What do the terms "today" and "tomorrow" mean? Comments on Stories, posted by Alamo Ron, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 26, 2010 at 7:53 am
Just a suggestion for the editor:
Don't use headlines with an indeterminate date such as, "Today is the last day to register for the June 8 primary election" or "Tonight's Planning Commission meeting is canceled."
Since articles stay on your website for several days, terms like "today" and "tonight" quickly lose their meaning. Use date-specific terms instead: "May 24 is the last day to register."
Posted by Ralph N. Shirlet, a resident of another community, on May 26, 2010 at 9:42 am Ralph N. Shirlet is a member (registered user) of Danville Express
Dear Emily,
In celebration of alamorons, as Alamo's unique brand of oxymoron, today is tomorrow's yesterday and every day in Alamo is yesterday as we celebrate a long-absent semi-rural community. So if you decide to switch to dates in your articles be sure to include the year because in Alamo not only is everything 11 minutes late it is also always 1984.
Posted by Alamo Ron, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 26, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Ralph is correct in his assessment of "Alamo Time." It's different here.
Regarding dates and times, I had a discussion with a gentleman this past Monday on what "next Wednesday" means. He said he would see me "next Wednesday" for our meeting. I pointed out that our meeting was scheduled for May 26 and that "next Wednesday" is June 2.
This confused him. He insisted that "next Wednesday" is the first Wednesday that comes up from today. He wuz wrong. The first Wednesday that comes up is THIS Wednesday, May 26. NEXT Wednesday is the NEXT Wednesday after the one coming up (which is THIS Wednesday).
Note that this is only true in Alamo, where we don't know if we are coming or going, or if we are next or first.
Posted by Ralph N. Shirlet, a resident of another community, on May 26, 2010 at 1:50 pm Ralph N. Shirlet is a member (registered user) of Danville Express
Dear Emily,
We are very close to explaining the second Tuesday of next week as can happen in Alamo. But first, let's clarify the difference between Last Friday, Past Friday and This Friday.
Last Friday is the Friday of the previous week. Past Friday is any Friday in 1984. This Friday is quite confusing because it can mean Last Friday or the next Friday to occur. Let's illustrate with a quiz: To what Friday is the commentator referring?
"This Friday it rained?"
"This past Friday it rained?"
"Past Friday (often said as "Friday Past") it rained?"
"Last Friday it rained?"
As for the second Tuesday of next week? It occurs on any other day of the week when Alamo was too late for Tuesday itself. All time in Alamo is relative but quite unrelated.
Do I make myself clear?
So as an editor, how do you report events in Alamo Time. At present, it is 1:43PM May 26, 2010 Pacific Daylight Time. But in Alamo it is 1:32PM, May 25, 2010. It is somewhat like Singapore Time where it is 4:43AM, May 27, 2010.
Posted by beckyjean, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on May 26, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Actually, I too find the use of today, tomorrow to be confusing on your website. If only people who matter are Ralph and your other "regulars" then feel free to ignore this comment.
Posted by Alamo Ron, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on May 27, 2010 at 8:09 am
The terminology is a journalistic carry-over from the days of printed newspapers. If the headline in the paper said, "Today is the last day to license your pet tiger," it was good for that day's edition only. That edition then became the next day's fish-wrap and your tiger became illegal.
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