[LEAPSECS] timekeeping requirements

[Steve Allen]

On Mon 2008-03-03T11:47:30 -0700, Rob Seaman hath writ:

> Something different to discuss regarding real-world timekeeping

> requirements.  - Rob



>> With an estimated two billion people worldwide dependent upon new moon

>> sightings to establish the timeline of lunar months and festivals,


My expectation that Allah will strike me down for failing to celebrate
Ramadan on the right day is about equally unmotivating as the notion
that a leap second will cause planes to fall out of the sky.  I expect
both systems to be forgiving of a little bit of slop in the
implementation.

I allow that there are valid reasons for pursuing research into
visibility of the hilal and monotonic time scales for telecomms,
navigation, etc., but I don't see that either of these justify
modifications to the characteristics of civil time.

--
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