diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -31,4 +31,14 @@
                                      :action => action)
   end
 
+  def format_short_time(time)
+    now = Time.now
+    st = ''
+    if (time.yday != now.yday) or
+	(time.year != now.year)
+      st = time.strftime("%x ")
+    end
+    st + time.strftime("%X")
+  end
+
 end