On 07/05/2004 14:53, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
...
So the database aliases one to the other. Aliases are used for timezones
that are compeltely equivalent on the whole timeframe considered
(apparently only starting in the early years of last century).
The cutoff date is 1970-01-01; if two timezones have been the same ever since
then, they are not separately encoded *unless* they are in separate national
jurisdictions (because after all it is the nation-state which sets up the
rules). This date is the Posix zero point.
It is not always the nation-state which sets the rules. For example, in
Australia each state sets its own rules; and so there are six different
schemes with half hour differences, some daylight saving and some
without. It is not only possible but quite likely that new distinctions
will be introduced in time zones which have been the same since 1970;
e.g. very likely New South Wales and Victoria have been in the same time
zone ever since then, but there is a real chance that NSW will abolish
daylight saving but Victoria will not. So don't assume too quickly that
time zones will not be split.
--
Peter Kirk
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (personal)
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (work)
http://www.qaya.org/
