But that's hardly strange in itself—check the Chapster's vote:



Sure maybe he drank the back forty before sun-up yesterday but this still doesn't sound like him at all.

I think Guy is starting to chill - his self imposed absence from the sysop bits means he has to think and interact to achieve his goals, and he is all the better for it. Myself, I had a bit of a banter with him at his talkpage and managed to belittle WR's purported demonising of him in doing so - we both enjoyed it.

Speaking of time, can anyone see any earthly reason why New Earth Time exists (either as a concept, or as a spammy Wikipedia article)?

It's spam, yes. It's also a good example of the (many, many) attempts by very smart people to "reform" the clock system. Every few years, going back to the 18th century, someone writes up a clever new timekeeping system, and tries to get others to follow it. The only recent one that has had any success, however slight, is that "Swatch internet time" business. And you won't find any mention of most of the past attempts mentioned on Wikipedia, because it's mostly edited and adminned by men under the age of 30, who are clueless of such things. If it doesn't Google, it never happened.

Timekeeping reform is a politically loaded business, just like calendar reform. Never, EVER talk to devout Muslims or Orthodox Jews about their calendar systems--they're still on ancient lunar-oriented calendars, and any talk about a solar calendar makes them very very angry. The Chinese and Hindus are also on old lunar calendars, but they're more willing to adjust their business practices to the "Christian" solar calendar--they aren't quite as religiously dogmatic.......