moin!

it is my custom when entering online chats or when others enter to wish people a "pleasant local time of day", which recognizes that the participants in the conversation may be spread out over many time zones.

one of my german friends told me this week "we have a word for that!"

it is "moin".

i think it will be very handy and for sure it takes fewer keystrokes.

moin!

nearly unrelated: one of my online friends made a project out of new year's eve, watching the clock and drinking a toast each hour on the hour to the people of each time zone as the day passed. "you don't have to drain the glass", she pointed out.  it is only important to make the salute.

it was a charming project. maybe one year a group of us scattered around the world will make similar observances together.