I am amused. This should be a simple task; telling the client in Qatar what time our meeting starts in Indiana.
I found out that this state has been arguing about the time for nearly two centuries. Some people who have ties back to New York want Eastern Standard Time. Others, who work with Chicago, want Central Standard Time. Some want to observe Daylight Savings Time like most of the U.S. And others, primarily rural areas, don’t want Daylight Savings Time so they can knock off work at dark and still have time for the kids. The end result is that there are the equivalent of four separate time zones.
My hotel is in New Michigan, Indiana. My meeting is in New Buffalo, Michigan. They are in two separate time zones, 5 minutes from each other. The meeting starts at 9:30am so I’ll have to leave the hotel by 10:15am to get there in time.
I checked the time with the desk clerk last night who told me is was 7:30pm. I set my watch to 7:30. I get to my room on the second floor, and the digital clock here says it’s 6:30. It’s very possible the second floor is on a different time zone than the first floor.
My PDA/phone detected the various times as I travel. It helpfully reorganizes appointments to the new times. Flights that should leave at 1pm are now on my calendar as departing at 2pm. I’ll call Continental and let them know their flight has been delayed, they probably don’t know yet.
My computer currently says it’s 8:00am. My watch says it’s 9:00am. The digital clock now says 9:00am, but I can’t remember if I reset it last night; I think I did. My cell phone says it’s 9:00am. The meeting is at 10:00. I’m sitting in my t-shirt wondering if I’m late or whether I have another hour or two.
What time is it in Indiana? I’m pretty sure I can narrow it down to the best 3 answers. Now I just have to call the client and tell him either a) the meeting starts in an hour, or b) we missed it.
Chasing the Wind 
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