Thank you David: although your reply didn't answer my Q., it has opened up an interesting topic for debate.
Date formats: personally, I prefer the American system. Why? Because to me, the month name is more significant than the day number and my mind likes to process data with the most significant 'data bit' first - same as reading a large number: thousands, hundreds, tens then units. (Probably the mathematician in me
). So, on that basis, why don't I use the format year / month / day number (as is used in some European countries) I hear you say? In a word, habit; habit that seems to over-rule logic. 
However, to avoid confusion and misunderstanding (to others, as well as for myself) I do avoid the all-number format, e.g. 9/11/2013 for 11 September 2013: I write Sept. 11, 2013 instead. Perhaps I should start to write 2013, Sept. 9 to be consistent? I will start to give that some serious thought: it is more logical; to me, it feels more 'comfortable'.
Large number representations. To me, one billion is one million million. I've always used that definition (and will continue to do so) since it is mathematically correct: 'bi', as a prefix = two. So using the word 'billion' to represent one thousand million is clearly wrong; I don't consider that that can be logically argued against.
The use of 'k' to represent 1,000 as an abbreviation in monetary expressions. Usually what I have seen is "£20k": again, that's logical. The examples that Joe gives I have never met - and again, in terms of mathematical syntax, they're quite incorrect.
"But Captain, that's not logical!" muttered Skywave as he checked his ears for long pointed ends.
Al. / 2013, July 26.
Date formats: personally, I prefer the American system. Why? Because to me, the month name is more significant than the day number and my mind likes to process data with the most significant 'data bit' first - same as reading a large number: thousands, hundreds, tens then units. (Probably the mathematician in me
). So, on that basis, why don't I use the format year / month / day number (as is used in some European countries) I hear you say? In a word, habit; habit that seems to over-rule logic. However, to avoid confusion and misunderstanding (to others, as well as for myself) I do avoid the all-number format, e.g. 9/11/2013 for 11 September 2013: I write Sept. 11, 2013 instead. Perhaps I should start to write 2013, Sept. 9 to be consistent? I will start to give that some serious thought: it is more logical; to me, it feels more 'comfortable'.Large number representations. To me, one billion is one million million. I've always used that definition (and will continue to do so) since it is mathematically correct: 'bi', as a prefix = two. So using the word 'billion' to represent one thousand million is clearly wrong; I don't consider that that can be logically argued against.
The use of 'k' to represent 1,000 as an abbreviation in monetary expressions. Usually what I have seen is "£20k": again, that's logical. The examples that Joe gives I have never met - and again, in terms of mathematical syntax, they're quite incorrect.
"But Captain, that's not logical!" muttered Skywave as he checked his ears for long pointed ends.
Al. / 2013, July 26.
