Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mulga.SUN Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mulga!kre From: kre@mulga.SUN (Robert Elz) Newsgroups: net.mail.headers Subject: Re: Several questions/comments on time zones Message-ID: <207@mulga.SUN> Date: Tue, 7-Feb-84 01:15:11 EST Article-I.D.: mulga.207 Posted: Tue Feb 7 01:15:11 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 21:33:06 EST References: <840129150352.738172@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA> Organization: Comp Sci, Melbourne Uni, Australia Lines: 19 For anyone that thinks that time zone names are parsable, consider that "EST" means Eastern Standard Time (Australian time that is, GMT-10) between March & October (approx), and Eastern Summer Time (that is GMT-9) between November and February. (Dates when daylight saving switches on/off are approximate, anyone interested in precise details may consult 4.2bsd libc/gen/ctime.c) For example, examine the header of this message, it should indicate that it is being sent at something like "Feb 7 00:15 EST 1984". Current time (according to "date -u") is Feb 6 13:15 GMT. A unique, unambiguous, time stamp in mail headers is really worth having. Including local time (probably best as a comment in the header, as was suggested in another item) is a good idea too, as that does have meaning, provided that you're smart enough (have enough additional knowledge) to parse it correctly. Robert Elz decvax!mulga!kre