A release time is only the starting point. Definitions and context matter too.
Read the original explanation
Keep the publisher and definitions alongside a data release, and distinguish preliminary figures from revisions. When terminology is unfamiliar, return to the definition before drawing a directional conclusion.
Three questions to keep
What do I know?
What still needs checking?
Which assumptions am I relying on?
Take your time and put thought before action. This article is for educational discussion.
References and further reading
The following original publications offer background on the concepts discussed here. They are separate from this article's editorial commentary.