[date_time] Is there a more direct way to format time strings?

14 Dec
2009
14 Dec
'09
6:34 p.m.
In the examples all formatting of strings seems to use date_facet, which requires ( ? ) the use of streams and locales. Is there a more direct way to format a time?
5550
Age (days ago)
5550
Last active (days ago)
0 comments
1 participants
participants (1)
-
Sajjan Kalle