In alt.engineering.electrical, sci.physics, and alt.astronomy,
Alex Coleman ) wrote:

(1) I see several worthy attempts to write the time in a 24-hour
format. Does a definitive format exist?

Yes. RFC 2822. You're soaking in it now!

RFC 2822 is like RFC 822, except it keeps working after AD 99.

I want to leave out the seconds. Also note that I am NOT referring
to computer conventions of any sort.

Oh. Well, I suppose you could make two semaphore flags and hold them
at various angles to indicate which way the big hand and little hand go.

QUESTION: If it is 11 minutes past six in the evening then what is
the correct format?

1816 hrs
18:16 hrs
18:16 hours
18:16 h
18:16
18.16
18-16

Does it vary between being written by a word processor and by hand?
See below.

Hey, have you met our friend "Mr. 999 Centillion"? Maybe you and he
could refer to a computer convention together. Or perhaps a "Star Trek"
convention.

By the way, "16" is not a very good way to write "11", unless you're
using base 5, in which case you're going to go to jail for trying to
use the digit "6" which doesn't even exist in base 5. Stop trying
to confuse the issue with imaginary digits!

(2) What is the correct way to write a decimal point?

By using the sharp end of the pencil, not the rubber end. Remember,
if it's a "6H" pencil, the "H" stands for "Hard", so you might want
to start with an "Easy" pencil. Less chance of poking your eye out.

I am English and that means that a comma is not the correct symbol
for the decomal point.

Of course, 'cause England doesn't use decimals any more. They use Metric.
So a comma is no longer called a "point" but a dot is now called a "comma"
which is why in England "dot com" is pronounced "comma dotta". That's also
in one of the RFCs, probably the one down the street from me that used
to be a Popeye's.

But ISTR that when the decimal point was written by hand it was in
the air about half the height of the digits.

Now that's an impressive trick. How did they keep it from blowing away?
Also, how much does it reduce your postage if you write a whole letter
using that special ink that hovers in the air? Are you Harry Potter?

Typewriters and word prorcessors did not offer that half-way
character so a full stop was used. But is it more correct to
handwrite the decimal point as half way up the height of the digits?

Halfway up the one to the left, or halfway up the one to the right?
This is important because you might have multiple sizes of digits if you
want your gasoline's price to end in "point nine point nine point nine".

-- K.

So do you have any exciting
math theories based on the
research of Jack Bauer?