>> * 'NOW' is CHAR(3) string, there is no reason to cast it to VARCHAR(11).
>> This is enough:
>> dt2 = CAST('NOW' as DATE);
>
> for dialect 1, I thought I was getting the date (NOW), chopping off the time
> portion (varchar 11) and then making it into a date again

If you want zero-time, just use 'TODAY' instead of 'NOW':
dt2 = CAST('TODAY' as DATE);

Ivan
http://www.volny.cz/iprenosil/interbase/