diff --git a/acceptreject.py b/acceptreject.py
index 0e100173f..788848667 100644
--- a/acceptreject.py
+++ b/acceptreject.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import time
 from posts import send_signed_json
 from flags import has_group_type
 from flags import url_permitted
-from utils import get_status_number
+from status import get_status_number
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import get_user_paths
 from utils import text_in_file
diff --git a/announce.py b/announce.py
index 5a49cc6f7..0da6bf1ee 100644
--- a/announce.py
+++ b/announce.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ __module_group__ = "ActivityPub"
 import os
 from flags import has_group_type
 from flags import url_permitted
+from status import get_status_number
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import get_user_paths
 from utils import has_object_string_object
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@ from utils import remove_domain_port
 from utils import remove_id_ending
 from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import get_full_domain
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import create_outbox_dir
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
diff --git a/auth.py b/auth.py
index 8c51fdb52..90abf1f2c 100644
--- a/auth.py
+++ b/auth.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from utils import data_dir
 from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import remove_eol
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 
 
 def _hash_password(password: str) -> str:
diff --git a/blocking.py b/blocking.py
index 66891993a..ab9320ca1 100644
--- a/blocking.py
+++ b/blocking.py
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ from session import create_session
 from flags import is_evil
 from flags import is_quote_toot
 from quote import get_quote_toot_url
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_user_paths
 from utils import contains_statuses
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import string_contains
-from utils import date_from_string_format
-from utils import date_utcnow
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import has_object_string
 from utils import has_object_string_object
diff --git a/blog.py b/blog.py
index d8309697f..273d531d9 100644
--- a/blog.py
+++ b/blog.py
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ from webapp_utils import html_footer
 from webapp_utils import get_post_attachments_as_html
 from webapp_utils import edit_text_area
 from webapp_media import add_embedded_elements
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from utils import replace_strings
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import remove_link_tracking
 from utils import get_url_from_post
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import text_in_file
diff --git a/cache.py b/cache.py
index 46143de8c..48ceec02f 100644
--- a/cache.py
+++ b/cache.py
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import get_file_case_insensitive
 from utils import get_user_paths
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_image_extensions
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from content import remove_script
 
 
diff --git a/categories.py b/categories.py
index 842eb3141..df6bff65c 100644
--- a/categories.py
+++ b/categories.py
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ __module_group__ = "RSS Feeds"
 
 import os
 import datetime
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from utils import data_dir
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_epoch
 from utils import replace_strings
 
 MAX_TAG_LENGTH = 42
diff --git a/content.py b/content.py
index a6e295aa8..b78098957 100644
--- a/content.py
+++ b/content.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import email.parser
 import urllib.parse
 from shutil import copyfile
 from dateutil.parser import parse
+from timeFunctions import convert_published_to_local_timezone
 from flags import is_pgp_encrypted
 from flags import contains_pgp_public_key
 from flags import is_float
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ from utils import binary_is_image
 from utils import get_content_from_post
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import get_user_paths
-from utils import convert_published_to_local_timezone
 from utils import has_object_dict
 from utils import valid_hash_tag
 from utils import dangerous_svg
diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index ee00af8d5..3cfc13aa9 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ from categories import load_city_hashtags
 from categories import update_hashtag_categories
 from languages import load_default_post_languages
 from searchable import load_searchable_by_default
+from timeFunctions import load_account_timezones
 from utils import set_accounts_data_dir
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import check_bad_path
 from utils import acct_handle_dir
 from utils import load_reverse_timeline
 from utils import load_min_images_for_accounts
-from utils import load_account_timezones
 from utils import load_translations_from_file
 from utils import load_bold_reading
 from utils import load_hide_follows
diff --git a/daemon_get.py b/daemon_get.py
index 4ae1ad76c..896e17450 100644
--- a/daemon_get.py
+++ b/daemon_get.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ from flags import is_corporate
 from flags import is_image_file
 from flags import is_artist
 from flags import is_blog_post
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from utils import replace_strings
 from utils import contains_invalid_chars
 from utils import save_json
diff --git a/daemon_get_post.py b/daemon_get_post.py
index 1e5c92b2a..223395e5c 100644
--- a/daemon_get_post.py
+++ b/daemon_get_post.py
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ from webapp_conversation import html_conversation_view
 from flags import is_public_post_from_url
 from flags import is_public_post
 from flags import is_premium_account
+from flags import can_reply_to
 from utils import get_instance_url
 from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import locate_post
 from utils import get_config_param
-from utils import can_reply_to
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_new_post_endpoints
 from utils import acct_dir
diff --git a/daemon_post_confirm.py b/daemon_post_confirm.py
index acaa03e2c..0a8172269 100644
--- a/daemon_post_confirm.py
+++ b/daemon_post_confirm.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import local_actor_url
-from utils import get_status_number
+from status import get_status_number
 from follow import unfollow_account
 from follow import send_follow_request
 from follow import remove_follower
diff --git a/daemon_post_newswire.py b/daemon_post_newswire.py
index cebd36dfb..efb243ad8 100644
--- a/daemon_post_newswire.py
+++ b/daemon_post_newswire.py
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ from utils import data_dir
 from utils import remove_id_ending
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import first_paragraph_from_string
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import locate_post
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import get_instance_url
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from httpheaders import redirect_headers
 from posts import is_moderator
 from content import extract_text_fields_in_post
diff --git a/daemon_post_profile.py b/daemon_post_profile.py
index 9dc371ce0..d54cfa270 100644
--- a/daemon_post_profile.py
+++ b/daemon_post_profile.py
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ from httpheaders import clear_login_details
 from flags import is_artist
 from flags import is_memorial_account
 from flags import is_premium_account
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
+from timeFunctions import set_account_timezone
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import set_premium_account
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import save_reverse_timeline
 from utils import set_minimize_all_images
-from utils import set_account_timezone
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import set_memorials
 from utils import get_memorials
 from utils import license_link_from_name
diff --git a/daemon_post_receive.py b/daemon_post_receive.py
index 8be560d90..82c119679 100644
--- a/daemon_post_receive.py
+++ b/daemon_post_receive.py
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ from city import get_spoofed_city
 from flags import is_image_file
 from flags import is_float
 from searchable import set_searchable_by
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_instance_url
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import remove_post_from_cache
diff --git a/delete.py b/delete.py
index c10b9a97e..2dfd3c63e 100644
--- a/delete.py
+++ b/delete.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ __module_group__ = "ActivityPub"
 
 import os
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
-from utils import date_from_numbers
 from utils import has_object_string
 from utils import remove_domain_port
 from utils import has_users_path
@@ -21,9 +20,10 @@ from utils import locate_post
 from utils import delete_post
 from utils import remove_moderation_post_from_index
 from utils import local_actor_url
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_epoch
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import date_from_numbers
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from session import post_json
 from webfinger import webfinger_handle
 from auth import create_basic_auth_header
diff --git a/flags.py b/flags.py
index 6a5c8ec17..326824fbe 100644
--- a/flags.py
+++ b/flags.py
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ __module_group__ = "Core"
 
 import os
 import re
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import get_published_date
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from utils import acct_dir
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_epoch
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import get_image_extensions
@@ -23,7 +25,6 @@ from utils import has_object_dict
 from utils import locate_post
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import has_object_string_type
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_reply_to
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import get_group_paths
@@ -636,3 +637,46 @@ def is_corporate(server_name: str) -> bool:
        'github' in server_lower:
         return True
     return False
+
+
+def can_reply_to(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
+                 post_url: str, reply_interval_hours: int,
+                 curr_date_str: str = None,
+                 post_json_object: {} = None) -> bool:
+    """Is replying to the given local post permitted?
+    This is a spam mitigation feature, so that spammers can't
+    add a lot of replies to old post which you don't notice.
+    """
+    if '/statuses/' not in post_url:
+        return True
+    if not post_json_object:
+        post_filename = locate_post(base_dir, nickname, domain, post_url)
+        if not post_filename:
+            # the post is not stored locally
+            return True
+        post_json_object = load_json(post_filename)
+    if not post_json_object:
+        return False
+    published = get_published_date(post_json_object)
+    if not published:
+        return False
+
+    pub_date = date_from_string_format(published, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
+    if not pub_date:
+        print('EX: can_reply_to unrecognized published date ' + str(published))
+        return False
+    if not curr_date_str:
+        curr_date = date_utcnow()
+    else:
+        curr_date = \
+            date_from_string_format(curr_date_str, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
+        if not curr_date:
+            print('EX: can_reply_to unrecognized current date ' +
+                  str(curr_date_str))
+            return False
+    hours_since_publication = \
+        int((curr_date - pub_date).total_seconds() / 3600)
+    if hours_since_publication < 0 or \
+       hours_since_publication >= reply_interval_hours:
+        return False
+    return True
diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 20173c554..5129d0d31 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -21,10 +21,7 @@ from utils import valid_nickname
 from utils import domain_permitted
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import follow_person
-from posts import send_signed_json
-from posts import get_person_box
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import is_account_dir
@@ -34,6 +31,9 @@ from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from utils import data_dir
+from status import get_status_number
+from posts import send_signed_json
+from posts import get_person_box
 from acceptreject import create_accept
 from acceptreject import create_reject
 from webfinger import webfinger_handle
diff --git a/happening.py b/happening.py
index 2f47f612e..23f972876 100644
--- a/happening.py
+++ b/happening.py
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ from flags import is_reminder
 from flags import is_public_post
 from utils import resembles_url
 from utils import replace_strings
-from utils import date_from_numbers
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import acct_handle_dir
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
@@ -27,10 +25,12 @@ from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import get_display_name
 from utils import delete_post
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import remove_eol
+from status import get_status_number
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_from_numbers
 from filters import is_filtered
 from context import get_individual_post_context
 from session import get_method
diff --git a/httpsig.py b/httpsig.py
index 05ac049fc..baaf7ef99 100644
--- a/httpsig.py
+++ b/httpsig.py
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import get_sha_256
 from utils import get_sha_512
 from utils import local_actor_url
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_epoch
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 
 
 def message_content_digest(message_body_json_str: str,
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index 3066a9e87..682e3799c 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import time
 import random
 from shutil import copyfile
 from linked_data_sig import verify_json_signature
+from flags import can_reply_to
 from flags import is_system_account
 from flags import is_blog_post
 from flags import is_recent_post
@@ -24,20 +25,19 @@ from flags import is_quote_toot
 from flags import url_permitted
 from quote import quote_toots_allowed
 from mitm import save_mitm_servers
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from utils import harmless_markup
 from utils import lines_in_file
-from utils import date_epoch
-from utils import date_utcnow
 from utils import contains_statuses
 from utils import get_actor_from_post_id
 from utils import acct_handle_dir
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import get_media_descriptions_from_post
 from utils import get_summary_from_post
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import domain_permitted
 from utils import get_reply_interval_hours
-from utils import can_reply_to
 from utils import get_base_content_from_post
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import remove_domain_port
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import remove_id_ending
 from utils import create_inbox_queue_dir
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import locate_post
@@ -63,6 +62,7 @@ from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import is_dm
 from utils import has_actor
+from status import get_status_number
 from httpsig import get_digest_algorithm_from_headers
 from httpsig import verify_post_headers
 from session import create_session
diff --git a/inbox_receive.py b/inbox_receive.py
index 4a733f062..b00f3cb92 100644
--- a/inbox_receive.py
+++ b/inbox_receive.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from flags import is_recent_post
 from flags import is_quote_toot
 from status import actor_status_expired
 from quote import get_quote_toot_url
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from utils import get_actor_from_post_id
 from utils import contains_invalid_actor_url_chars
 from utils import get_attributed_to
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import has_object_string_type
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import acct_dir
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import is_dm
 from utils import delete_cached_html
 from utils import harmless_markup
diff --git a/inbox_receive_undo.py b/inbox_receive_undo.py
index 4cb8018c4..34d5a8094 100644
--- a/inbox_receive_undo.py
+++ b/inbox_receive_undo.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ __module_group__ = "Timeline"
 
 import os
 from flags import has_group_type
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from utils import undo_announce_collection_entry
 from utils import has_object_dict
 from utils import remove_domain_port
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ from utils import remove_id_ending
 from utils import get_url_from_post
 from utils import undo_reaction_collection_entry
 from utils import remove_html
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import is_dm
 from utils import get_cached_post_filename
 from utils import load_json
diff --git a/linked_data_sig.py b/linked_data_sig.py
index 91eed7b84..f9e54651d 100644
--- a/linked_data_sig.py
+++ b/linked_data_sig.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import utils as hazutils
 from pyjsonld import normalize
 from context import has_valid_context
 from utils import get_sha_256
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 
 
 def _options_hash(doc: {}) -> str:
diff --git a/maps.py b/maps.py
index 45f0188d3..8524f7721 100644
--- a/maps.py
+++ b/maps.py
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ from utils import save_json
 from utils import locate_post
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import has_object_dict
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_epoch
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from session import get_resolved_url
 
 
diff --git a/media.py b/media.py
index 313f76f7e..f7230652c 100644
--- a/media.py
+++ b/media.py
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ import random
 from random import randint
 from hashlib import sha1
 from auth import create_password
-from utils import date_epoch
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from utils import safe_system_string
 from utils import get_base_content_from_post
 from utils import get_full_domain
diff --git a/newsdaemon.py b/newsdaemon.py
index 042ded59d..470fe481b 100644
--- a/newsdaemon.py
+++ b/newsdaemon.py
@@ -23,19 +23,19 @@ from newswire import get_dict_from_newswire
 # from posts import send_signed_json
 from posts import create_news_post
 from posts import archive_posts_for_person
-from utils import date_from_string_format
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from utils import valid_hash_tag
 from utils import get_base_content_from_post
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import dangerous_markup
 from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import data_dir
+from status import get_status_number
 from session import create_session
 from threads import begin_thread
 from webapp_hashtagswarm import store_hash_tags
diff --git a/newswire.py b/newswire.py
index c32287bc9..3518e5b16 100644
--- a/newswire.py
+++ b/newswire.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import errno
 from datetime import timedelta
 from datetime import timezone
 from collections import OrderedDict
-from utils import valid_post_date
+from timeFunctions import valid_post_date
 from categories import set_hashtag_category
 from flags import is_suspended
 from flags import is_local_network_address
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ from utils import image_mime_types_dict
 from utils import resembles_url
 from utils import get_url_from_post
 from utils import remove_zero_length_strings
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import acct_handle_dir
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
@@ -48,6 +47,7 @@ from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import escape_text
 from utils import unescaped_text
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from blocking import is_blocked_domain
 from blocking import is_blocked_hashtag
 from filters import is_filtered
diff --git a/outbox.py b/outbox.py
index 1e8e15c86..7a3be1456 100644
--- a/outbox.py
+++ b/outbox.py
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ from posts import send_to_named_addresses_thread
 from flags import is_featured_writer
 from flags import is_quote_toot
 from quote import quote_toots_allowed
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import get_post_attachments
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import contains_invalid_actor_url_chars
 from utils import get_attachment_property_value
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import has_object_string_type
 from utils import get_base_content_from_post
 from utils import has_object_dict
diff --git a/person.py b/person.py
index d0a00d518..ddae7520c 100644
--- a/person.py
+++ b/person.py
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ from roles import actor_roles_from_list
 from roles import get_actor_roles_list
 from media import process_meta_data
 from flags import is_image_file
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from utils import get_person_icon
 from utils import account_is_indexable
 from utils import get_image_mime_type
 from utils import get_instance_url
 from utils import get_url_from_post
-from utils import date_utcnow
 from utils import get_memorials
 from utils import is_account_dir
 from utils import valid_hash_tag
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ from utils import contains_invalid_actor_url_chars
 from utils import replace_users_with_at
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import remove_domain_port
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import valid_nickname
 from utils import load_json
@@ -77,6 +76,7 @@ from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import contains_statuses
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from utils import data_dir
+from status import get_status_number
 from session import get_json_valid
 from session import create_session
 from session import get_json
diff --git a/pgp.py b/pgp.py
index 7a392a31e..9dfdb13c1 100644
--- a/pgp.py
+++ b/pgp.py
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ from utils import get_occupation_skills
 from utils import get_url_from_post
 from utils import safe_system_string
 from utils import get_full_domain
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import replace_users_with_at
 from utils import remove_html
+from status import get_status_number
 from webfinger import webfinger_handle
 from posts import get_person_box
 from auth import create_basic_auth_header
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index 9d659cadb..64c6691f4 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ from flags import contains_private_key
 from flags import has_group_type
 from flags import is_premium_account
 from flags import url_permitted
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import valid_post_date
 from utils import resembles_url
 from utils import get_person_icon
 from utils import remove_post_from_index
@@ -50,9 +54,6 @@ from utils import get_actor_from_post_id
 from utils import string_contains
 from utils import get_post_attachments
 from utils import get_url_from_post
-from utils import date_from_string_format
-from utils import date_epoch
-from utils import date_utcnow
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import contains_statuses
 from utils import contains_invalid_actor_url_chars
@@ -76,10 +77,8 @@ from utils import reject_post_id
 from utils import remove_invalid_chars
 from utils import file_last_modified
 from utils import has_users_path
-from utils import valid_post_date
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import get_followers_list
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import create_person_dir
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
@@ -90,7 +89,6 @@ from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import locate_news_votes
-from utils import locate_news_arrival
 from utils import votes_on_newswire_item
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import dangerous_markup
@@ -99,6 +97,7 @@ from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import get_reply_to
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from utils import data_dir
+from status import get_status_number
 from media import get_music_metadata
 from media import attach_media
 from media import replace_you_tube
@@ -4840,6 +4839,39 @@ def remove_post_interactions(post_json_object: {}, force: bool) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def _locate_news_arrival(base_dir: str, domain: str,
+                         post_url: str) -> str:
+    """Returns the arrival time for a news post
+    within the news user account
+    """
+    post_url1 = post_url.strip()
+    post_url = remove_eol(post_url1)
+
+    # if this post in the shared inbox?
+    post_url = remove_id_ending(post_url.strip()).replace('/', '#')
+
+    if post_url.endswith('.json'):
+        post_url = post_url + '.arrived'
+    else:
+        post_url = post_url + '.json.arrived'
+
+    account_dir = data_dir(base_dir) + '/news@' + domain + '/'
+    post_filename = account_dir + 'outbox/' + post_url
+    if os.path.isfile(post_filename):
+        try:
+            with open(post_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_arrival:
+                arrival = fp_arrival.read()
+                if arrival:
+                    arrival_date = \
+                        date_from_string_format(arrival,
+                                                ["%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"])
+                    return arrival_date
+        except OSError:
+            print('EX: _locate_news_arrival unable to read ' + post_filename)
+
+    return None
+
+
 def _passed_newswire_voting(newswire_votes_threshold: int,
                             base_dir: str, domain: str,
                             post_filename: str,
@@ -4853,7 +4885,7 @@ def _passed_newswire_voting(newswire_votes_threshold: int,
     # note that the presence of an arrival file also indicates
     # that this post is moderated
     arrival_date = \
-        locate_news_arrival(base_dir, domain, post_filename)
+        _locate_news_arrival(base_dir, domain, post_filename)
     if not arrival_date:
         return True
     # how long has elapsed since this post arrived?
diff --git a/reading.py b/reading.py
index d48b4adbc..36283bafc 100644
--- a/reading.py
+++ b/reading.py
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import get_image_extensions
-from utils import date_epoch
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 
 
 def get_book_link_from_content(content: str) -> str:
diff --git a/roles.py b/roles.py
index 75ae900c6..2f9e8fbbc 100644
--- a/roles.py
+++ b/roles.py
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ import os
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import remove_domain_port
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import text_in_file
 from utils import get_config_param
+from status import get_status_number
 
 
 def _clear_role_status(base_dir: str, role: str) -> None:
diff --git a/schedule.py b/schedule.py
index 9641e9b18..ee5fce140 100644
--- a/schedule.py
+++ b/schedule.py
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@ __module_group__ = "Calendar"
 import os
 import time
 from utils import data_dir
-from utils import date_from_string_format
-from utils import date_epoch
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from utils import acct_handle_dir
 from utils import has_object_dict
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import is_account_dir
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import remove_eol
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from status import get_status_number
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 from outbox import post_message_to_outbox
 from session import create_session
 from threads import begin_thread
diff --git a/shares.py b/shares.py
index db3aab060..3abd181b6 100644
--- a/shares.py
+++ b/shares.py
@@ -24,18 +24,18 @@ from session import post_image
 from session import create_session
 from session import get_json_valid
 from flags import is_float
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_string_to_seconds
+from timeFunctions import date_seconds_to_string
 from utils import replace_strings
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import resembles_url
-from utils import date_utcnow
 from utils import dangerous_markup
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import get_media_extensions
 from utils import acct_handle_dir
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import has_object_string_type
-from utils import date_string_to_seconds
-from utils import date_seconds_to_string
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import get_full_domain
 from utils import valid_nickname
diff --git a/status.py b/status.py
index e7ba4c27c..bbbcf9f62 100644
--- a/status.py
+++ b/status.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ __module_group__ = "Core"
 __accounts_data_path__ = None
 __accounts_data_path_tests__ = False
 
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from utils import remove_html
 from unicodetext import standardize_text
 
@@ -66,3 +67,29 @@ def actor_status_expired(actor_status_json: {}) -> bool:
     if status_end_time < curr_time:
         return True
     return False
+
+
+def get_status_number(published_str: str = None) -> (str, str):
+    """Returns the status number and published date
+    """
+    if not published_str:
+        curr_time = date_utcnow()
+    else:
+        curr_time = \
+            date_from_string_format(published_str, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
+    days_since_epoch = (curr_time - date_epoch()).days
+    # status is the number of seconds since epoch
+    status_number = \
+        str(((days_since_epoch * 24 * 60 * 60) +
+             (curr_time.hour * 60 * 60) +
+             (curr_time.minute * 60) +
+             curr_time.second) * 1000 +
+            int(curr_time.microsecond / 1000))
+    # See https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/blob/
+    # 995f8b389a66ab76ec92d9a240de376f1fc13a38/lib/mastodon/snowflake.rb
+    # use the leftover microseconds as the sequence number
+    sequence_id = curr_time.microsecond % 1000
+    # shift by 16bits "sequence data"
+    status_number = str((int(status_number) << 16) + sequence_id)
+    published = curr_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
+    return status_number, published
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 057691720..b3d985489 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ from follow import send_follow_request_via_server
 from follow import send_unfollow_request_via_server
 from siteactive import site_is_active
 from siteactive import is_online
+from flags import can_reply_to
 from flags import contains_pgp_public_key
 from flags import is_group_actor
 from flags import is_group_account
@@ -72,27 +73,26 @@ from utils import data_dir
 from utils import data_dir_testing
 from utils import remove_link_tracking
 from utils import get_url_from_post
-from utils import date_from_string_format
-from utils import date_utcnow
 from utils import remove_markup_tag
 from utils import remove_style_within_html
 from utils import html_tag_has_closing
 from unicodetext import remove_inverted_text
 from unicodetext import remove_square_capitals
 from unicodetext import standardize_text
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import convert_published_to_local_timezone
+from timeFunctions import date_string_to_seconds
+from timeFunctions import date_seconds_to_string
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import text_in_file
-from utils import convert_published_to_local_timezone
 from utils import convert_to_snake_case
 from utils import get_sha_256
 from utils import dangerous_svg
-from utils import can_reply_to
 from utils import get_actor_languages_list
 from utils import get_category_types
 from utils import get_supported_languages
 from utils import set_config_param
-from utils import date_string_to_seconds
-from utils import date_seconds_to_string
 from utils import valid_password
 from utils import user_agent_domain
 from utils import camel_case_split
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import copytree
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import save_json
-from utils import get_status_number
 from utils import valid_hash_tag
 from utils import get_followers_of_person
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import dangerous_markup
 from utils import acct_dir
+from status import get_status_number
 from pgp import extract_pgp_public_key
 from pgp import pgp_public_key_upload
 from follow import add_follower_of_person
diff --git a/threads.py b/threads.py
index afaab880c..e35f6a3cf 100644
--- a/threads.py
+++ b/threads.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import threading
 import sys
 import time
 from socket import error as SocketError
-from utils import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
 
 
 class thread_with_trace(threading.Thread):
diff --git a/timeFunctions.py b/timeFunctions.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c8a41fd85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/timeFunctions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+__filename__ = "timeFunctions.py"
+__author__ = "Bob Mottram"
+__license__ = "AGPL3+"
+__version__ = "1.6.0"
+__maintainer__ = "Bob Mottram"
+__email__ = "bob@libreserver.org"
+__status__ = "Production"
+__module_group__ = "Core"
+
+import os
+import time
+import datetime
+from dateutil.tz import tz
+from utils import acct_dir
+from utils import data_dir
+from utils import has_object_dict
+
+
+def convert_published_to_local_timezone(published, timezone: str) -> str:
+    """Converts a post published time into local time
+    """
+    to_zone = None
+    from_zone = tz.gettz('UTC')
+    if timezone:
+        try:
+            to_zone = tz.gettz(timezone)
+        except BaseException:
+            pass
+    if not timezone or not to_zone:
+        return published
+
+    utc = published.replace(tzinfo=from_zone)
+    local_time = utc.astimezone(to_zone)
+    return local_time
+
+
+def _utc_mktime(utc_tuple):
+    """Returns number of seconds elapsed since epoch
+    Note that no timezone are taken into consideration.
+    utc tuple must be: (year, month, day, hour, minute, second)
+    """
+
+    if len(utc_tuple) == 6:
+        utc_tuple += (0, 0, 0)
+    return time.mktime(utc_tuple) - time.mktime((1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0))
+
+
+def _datetime_to_timestamp(dtime):
+    """Converts a datetime object to UTC timestamp"""
+    return int(_utc_mktime(dtime.timetuple()))
+
+
+def date_utcnow():
+    """returns the time now
+    """
+    return datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+
+def date_from_numbers(year: int, month: int, day: int,
+                      hour: int, mins: int):
+    """returns an offset-aware datetime
+    """
+    return datetime.datetime(year, month, day, hour, mins, 0,
+                             tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+
+def date_from_string_format(date_str: str, formats: []):
+    """returns an offset-aware datetime from a string date
+    """
+    if not formats:
+        formats = ("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %Z",
+                   "%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z",
+                   "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z")
+    dtime = None
+    for date_format in formats:
+        try:
+            dtime = \
+                datetime.datetime.strptime(date_str, date_format)
+        except BaseException:
+            continue
+        break
+    if not dtime:
+        return None
+    if not dtime.tzinfo:
+        dtime = dtime.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+    return dtime
+
+
+def date_epoch():
+    """returns an offset-aware version of epoch
+    """
+    return date_from_numbers(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0)
+
+
+def date_string_to_seconds(date_str: str) -> int:
+    """Converts a date string (eg "published") into seconds since epoch
+    """
+    expiry_time = \
+        date_from_string_format(date_str, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
+    if not expiry_time:
+        print('EX: date_string_to_seconds unable to parse date ' +
+              str(date_str))
+        return None
+    return _datetime_to_timestamp(expiry_time)
+
+
+def date_seconds_to_string(date_sec: int) -> str:
+    """Converts a date in seconds since epoch to a string
+    """
+    this_date = \
+        datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(date_sec, datetime.timezone.utc)
+    if not this_date.tzinfo:
+        this_date = this_date.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+    this_date_tz = this_date.astimezone(datetime.timezone.utc)
+    return this_date_tz.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
+
+
+def get_account_timezone(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str) -> str:
+    """Returns the timezone for the given account
+    """
+    tz_filename = \
+        acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/timezone.txt'
+    if not os.path.isfile(tz_filename):
+        return None
+    timezone = None
+    try:
+        with open(tz_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_timezone:
+            timezone = fp_timezone.read().strip()
+    except OSError:
+        print('EX: get_account_timezone unable to read ' + tz_filename)
+    return timezone
+
+
+def set_account_timezone(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
+                         timezone: str) -> None:
+    """Sets the timezone for the given account
+    """
+    tz_filename = \
+        acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/timezone.txt'
+    timezone = timezone.strip()
+    try:
+        with open(tz_filename, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_timezone:
+            fp_timezone.write(timezone)
+    except OSError:
+        print('EX: set_account_timezone unable to write ' +
+              tz_filename)
+
+
+def load_account_timezones(base_dir: str) -> {}:
+    """Returns a dictionary containing the preferred timezone for each account
+    """
+    account_timezone = {}
+    dir_str = data_dir(base_dir)
+    for _, dirs, _ in os.walk(dir_str):
+        for acct in dirs:
+            if '@' not in acct:
+                continue
+            if acct.startswith('inbox@') or acct.startswith('Actor@'):
+                continue
+            acct_directory = os.path.join(dir_str, acct)
+            tz_filename = acct_directory + '/timezone.txt'
+            if not os.path.isfile(tz_filename):
+                continue
+            timezone = None
+            try:
+                with open(tz_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_timezone:
+                    timezone = fp_timezone.read().strip()
+            except OSError:
+                print('EX: load_account_timezones unable to read ' +
+                      tz_filename)
+            if timezone:
+                nickname = acct.split('@')[0]
+                account_timezone[nickname] = timezone
+        break
+    return account_timezone
+
+
+def week_day_of_month_start(month_number: int, year: int) -> int:
+    """Gets the day number of the first day of the month
+    1=sun, 7=sat
+    """
+    first_day_of_month = date_from_numbers(year, month_number, 1, 0, 0)
+    return int(first_day_of_month.strftime("%w")) + 1
+
+
+def valid_post_date(published: str, max_age_days: int, debug: bool) -> bool:
+    """Returns true if the published date is recent and is not in the future
+    """
+    baseline_time = date_epoch()
+
+    days_diff = date_utcnow() - baseline_time
+    now_days_since_epoch = days_diff.days
+
+    post_time_object = \
+        date_from_string_format(published, ["%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"])
+    if not post_time_object:
+        if debug:
+            print('EX: valid_post_date invalid published date ' +
+                  str(published))
+        return False
+
+    days_diff = post_time_object - baseline_time
+    post_days_since_epoch = days_diff.days
+
+    if post_days_since_epoch > now_days_since_epoch:
+        if debug:
+            print("Inbox post has a published date in the future!")
+        return False
+
+    if now_days_since_epoch - post_days_since_epoch >= max_age_days:
+        if debug:
+            print("Inbox post is not recent enough")
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def time_days_ago(datestr: str) -> int:
+    """returns the number of days ago for the given date
+    """
+    date1 = \
+        date_from_string_format(datestr,
+                                ["%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"])
+    if not date1:
+        return 0
+    date_diff = date_utcnow() - date1
+    return date_diff.days
+
+
+def get_published_date(post_json_object: {}) -> str:
+    """Returns the published date on the given post
+    """
+    published = None
+    if post_json_object.get('published'):
+        published = post_json_object['published']
+    elif has_object_dict(post_json_object):
+        if post_json_object['object'].get('published'):
+            published = post_json_object['object']['published']
+    if not published:
+        return None
+    if not isinstance(published, str):
+        return None
+    return published
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index a74b807c3..23b5ec4fb 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import json
 import locale
 from pprint import pprint
 import idna
-from dateutil.tz import tz
 from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend
 from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import hashes
 from followingCalendar import add_person_to_calendar
@@ -65,64 +64,6 @@ def remove_zero_length_strings(text: str) -> str:
     return text.replace('​', '')
 
 
-def _utc_mktime(utc_tuple):
-    """Returns number of seconds elapsed since epoch
-    Note that no timezone are taken into consideration.
-    utc tuple must be: (year, month, day, hour, minute, second)
-    """
-
-    if len(utc_tuple) == 6:
-        utc_tuple += (0, 0, 0)
-    return time.mktime(utc_tuple) - time.mktime((1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0))
-
-
-def _datetime_to_timestamp(dtime):
-    """Converts a datetime object to UTC timestamp"""
-    return int(_utc_mktime(dtime.timetuple()))
-
-
-def date_utcnow():
-    """returns the time now
-    """
-    return datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
-
-
-def date_from_numbers(year: int, month: int, day: int,
-                      hour: int, mins: int):
-    """returns an offset-aware datetime
-    """
-    return datetime.datetime(year, month, day, hour, mins, 0,
-                             tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
-
-
-def date_from_string_format(date_str: str, formats: []):
-    """returns an offset-aware datetime from a string date
-    """
-    if not formats:
-        formats = ("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %Z",
-                   "%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z",
-                   "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z")
-    dtime = None
-    for date_format in formats:
-        try:
-            dtime = \
-                datetime.datetime.strptime(date_str, date_format)
-        except BaseException:
-            continue
-        break
-    if not dtime:
-        return None
-    if not dtime.tzinfo:
-        dtime = dtime.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
-    return dtime
-
-
-def date_epoch():
-    """returns an offset-aware version of epoch
-    """
-    return date_from_numbers(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0)
-
-
 def get_url_from_post(url_field) -> str:
     """Returns a url from a post object
     """
@@ -658,37 +599,6 @@ def has_users_path(path_str: str) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
-def valid_post_date(published: str, max_age_days: int, debug: bool) -> bool:
-    """Returns true if the published date is recent and is not in the future
-    """
-    baseline_time = date_epoch()
-
-    days_diff = date_utcnow() - baseline_time
-    now_days_since_epoch = days_diff.days
-
-    post_time_object = \
-        date_from_string_format(published, ["%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"])
-    if not post_time_object:
-        if debug:
-            print('EX: valid_post_date invalid published date ' +
-                  str(published))
-        return False
-
-    days_diff = post_time_object - baseline_time
-    post_days_since_epoch = days_diff.days
-
-    if post_days_since_epoch > now_days_since_epoch:
-        if debug:
-            print("Inbox post has a published date in the future!")
-        return False
-
-    if now_days_since_epoch - post_days_since_epoch >= max_age_days:
-        if debug:
-            print("Inbox post is not recent enough")
-        return False
-    return True
-
-
 def get_full_domain(domain: str, port: int) -> str:
     """Returns the full domain name, including port number
     """
@@ -1147,32 +1057,6 @@ def load_json_onionify(filename: str, domain: str, onion_domain: str,
     return json_object
 
 
-def get_status_number(published_str: str = None) -> (str, str):
-    """Returns the status number and published date
-    """
-    if not published_str:
-        curr_time = date_utcnow()
-    else:
-        curr_time = \
-            date_from_string_format(published_str, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
-    days_since_epoch = (curr_time - date_epoch()).days
-    # status is the number of seconds since epoch
-    status_number = \
-        str(((days_since_epoch * 24 * 60 * 60) +
-             (curr_time.hour * 60 * 60) +
-             (curr_time.minute * 60) +
-             curr_time.second) * 1000 +
-            int(curr_time.microsecond / 1000))
-    # See https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/blob/
-    # 995f8b389a66ab76ec92d9a240de376f1fc13a38/lib/mastodon/snowflake.rb
-    # use the leftover microseconds as the sequence number
-    sequence_id = curr_time.microsecond % 1000
-    # shift by 16bits "sequence data"
-    status_number = str((int(status_number) << 16) + sequence_id)
-    published = curr_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
-    return status_number, published
-
-
 def evil_incarnate() -> []:
     """Hardcoded blocked domains
     """
@@ -1866,39 +1750,6 @@ def locate_news_votes(base_dir: str, domain: str,
     return None
 
 
-def locate_news_arrival(base_dir: str, domain: str,
-                        post_url: str) -> str:
-    """Returns the arrival time for a news post
-    within the news user account
-    """
-    post_url1 = post_url.strip()
-    post_url = remove_eol(post_url1)
-
-    # if this post in the shared inbox?
-    post_url = remove_id_ending(post_url.strip()).replace('/', '#')
-
-    if post_url.endswith('.json'):
-        post_url = post_url + '.arrived'
-    else:
-        post_url = post_url + '.json.arrived'
-
-    account_dir = data_dir(base_dir) + '/news@' + domain + '/'
-    post_filename = account_dir + 'outbox/' + post_url
-    if os.path.isfile(post_filename):
-        try:
-            with open(post_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_arrival:
-                arrival = fp_arrival.read()
-                if arrival:
-                    arrival_date = \
-                        date_from_string_format(arrival,
-                                                ["%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"])
-                    return arrival_date
-        except OSError:
-            print('EX: locate_news_arrival unable to read ' + post_filename)
-
-    return None
-
-
 def locate_post(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                 post_url: str, replies: bool = False) -> str:
     """Returns the filename for the given status post url
@@ -1937,22 +1788,6 @@ def locate_post(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     return None
 
 
-def _get_published_date(post_json_object: {}) -> str:
-    """Returns the published date on the given post
-    """
-    published = None
-    if post_json_object.get('published'):
-        published = post_json_object['published']
-    elif has_object_dict(post_json_object):
-        if post_json_object['object'].get('published'):
-            published = post_json_object['object']['published']
-    if not published:
-        return None
-    if not isinstance(published, str):
-        return None
-    return published
-
-
 def get_reply_interval_hours(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                              default_reply_interval_hrs: int) -> int:
     """Returns the reply interval for the given account.
@@ -1994,49 +1829,6 @@ def set_reply_interval_hours(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     return False
 
 
-def can_reply_to(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
-                 post_url: str, reply_interval_hours: int,
-                 curr_date_str: str = None,
-                 post_json_object: {} = None) -> bool:
-    """Is replying to the given local post permitted?
-    This is a spam mitigation feature, so that spammers can't
-    add a lot of replies to old post which you don't notice.
-    """
-    if '/statuses/' not in post_url:
-        return True
-    if not post_json_object:
-        post_filename = locate_post(base_dir, nickname, domain, post_url)
-        if not post_filename:
-            # the post is not stored locally
-            return True
-        post_json_object = load_json(post_filename)
-    if not post_json_object:
-        return False
-    published = _get_published_date(post_json_object)
-    if not published:
-        return False
-
-    pub_date = date_from_string_format(published, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
-    if not pub_date:
-        print('EX: can_reply_to unrecognized published date ' + str(published))
-        return False
-    if not curr_date_str:
-        curr_date = date_utcnow()
-    else:
-        curr_date = \
-            date_from_string_format(curr_date_str, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
-        if not curr_date:
-            print('EX: can_reply_to unrecognized current date ' +
-                  str(curr_date_str))
-            return False
-    hours_since_publication = \
-        int((curr_date - pub_date).total_seconds() / 3600)
-    if hours_since_publication < 0 or \
-       hours_since_publication >= reply_interval_hours:
-        return False
-    return True
-
-
 def _remove_attachment(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
                        nickname: str, domain: str, post_json: {}) -> None:
     """Removes media files for an attachment
@@ -3106,14 +2898,6 @@ def update_announce_collection(recent_posts_cache: {},
     save_json(post_json_object, post_filename)
 
 
-def week_day_of_month_start(month_number: int, year: int) -> int:
-    """Gets the day number of the first day of the month
-    1=sun, 7=sat
-    """
-    first_day_of_month = date_from_numbers(year, month_number, 1, 0, 0)
-    return int(first_day_of_month.strftime("%w")) + 1
-
-
 def media_file_mime_type(filename: str) -> str:
     """Given a media filename return its mime type
     """
@@ -3149,18 +2933,6 @@ def media_file_mime_type(filename: str) -> str:
     return extensions[file_ext]
 
 
-def time_days_ago(datestr: str) -> int:
-    """returns the number of days ago for the given date
-    """
-    date1 = \
-        date_from_string_format(datestr,
-                                ["%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"])
-    if not date1:
-        return 0
-    date_diff = date_utcnow() - date1
-    return date_diff.days
-
-
 def camel_case_split(text: str) -> str:
     """ Splits CamelCase into "Camel Case"
     """
@@ -3526,29 +3298,6 @@ def valid_password(password: str, debug: bool) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
-def date_string_to_seconds(date_str: str) -> int:
-    """Converts a date string (eg "published") into seconds since epoch
-    """
-    expiry_time = \
-        date_from_string_format(date_str, ['%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z'])
-    if not expiry_time:
-        print('EX: date_string_to_seconds unable to parse date ' +
-              str(date_str))
-        return None
-    return _datetime_to_timestamp(expiry_time)
-
-
-def date_seconds_to_string(date_sec: int) -> str:
-    """Converts a date in seconds since epoch to a string
-    """
-    this_date = \
-        datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(date_sec, datetime.timezone.utc)
-    if not this_date.tzinfo:
-        this_date = this_date.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
-    this_date_tz = this_date.astimezone(datetime.timezone.utc)
-    return this_date_tz.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
-
-
 def get_currencies() -> {}:
     """Returns a dictionary of currencies
     """
@@ -3796,53 +3545,6 @@ def valid_hash_tag(hashtag: str) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
-def convert_published_to_local_timezone(published, timezone: str) -> str:
-    """Converts a post published time into local time
-    """
-    to_zone = None
-    from_zone = tz.gettz('UTC')
-    if timezone:
-        try:
-            to_zone = tz.gettz(timezone)
-        except BaseException:
-            pass
-    if not timezone or not to_zone:
-        return published
-
-    utc = published.replace(tzinfo=from_zone)
-    local_time = utc.astimezone(to_zone)
-    return local_time
-
-
-def load_account_timezones(base_dir: str) -> {}:
-    """Returns a dictionary containing the preferred timezone for each account
-    """
-    account_timezone = {}
-    dir_str = data_dir(base_dir)
-    for _, dirs, _ in os.walk(dir_str):
-        for acct in dirs:
-            if '@' not in acct:
-                continue
-            if acct.startswith('inbox@') or acct.startswith('Actor@'):
-                continue
-            acct_directory = os.path.join(dir_str, acct)
-            tz_filename = acct_directory + '/timezone.txt'
-            if not os.path.isfile(tz_filename):
-                continue
-            timezone = None
-            try:
-                with open(tz_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_timezone:
-                    timezone = fp_timezone.read().strip()
-            except OSError:
-                print('EX: load_account_timezones unable to read ' +
-                      tz_filename)
-            if timezone:
-                nickname = acct.split('@')[0]
-                account_timezone[nickname] = timezone
-        break
-    return account_timezone
-
-
 def load_bold_reading(base_dir: str) -> {}:
     """Returns a dictionary containing the bold reading status for each account
     """
@@ -3902,37 +3604,6 @@ def load_hide_recent_posts(base_dir: str) -> {}:
     return hide_recent_posts
 
 
-def get_account_timezone(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str) -> str:
-    """Returns the timezone for the given account
-    """
-    tz_filename = \
-        acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/timezone.txt'
-    if not os.path.isfile(tz_filename):
-        return None
-    timezone = None
-    try:
-        with open(tz_filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp_timezone:
-            timezone = fp_timezone.read().strip()
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: get_account_timezone unable to read ' + tz_filename)
-    return timezone
-
-
-def set_account_timezone(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
-                         timezone: str) -> None:
-    """Sets the timezone for the given account
-    """
-    tz_filename = \
-        acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/timezone.txt'
-    timezone = timezone.strip()
-    try:
-        with open(tz_filename, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_timezone:
-            fp_timezone.write(timezone)
-    except OSError:
-        print('EX: set_account_timezone unable to write ' +
-              tz_filename)
-
-
 def _is_onion_request(calling_domain: str, referer_domain: str,
                       domain: str, onion_domain: str) -> bool:
     """Do the given domains indicate that this is a request
diff --git a/webapp_calendar.py b/webapp_calendar.py
index 2f8a48b47..05057405c 100644
--- a/webapp_calendar.py
+++ b/webapp_calendar.py
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@ from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import locate_post
 from utils import load_json
-from utils import week_day_of_month_start
 from utils import get_alt_path
 from utils import remove_domain_port
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import replace_users_with_at
 from utils import language_right_to_left
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import week_day_of_month_start
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from happening import get_todays_events
 from happening import get_calendar_events
 from happening import get_todays_events_icalendar
diff --git a/webapp_column_right.py b/webapp_column_right.py
index ec0e1b959..9a6d6c708 100644
--- a/webapp_column_right.py
+++ b/webapp_column_right.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import remove_domain_port
 from utils import acct_dir
-from utils import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from posts import is_moderator
 from newswire import get_newswire_favicon_url
 from webapp_utils import get_right_image_file
diff --git a/webapp_confirm.py b/webapp_confirm.py
index 7516c1019..96cad6310 100644
--- a/webapp_confirm.py
+++ b/webapp_confirm.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from utils import load_json
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import get_alt_path
 from utils import acct_dir
-from utils import get_account_timezone
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from blocking import sending_is_blocked2
 from webapp_utils import set_custom_background
 from webapp_utils import html_header_with_external_style
diff --git a/webapp_create_post.py b/webapp_create_post.py
index d3384d295..5b9617a30 100644
--- a/webapp_create_post.py
+++ b/webapp_create_post.py
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import get_currencies
 from utils import get_category_types
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import get_supported_languages
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import get_full_domain
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from blocking import sending_is_blocked2
 from webapp_utils import open_content_warning
 from webapp_utils import edit_check_box
diff --git a/webapp_frontscreen.py b/webapp_frontscreen.py
index 1d6040acc..7c06577d6 100644
--- a/webapp_frontscreen.py
+++ b/webapp_frontscreen.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import os
 from flags import is_system_account
 from utils import get_domain_from_actor
 from utils import get_config_param
-from utils import get_account_timezone
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from person import person_box_json
 from webapp_utils import html_header_with_external_style
 from webapp_utils import html_footer
diff --git a/webapp_hashtagswarm.py b/webapp_hashtagswarm.py
index b3b8b4340..a50873ff9 100644
--- a/webapp_hashtagswarm.py
+++ b/webapp_hashtagswarm.py
@@ -10,20 +10,20 @@ __module_group__ = "Web Interface"
 import os
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from flags import is_public_post
+from timeFunctions import date_utcnow
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import date_epoch
 from utils import valid_hash_tag
 from utils import remove_id_ending
 from utils import resembles_url
 from utils import has_object_dict
 from utils import local_actor_url
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import file_last_modified
 from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import get_config_param
 from utils import escape_text
-from utils import date_utcnow
-from utils import date_epoch
 from utils import string_contains
 from delete import remove_old_hashtags
 from maps import get_category_from_post
diff --git a/webapp_likers.py b/webapp_likers.py
index a877972e0..35d9f5574 100644
--- a/webapp_likers.py
+++ b/webapp_likers.py
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ __module_group__ = "ActivityPub"
 import os
 from utils import locate_post
 from utils import get_config_param
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import get_display_name
 from utils import get_nickname_from_actor
 from utils import has_object_dict
 from utils import load_json
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from person import get_person_avatar_url
 from webapp_utils import html_header_with_external_style
 from webapp_utils import html_footer
diff --git a/webapp_post.py b/webapp_post.py
index c0709c6a6..f319f9ee4 100644
--- a/webapp_post.py
+++ b/webapp_post.py
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ from utils import contains_statuses
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import get_post_attachments
 from utils import get_url_from_post
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import remove_markup_tag
 from utils import ap_proxy_type
 from utils import remove_style_within_html
@@ -54,7 +53,8 @@ from utils import dont_speak_hashtags
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import disallow_announce
 from utils import disallow_reply
-from utils import convert_published_to_local_timezone
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
+from timeFunctions import convert_published_to_local_timezone
 from utils import remove_hash_from_post_id
 from utils import remove_html
 from utils import get_actor_languages_list
diff --git a/webapp_profile.py b/webapp_profile.py
index bfe817c51..63094e3fe 100644
--- a/webapp_profile.py
+++ b/webapp_profile.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ from unicodetext import standardize_text
 from utils import get_person_icon
 from utils import replace_strings
 from utils import data_dir
-from utils import time_days_ago
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import get_url_from_post
 from utils import get_memorials
@@ -47,10 +46,11 @@ from utils import acct_dir
 from utils import get_supported_languages
 from utils import local_actor_url
 from utils import get_reply_interval_hours
-from utils import get_account_timezone
 from utils import remove_eol
 from utils import get_actor_from_post
 from utils import resembles_url
+from timeFunctions import time_days_ago
+from timeFunctions import get_account_timezone
 from languages import get_actor_languages
 from skills import get_skills
 from theme import get_themes_list
diff --git a/webapp_search.py b/webapp_search.py
index d422a852f..6db48d967 100644
--- a/webapp_search.py
+++ b/webapp_search.py
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ import urllib.parse
 from flags import is_editor
 from flags import is_public_post
 from searchable import search_box_posts
+from timeFunctions import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_person_icon
 from utils import data_dir
 from utils import get_post_attachments
 from utils import get_url_from_post
-from utils import date_from_string_format
 from utils import get_attributed_to
 from utils import get_actor_from_post_id
 from utils import remove_html