Dates

[cinelli]

In this country a date such as 4 July 2023 is often written 4/7/23 but in some other countries the month comes first like 7/4/23. How many dates in a year are ambiguous?

Cinelli

[UncleEbenezer]

Erm, surely far too trivial even to bother with a spoiler: 12 * (12 - 1). What am I missing?

Unless it's a trick question: the framework you're working in isn't the obvious one. For example, because "23" fails to specify what century, all dates are ambiguous. Or because some context removes all possible ambiguity.

I tend to avoid any possible doubt by using the form 2023-07-04.

[cinelli]

Erm, surely far too trivial even to bother with a spoiler: 12 * (12 - 1). What am I missing?

Yes, I have to agree this wasn't very challenging. But I think there is room for levels of difficulty.

Cinelli

[BigB]

Does any country other than USA actually primarily use the US date format.

I have known people from all around the world who are used to MM/DD/YY[YY] but that is generally because of US/default software installation rather than an actual preference in that country.

?

[mc2fool]

Does any country other than USA actually primarily use the US date format.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_date_formats_by_country

[ukmtk]

I wish that children in this country were taught to use the 24h clock.
This should be the standard time in this country (as it is in Europe).
I hate the AM/PM specification.
Just as we ignored the metric system coz that mad Bonaparte invented it. Sigh.

[9873210]

Be the change you want to see. Set your clocks and computers to 24 hour mode, and there will one fewer person on the dark side. With computers to do the auto-translate there's no longer a reason for everybody to do it the same way.

If you invite people to dinner at 18:00 and they show up two hours late, well you probably won't have liked them anyway.

[UncleEbenezer]

Be the change you want to see. Set your clocks and computers to 24 hour mode, and there will one fewer person on the dark side. With computers to do the auto-translate there's no longer a reason for everybody to do it the same way.

If you invite people to dinner at 18:00 and they show up two hours late, well you probably won't have liked them anyway.

If you invited me for dinner at 18:00 I'd be confused. Too late for lunch, too early for an evening meal

I was brought up with a midday meal called "dinner". Come to think of it, we had - at the same mealtime - school dinners or packed lunches.

[Gerry557]

It's OK doing 24 hours time but I need to know if it's Zulu time or not otherwise I might be late for dinner.

[UncleEbenezer]

It's OK doing 24 hours time but I need to know if it's Zulu time or not otherwise I might be late for dinner.

No Zulus in my household. If there's any ambiguity over time zone, I'll seek clarification. Or if I'm in charge, I'll be sure to make it clear.

[StepOne]

Be the change you want to see. Set your clocks and computers to 24 hour mode, and there will one fewer person on the dark side. With computers to do the auto-translate there's no longer a reason for everybody to do it the same way.

If you invite people to dinner at 18:00 and they show up two hours late, well you probably won't have liked them anyway.

If you invited me for dinner at 18:00 I'd be confused. Too late for lunch, too early for an evening meal

I was brought up with a midday meal called "dinner". Come to think of it, we had - at the same mealtime - school dinners or packed lunches.

Well said, Uncle. Breakfast, dinner and tea were the three main meals, in that order, when I was growing up (70s/80s). As you say, it was school dinners, served by dinner ladies. I don't know when we started calling it lunch.

[9873210]

If you invited me for dinner at 18:00 I'd be confused. Too late for lunch, too early for an evening meal

I was brought up with a midday meal called "dinner". Come to think of it, we had - at the same mealtime - school dinners or packed lunches.

Well said, Uncle. Breakfast, dinner and tea were the three main meals, in that order, when I was growing up (70s/80s). As you say, it was school dinners, served by dinner ladies. I don't know when we started calling it lunch.

Breakfast, dinner and tea were the three main meals, in that order, where you were growing up (70s/80s). This has always been variable, and it has always been a shibboleth.

[kempiejon]

I had school dinners when little, took a packed lunch to school post 11. When I started work the mid session break was the lunch hour, it was paid. When I became a manager I took meals at my desk unpaid. My last contract stated it was 30 minutes unpaid.

[StepOne]

Well said, Uncle. Breakfast, dinner and tea were the three main meals, in that order, when I was growing up (70s/80s). As you say, it was school dinners, served by dinner ladies. I don't know when we started calling it lunch.

Breakfast, dinner and tea were the three main meals, in that order, where you were growing up (70s/80s). This has always been variable, and it has always been a shibboleth.

Yes, I'm aware these things are not carved in stone tablets, I am just always please to find someone else who agrees with me

cheers,
StepOne

[MyNameIsUrl]

Be the change you want to see. Set your clocks and computers to 24 hour mode, and there will one fewer person on the dark side. With computers to do the auto-translate there's no longer a reason for everybody to do it the same way.

If you invite people to dinner at 18:00 and they show up two hours late, well you probably won't have liked them anyway.

I completely agree.

What would you do to those people who quote a time of 12pm?