RE: Warning text

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

"Poshedly, Ken" wrote on 08/07/2006 09:16:54 AM:
> (Remember, common usage of incorrectness does NOT necessarily make it 
correct.)

Perhaps. But obsessing over the mundane and meaningless just gives you 
ulcers.

> ---> "At this point in time, . . . "

While I will agree the that the above phrase can in more cases than not be 
replaced with the simpler "At this point, ", here's an interesting 
discussion of time points:
http://www.martinfowler.com/eaaDev/TimePoint.html


> ---> "12 a.m." or "12 p.m." - Because "a.m." is the abbreviation for
> "ante meridiem" (before the meridian) and "p.m." is the abbreviation for
> "post meridiem" (after the meridian)

In the same pedantic vein of argumentation, it is impossible to consider 
exactly 12:00:00 am or 12:00:00 pm. Unless you have the power of measuring 
infinitesimally small fragments of time. Even nanoseconds is too large a 
measure. For as soon as the clock strikes 12 (or digitally displays) as 
soon as you register it and a comparative eon before the clock displays 
it's next unit of measure, the fleeting instant of 12:00:00.0000000 has 
long passed.

For a simpler argument against the pedantic complaint of "Which 12 is 
which?" simply consider this: Is 12:00:01 am or pm? Which ever it is, it 
stands to reason (and by definition) the 12:00:00 preceding it was the 
same. So, if 12:00:01pm occurs when the sun is up, 12:00:00 does as well.

This annoying existential argument about the nature of clocks and time is 
matched only in futility by whether 12:00am is 24:00 or 00:00 on a 24-hr 
clock. Or perhaps whether decades and millennia begin in years 1 or 0.

> How'd I get this way? From years and years of bosses who didn't have a
> _grasp_ of the English language, they had it by the throat!

Unfortunately, arguing the inconsequential and jousting against the 
windmills of common usage, or that more annoying philosophical trait of 
arguing improbable or rationally impossible paradoxes, does nothing to 
boost one's credibility or popularity. 

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

This e-mail communication (and any attachment/s) may contain confidential 
or privileged information and is intended only for the individual(s) or 
entity named above and to others who have been specifically authorized to 
receive it. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, 
copy, use or disclose the contents of this communication to others. Please 
notify the sender that you have received this e-mail in error by reply 
e-mail, and delete the e-mail subsequently. Please note that in order to 
protect the security of our information systems an AntiSPAM solution is in 
use and will browse through incoming emails. 
Thank you. 
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 


Ce message (ainsi que le(s) fichier/s), transmis par courriel, peut 
contenir des renseignements confidentiels ou protégés et est destiné à 
l?usage exclusif du destinataire ci-dessus. Toute autre personne est par 
les présentes avisée qu?il est strictement interdit de le diffuser, le 
distribuer ou le reproduire. Si vous l?avez reçu par inadvertance, 
veuillez nous en aviser et détruire ce message. Veuillez prendre note 
qu'une solution antipollupostage (AntiSPAM) est utilisée afin d'assurer la 
sécurité de nos systems d'information et qu'elle furètera les courriels 
entrant.
Merci. 
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.