Comments on: Leap Second

By: Swan

Swan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:26:48 +0000

The leap second has nothing to do with the length of the year. They are added because the earth's rotation has slowed (and continues to slow), which puts the "sun overhead at noon" terrestrial time out of synch with the atomic clocks.

And contrary to TwoDragons' conjecture, you get to play with a lot of expensive toys.

By: TwoDragons

TwoDragons — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:32:30 +0000

*falls over laughing at Ali S.* "NARF!"

Calculating and inserting leap seconds must be a very, very...very...very dry job. I can't help but imagine a bunch of crusty old bean-counters playing with clocks.

--TwoDragons

By: Ali S.

Ali S. — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:00:05 +0000

@ DOJ

Same thing we do every night DOJ...try to take over the Internet!

By: DOJ

DOJ — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:15:10 +0000

how do we celebrate?

By: liphttam1

liphttam1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:58:19 +0000

11 10 9 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 Happy lead year!

By: Cait

Cait — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:25:52 +0000

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

By: Carpus

Carpus — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:59:25 +0000

So what happens on New Year's Eve? Does the ball drop at 'midnight' or 1 second later?

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:50:22 +0000

We should have made the world get on one, more advanced, precise calendar in 2000.

By: Gauldar

Gauldar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:39:10 +0000

Like I care, my watch is 5 minutes fast.

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:26:16 +0000

Why didn't they take care of this at DST time--we had to adjust the clocks anyway.

By: caroline

caroline — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:03:20 +0000

I got engaged on Leap Day this year, how cool would it be if we could work it out to seal the deal exactly at leap second?