Curiosity of time

I was browsing a web forum when I noticed the following:
You last visited on Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:00 pm
The time now is Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:04 pm

and that made me think. Isn't it odd that although (going by the 12-hour clock at least) the time is numerically lower the actually chronological position is later? Why not use a system whereby 1 o'clock represents the start of the new 12 hour period, and so it counts out numerically throughout the period and culminates at 12:59, the highest value, when it then reverts to the next period, be if pm after am for instance.

No doubt there's a particularly good reason why this state of affairs exists which isn't clear to me at this late hour of the evening, and I suppose in any case the delights of the 24-hour clock negates the numerical failings of the 12-hour system, building up throughout the day to reach the pinnacle on 23:59 before returning to 0:00. What could be better?!