[LEAPSECS] The Battle of Flodden Field

[Rob Seaman]

On Jan 7, 2011, at 11:00 AM, Tony Finch wrote:


> On Fri, 7 Jan 2011, Rob Seaman wrote:

>> 

>> It is a requirement - a description of the problem space - that manifold

>> human activities are loosely or tightly coupled to the synodic day.

> 

> Which? UTC with leap seconds is tightly coupled to the day. Atomic time

> adjusted with a locally-determined timezone offset is loosely coupled to

> the day. Both satisfy the requirement.


If the authors of the ITU draft really believe this is how it will work, then attach an appendix where the issues are explored.  Evaluate the trade-offs with a sensitivity analysis.  Explore the relative costs and risks.

The proposal as written no more conveys the "let the local town selectmen figure it out" position than they do the "Look!  Up in the sky!  A glowing orb!" position.

The proposal as written asserts that humans don't care about the synodic length of day.  This is a deeply silly position.

Rob