Time, the Meridiem, and the Metric System

I just heard that the Hive is switching to the 24 clock. I applaud this whole-heartedly.  I have long been a fan of 24 hour time (although I dislike that it is called 'military time' in the United States - c'mon people: the rest of the world is on 24 hour time!).

Time is originally based off of a 6 hour shadow clock that spans the ante meridiem (AM) which you then rotate 180 degrees to catch the 6 hours post meridiem (PM).







 So I get the historic appeal of AM/PM for the daylight hours.  However, the night-time never had such a distinction!  Also, high noon is the meridiem and so is neither post nor ante!  Anyone who thinks that noon and midnight have 'obvious' AM or PM associations are just wrong!



Just like the metric system updated all the quaint but fuzzy old measurement units, the 24 hour clock gets rid of the antiquated AM/PM distinctions.  We have 24 hour days that end at midnight. Period.  The countries that sadly still use the AM/PM are the same ones that held onto the imperial units for the longest:  former British colonies.


Sigh, I guess we are doomed to use AM/PM for as long as we continue to buy milk in gallons...