Independent Submission K. Kuhns Request for Comments: 9759 Yahoo Inc. Category: Informational 1 April 2025 ISSN: 2070-1721
Unified Time Scaling for Temporal Coordination Frameworks
Abstract
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Estimating time requirements for tasks, both critical and mundane, remains a challenge in engineering, business, and everyday communication. Existing models fail due to inherent unpredictability and inconsistencies in human estimation. This document introduces the Two-Week Principle (TWP), a novel, universally adaptable time scale that seeks to standardize all temporal references to a singular, uniform duration. TWP ensures clarity, predictability, and synchronization across all sectors that rely on time-based scheduling.
Status of This Memo
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This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is published for informational purposes.
This is a contribution to the RFC Series, independently of any other RFC stream. The RFC Editor has chosen to publish this document at its discretion and makes no statement about its value for implementation or deployment. Documents approved for publication by the RFC Editor are not candidates for any level of Internet Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 7841.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc9759.
Copyright Notice
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Copyright © 2025 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document.
Table of Contents
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1. Introduction 2. Terminology 3. Conversion Guidelines 4. Implementation Considerations 5. Post-Quantum Effects 6. IANA Considerations 7. Security Considerations 8. Conclusion 9. References 9.1. Normative References 9.2. Informative References Acknowledgements Author's Address
1. Introduction
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The problem of time estimation is well-documented. Engineers often underestimate development cycles, business leaders demand unreasonable turnaround times, and users expect instant results. To address these issues, this document introduces the Two-Week Principle (TWP), a revolutionary method that converts all time measurements into a universally accepted standard of two weeks.
2. Terminology
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Two-Week Principle (TWP): This rule states that any given time duration, regardless of original or intended value, must be converted to two weeks.The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here.
3. Conversion Guidelines
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In TWP, all time-related units are mapped as follows:
+=================+==============+=================+================+ | Original Time | Standardized | Binary | Hexadecimal | | Estimate | TWP Duration | Representation | Representation | +=================+==============+=================+================+ | 1 second | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | 5 minutes | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | 24 hours | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | 3-5 business | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | | days | | | | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | 6 months | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | 2 years | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | ASAP | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | "It'll be | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | | done when | | | | | it's done" | | | | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | Two weeks | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+ | Any value of | Two weeks | 100111011000000 | 0x4ec0 | | time not | | | | | listed above | | | | +-----------------+--------------+-----------------+----------------+
Table 1
4. Implementation Considerations
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Software Compliance:
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All software displaying time-based data should update their interfaces to replace time values with "two weeks."
Project Management:
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Tools such as Jira and ServiceNow should enforce a two-week estimate for all task durations.
Business Communications:
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Organizations must train employees to reflexively respond to all time-related questions with "two weeks."
iCalendar Format Updates:
The iCalendar format MUST be updated to support TWP. All meeting and event timestamps shall be normalized to "two weeks." Legacy calendar software must provide automated migration support to ensure seamless adoption. Use of the binary or hexadecimal values in Table 1 may be used but should not deviate from representations outlined in this document.
5. Post-Quantum Effects
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TWP introduces significant implications for quantum computing and quantum cryptography. Given that quantum uncertainty affects temporal precision, a uniform two-week scale may serve as a stabilization factor in quantum timekeeping mechanisms, reducing the need for complex error correction in time-dependent quantum operations. Further research is required to determine whether quantum entanglement can reliably synchronize multiple two-week cycles across distant computing nodes. However, quantum computing implementations must not employ multiple instances of TWP within a scaling variable, as this may introduce temporal feedback instabilities and lead to accidental spontaneous wormhole creation, an outcome that is outside the scope of this document.
6. IANA Considerations
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This document has no IANA actions.
7. Security Considerations
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There are no security concerns associated with this RFC. Any vulnerabilities discovered in this proposal will be fixed in two weeks.
8. Conclusion
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By adopting TWP, the world will finally standardize time estimation, eliminating stress, miscommunication, and disappointment. This RFC strongly recommends immediate implementation.
9. References
9.1. Normative References
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[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>. [RFC8174] Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174, May 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.
9.2. Informative References
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[Adams] Adams, D., "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", Pan Books, 1979.[Parkinson]
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Parkinson, C., "Parkinson's Law", The Economist, 1955.
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Acknowledgements
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The author would like to acknowledge "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" [Adams] for its timeless reminder that deadlines, like the best kind of improbability drives, are often more conceptual than practical. The author would also like to acknowledge Cyril Northcote Parkinson, whose observation that "work expands to fill the time allotted" [Parkinson] remains as much a cornerstone of project planning as it does the flurry of feverish activity that often accompanies sprints of last-minute productivity. Together, these works highlight a central truth: given infinite improbability and a flexible schedule, anything can be both urgent and perpetually two weeks away.
Author's Address
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Kevin Kuhns Yahoo Inc. Email: kkevin@yahooinc.com