when does today become tomorrow

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 07:35 PM

In Groundhog Day, staying up past midnight didn't work - the day lasted as long as he was awake and alive, and began again when he woke up again. The same day in this case. This seems more logical than worrying about clocks.

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Blowzabella
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 07:34 PM

I'm with you on that one PoppaGator - and i congratulate myself for having understood it - at this time of night - or, as it is 12.33am, is it tomorrow yet?

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: PoppaGator
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 05:14 PM

I always thought that both noon and midnight are *neither* am nor pm, and I contend that correct usage demands employment of the word "noon" or "midnight," without any suffix, instead of the number "12" (with either suffix).

I would contend that "12 am" and "12 pm" constitute incorrect use of language, and have observed that those who use these constructions do not use them consistently (i.e, "12 am" could mean *either* noon or midnight, depending upon the source).

Insofar as the "m" in "am/pm" stands for "meridian," meaning "noon," noon itself cannot be 12 hours before itself (ante meridian) or after itself (post meridian). Midnight, on the other hand, is *both* 12 hours before *and* 12 hours after noon.

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: open mike
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:50 PM

in the next second after 11:59:59 p.m.
or 23:59:59----at 00:00:00 hours that is
when the days change from yesterday to tomorrow
or rather from today to tomorrow..
in other words it really never gets to be 24:00
or twenty four hundred hours...

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: artbrooks
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:13 PM

And, for that matter, why does time go from 11 P.M. (post meridian, or after noon)...ok, so its 11 hours after noon...to 12 A.M. (anti-meridian, before noon)...so then, that would be 12 hours before noon, I'll go along with that...to 1 A.M! One hour before noon? I don't think so! And then noon is 12 P.M.---12 hours before itself? No wonder kids have such trouble learning to tell time!!!

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 02:04 PM

William solved this in his "Pragmatism"...he tells the story of several men out camping when they saw a squirrel on a tree. They tried to get a better look, but the squirrel kept moving to keep the tree between himself and the men, so they fell to arguing whether they were walking "around" the squirrel or not, since the squirrel was always facing them.

One man (the Philosopher)came in late and told them simply that there IS no absolute answer, but it simple depended on a decision to adopt a common definition. If you all decide to mean by "around", being first to the north of the squirrel, then to the other directions, then the answer is yes, you were going around the squirrel (that is, the tree was the referent). If, however, you mean getting to the place you can see the squirrel's back, then the answer is 'no'. That sort of issue, which the 'time' question falls under, is a Pragmatic solution.

If you can't DECIDE, see the Existentialism thread..

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 12:45 PM

OK you got that Muppett? Next time you're up until 4am singing just tell everyone you'll see them in a highly amorphous sheaf of possibilities! Sounds like your average folk festival!!!

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 12:43 PM

One timekeeping is as natural as the other. Both use the earth day as a unit (instead of something artificial) they only use a different starting point in the ever repeating cycles. There is nothing unnatural about using a different starting point. Similar in the year. We use the natural year as a unit, most other cultures only have different starting points (like, for instance, spring).

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Amos
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 12:23 PM

Well, the short answer to the thread is "Never". Today is today. There is in fact no such place as tomorrow except as an abstract construction. At least, it is a highly amorphous sheaf of possibilities if it exists.

A

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Jeanie
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 12:15 PM

It would be much simpler all round if we followed the example of earlier traditions and saw sunset and sunrise as the changeover times from one day to the next. The early English did this: At sundown of Tiw's day (Tiwesdæg), Tuesday became "Woden's Eve" (Wodnesniht). At sunrise, "Woden's Eve" became "Woden's day" (Wodnesdæg)... then came "Thunor's Eve" (Ðunresniht) and so on. I rather like this; keeps people in touch with the natural world, instead of artificial timekeeping. You get to 'hibernate' properly and naturally in the winter, too.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: Snuffy
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 12:14 PM

Tomorrow starts when you wake up ........

Or if you haven't slept, when everyone else wakes up.

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:55 AM

To Morrow

Robin

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: VIN
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:51 AM

In fact it reminds me of the song,
'yesterday, all me troubles seemed s'far away,
now it looks as though they're ere to stay,
so i reckon t'day, must be yesterday, nyaaaaa'.

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: VIN
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:44 AM

Who was it that said t'morrer never comes?

Subject: RE: when does today become tomorrow
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:42 AM

Check your TV Guide.

Here's something even better to ponder.

Why do people say they are going to take a sh*t, when in reality, they leave one?

Subject: when does today become tomorrow
From: muppett
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:40 AM

Here's a situation I'm sure many of you have been in, but what's the answer, You're up after midnight and you eventually decide to go to bed and you say 'see yer tomorrow' well when does it become tomorrow, when you next wake up or when it passes midnight again?