Re: Re: [FeedValidator] What timezones should be valid?

>> Don't I loose alot of information about my timezone, by only
>> referencing an offset? What about Daylight Saving etc...

You're assuming that information would be something you could reliably 
extract from such a thing.  You cannot.  It's a common mistake, to assume 
timezone info connotes anything other than time.  It doesn't indicate region 
or any other geographic data.  Lots of folks make this assumption, however 
incorrect it continues to be.  It'd be nice if geo-data was available, but 
the timezone isn't the place to get it.

As for DST calculations, those can't be extracted from this either.  DST 
varies FAR MORE than you can possibly imagine.  A good number of programming 
tools actually get it wrong when making calculations based on timezone 
during a different interval (as in, summer timestamps during a winter tz 
offset).

In the end you're far better off using the numeric offsets.  Which are 
offsets from UTC, as it's actually possible for GMT itself to be offset due 
to daylight savings.  Yes, you will get a big headache learning what a mess 
timezones really are...

-Bill Kearney 



 
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