I can also know the time to within a few minutes when I don't need to know the time. Except when I'm working on the computer: then, I lose all track of time. Like I'm doing now.
I like the story I heard once of a Frenchman being guided by an Arab camel-herder across a desert. The Frenchman asked what time it was, and the herder shaded his eyes and looked up at the sun, and replied, "We have enough light to reach our destination. If you want to know the time, look at your watch." The herder doesn't measure time; he measures light.
I will enjoy this series. For what it's worth, here are some of my own contributions on the subject:
https://endlesschain.substack.com/p/time-it-flexes-like-a-whore
https://endlesschain.substack.com/p/what-did-the-railways-ever-do-for - on the benefits and disadvantages of knowing what time it is.
I can also know the time to within a few minutes when I don't need to know the time. Except when I'm working on the computer: then, I lose all track of time. Like I'm doing now.
I like the story I heard once of a Frenchman being guided by an Arab camel-herder across a desert. The Frenchman asked what time it was, and the herder shaded his eyes and looked up at the sun, and replied, "We have enough light to reach our destination. If you want to know the time, look at your watch." The herder doesn't measure time; he measures light.
Ahh - brilliant - thank you! I love that!
The standardisation of times will be mentioned in Time 3!
There are Roman comedies where a country guy laments that the merciless sundial chops up his days into hours.
Oooo - I had closed down Time 2, but this is great, I have found the quotes and add them in (and thank you, of course!)