Displaying the current date:

select convert(char(3),datename(month,getdate()))+" "
       +convert(char(2),datename(day,getdate()))+","  
       +convert(char(4),datename(year,getdate()))


       
Displaying the current time:

select convert(char(2),datename(hour,getdate()))+":"
       +convert(char(2),datename(minute,getdate()))+":"  
       +convert(char(2),datename(second,getdate()))


       
Selecting just the date part from the current timestamp
(ie reseting the time fields to 12:00AM):
              
select convert (datetime,
       (convert(char(3),datename(month,getdate()))+" "
       +convert(char(2),datename(day,getdate()))+"," 
       +convert(char(4),datename(year,getdate()))
       )
               )



This is an example of making all possible conversions back and forth from 
datetime to char:

select convert (datetime,
       convert(char(4),datename(year,getdate()))
       +"-"
       +convert (char(3),datename(month,getdate()))
       +"-"
       +convert(char(2),datename(day,getdate()))
       +" "
       +convert(char(2),datename(hour,getdate()))
       +":"         
       +convert(char(2),datename(minute,getdate()))
       +":"
       +convert(char(2),datename(second,getdate()))
    ,105)



Converting a period to a char:
               
select convert(char(10),p1)+"-"+convert(char(10),p2)
       from periods