Time worry<\/p>\n
The letter by Behme on Indonesian time (The Jakarta Post,
\nSept. 10, 1995) reminds me of a story I learned while a student
\nin the mid 1950s. It happened that somebody wanted to know
\nexactly how much two times two actually is. So he flew abroad to
\nfind out from people he met in different countries.<\/p>\n
When he landed in Frankfurt he asked the first German he met,
\nwho just happened to be a mathematician. "Mein Herr," he said, "I
\nam doing research to find out how much two times two actually is.
\nCould you give me the answer?"<\/p>\n
"No doubt about it," said the German. "It is exactly four, no
\nmore, no less."<\/p>\n
Taking note of this, he took off to New York and the first
\nAmerican he asked was an engineer. At that time there was no
\nportable calculators so the engineer pulled out his slide rule.
\nAfter a small operation the engineer answered, "Well, it is
\nactually between 3.9 and 4.1, but most probably it is four."<\/p>\n
Still curious he asked the first Japanese he met at Haneda
\nAirport the same question. The Japanese man happened to be a
\nbanker. "I am deeply sorry," the banker responded with a deep
\nbow, "but is it buying or selling?"<\/p>\n
Now this fellow was getting confused, so he returned to
\nJakarta still unsatisfied. While sipping his kopi kocok telor
\ndengan madu (coffee with raw egg and honey) he complained to an
\nIndonesian sitting next to him who looked very well-dressed and
\nseemed to be very intelligent.<\/p>\n
"Well Bung," he addressed this person, "I have been traveling
\nfor a week now to Germany, the U.S. and Japan to find out how
\nmuch two times two actually is, but I got different answers. I
\nwonder whether you can help me in this matter?"<\/p>\n
With a big smile and his hands opened, the gentleman said
\n"Well, friend, what's the worry? How much do you want? Leave it
\nto me. It all can be arranged."<\/p>\n
The gist of the story is, reader Behme, there are many answers
\nto a simple question. It is for you to find out which one is the
\nmost trustworthy. In your case, when I was in elementary school
\nbefore World War II, my teacher told me that the international
\ntime follows Greenwich Mean Time. Later I learned that the BBC
\nalways broadcasts GMT up to the second.<\/p>\n
Now, when I want to be ready for a party, I use the time in my
\nbedroom which is 30 minutes early to give my wife ample time to
\nget ready. For other purposes, well, what's the worry? After all
\nthese time checkers are themselves not worried whether their time
\nis right or not.<\/p>\n
M. ANWAR IBRAHIM<\/p>\n
South Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-worry-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }