7, 2009
International Organization for fucking Standardization!
Man, they have standards for everything now, huh?
posted by dg at 1:48 PM on April 7, 2009
Man, they have standards for everything now, huh?
posted by dg at 1:48 PM on April 7, 2009
Five bucks worth of sunscreen is actually pretty good fare for NSW hospitals.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:49 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:49 PM on April 7, 2009
Man, they have standards for everything now, huh?
Yeah, but the standards are difficult to apply in practice.
Many guys, for example, use very non-standard definitions of inches.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:52 PM on April 7, 2009 [3 favorites]
Yeah, but the standards are difficult to apply in practice.
Many guys, for example, use very non-standard definitions of inches.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:52 PM on April 7, 2009 [3 favorites]
I just date everything from the birth of Cortex. I thought that was standard.
posted by klangklangston at 1:54 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by klangklangston at 1:54 PM on April 7, 2009
so there's Before Cortex and Anno Donutii?
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:59 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:59 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
International Organization for fucking Standardization!
Let's not turn this into a rape or not rape thread.
posted by Dumsnill at 2:07 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
For measurement inflation (hur hur), the two obvious things are
* measuring from where to where, exactly
* measuring in mm. 125-150 mm is average, but man, those numbers are impressive, aren't they?
posted by Pronoiac at 2:11 PM on April 7, 2009
* measuring from where to where, exactly
* measuring in mm. 125-150 mm is average, but man, those numbers are impressive, aren't they?
posted by Pronoiac at 2:11 PM on April 7, 2009
the standardised name these days is canola.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:12 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:12 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I switched over to the 2009.04.07 15:16 date/ time format a couple of years ago because it made organizing photos on my file-server so much easier. I had no idea that I was following ISO 8601.
That's kind of cool actually, because I've gotten no end of shit from coworkers who don't like the way it looks.
Now I can point to the fact that it's from International Organization for fucking Standardization! Booya!
posted by quin at 9:15 PM on April 7 [+] [!]
Actually if you read the whole standard you'll find in subsection 14, paragraph 26 that the official date separator must be a dash not a period (2009-04-07 15:16)
Close but no cigar :)
posted by Lanark at 2:24 PM on April 7, 2009
That's kind of cool actually, because I've gotten no end of shit from coworkers who don't like the way it looks.
Now I can point to the fact that it's from International Organization for fucking Standardization! Booya!
posted by quin at 9:15 PM on April 7 [+] [!]
Actually if you read the whole standard you'll find in subsection 14, paragraph 26 that the official date separator must be a dash not a period (2009-04-07 15:16)
Close but no cigar :)
posted by Lanark at 2:24 PM on April 7, 2009
I want seconds since the Epoch, anything else is too ambiguous for me.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:24 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:24 PM on April 7, 2009
International Organization for fucking Standardization!
ISO 69000
posted by bonehead at 2:33 PM on April 7, 2009
ISO 69000
posted by bonehead at 2:33 PM on April 7, 2009
official date separator must be a dash not a period
Damn it! And here I thought I had finally won one. Oh well, now everyone has to die.
Sorry.
Yes, I suppose that I could just switch over to using dashes, but at this point, it's the principle of the thing.
posted by quin at 2:42 PM on April 7, 2009
Damn it! And here I thought I had finally won one. Oh well, now everyone has to die.
Sorry.
Yes, I suppose that I could just switch over to using dashes, but at this point, it's the principle of the thing.
posted by quin at 2:42 PM on April 7, 2009
EPOCH FAIL
posted by Skot at 2:45 PM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Skot at 2:45 PM on April 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
Damnit. I was going to suggest that dates be posted in French Revolution format, but Electric Dragon beat me to it.
Stardate, perhaps?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:45 PM on April 7, 2009
Stardate, perhaps?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:45 PM on April 7, 2009
That which you do to the least of my pastries...
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:52 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:52 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
Communion at the Church of Cortex takes a really long time. And don't eat breakfast first.
posted by GuyZero at 3:01 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by GuyZero at 3:01 PM on April 7, 2009
Wow that was quick - thanks
posted by Lanark
Yeah, see... I've never trusted my computer guy when he bills me by the hour. As a side note, I thank you for choosing my birthday for your example.
posted by gman at 3:07 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by Lanark
Yeah, see... I've never trusted my computer guy when he bills me by the hour. As a side note, I thank you for choosing my birthday for your example.
posted by gman at 3:07 PM on April 7, 2009
* measuring in mm. 125-150 mm is average, but man, those numbers are impressive, aren't they?
Only if you're measuring girth.
posted by dg at 3:49 PM on April 7, 2009
Only if you're measuring girth.
posted by dg at 3:49 PM on April 7, 2009
Taking the five donuts and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the donuts, and gave them to the mefites to eat before the people; and gave the two fish to quonsar.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:15 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:15 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I didn't know about ISO 8601, but I've been using dates that way for a while because they sort even as text.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:41 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:41 PM on April 7, 2009
Today is Boomtime, the 24th day of Discord in the YOLD 3175.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 5:03 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by synaesthetichaze at 5:03 PM on April 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
anything but m/d/y or d/m/y .. YYYY.MM.DD would be awesome, but April 04 or 04 avril would be ok.
posted by xorry at 5:32 PM on April 7, 2009
posted by xorry at 5:32 PM on April 7, 2009
Pungenday, Day 25, the season of Discord in the Year of Our Lady 3175
can't you guys just install ddate and have done with it?
posted by pyramid termite at 9:55 PM on April 7, 2009
can't you guys just install ddate and have done with it?
posted by pyramid termite at 9:55 PM on April 7, 2009
yy-mm-dd is the only logical numbering scheme. It is the only scheme that sorts itself automatically. That is a big advantage in all situations.
yyyy-MMM-dd is the next-best option. It does not self-sort numerically; but it is clearly being used in a system that is being used by human beings, and this is an explicit notation that makes it really easy for humans to sort.
People claim that other orderings "sound more natural," but it's an inept person who can't pull off the human-version transliteration suavely. Besides which, it wouldn't be long until the correctly-ordered sequence started sounding perfectly natural.
No other systems make any sense, IMO.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:47 PM on April 8, 2009
yyyy-MMM-dd is the next-best option. It does not self-sort numerically; but it is clearly being used in a system that is being used by human beings, and this is an explicit notation that makes it really easy for humans to sort.
People claim that other orderings "sound more natural," but it's an inept person who can't pull off the human-version transliteration suavely. Besides which, it wouldn't be long until the correctly-ordered sequence started sounding perfectly natural.
No other systems make any sense, IMO.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:47 PM on April 8, 2009
Surely you meant yyyy-mm-dd? That eliminates ambiguity & doesn't cause another y2k problem.
posted by Pronoiac at 1:37 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by Pronoiac at 1:37 AM on April 9, 2009
Sure. yy gives us a hundred-year lifespan, which is more than good enough for most of our purposes. yyyy gives us a nearly endless lifespan. So long as it is ymd order, it all works out well.
posted by five fresh fish at 4:08 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by five fresh fish at 4:08 PM on April 9, 2009
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posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:25 AM on April 7, 2009