This is something I don't understand. In our number system(s) we have the value of numbers ordered from right to left in increasing importance/value, but they are read from left to right since the leftmost position is the "most significant" - the largest - number. How come american (and perhaps others) dates are expressed in a completely illogical order where the middle-most "number" (month) is expressed first, then the "least significant" number (day) and finally the "most significant" (year)? Wouldn't "y m d" (disregarding separators or represenation) be the most natural order?