time T

/ti:m T/ An unspecified but usually well-understood time,

often used in conjunction with a later time T+1. "We'll meet

on campus at time T or at Louie's at time T+1" means, in the

context of going out for dinner: "We can meet on campus and go

to Louie's, or we can meet at Louie's itself a bit later."

(Louie's was a Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto that was a

favourite with hackers.) Had the number 30 been used instead

of the number 1, it would have implied that the travel time

from campus to Louie's is 30 minutes; whatever time T is (and

that hasn't been decided on yet), you can meet half an hour

later at Louie's than you could on campus and end up eating at

the same time.

See also since time T equals minus infinity.

[Jargon File]

(1994-12-12)