[LEAPSECS] Standards of time zones -Brooks Harris

[Brooks Harris]

On 2014-01-08 09:34 PM, Steve Allen wrote:

> On Wed 2014-01-08T12:11:39 -0800, Brooks Harris hath writ:

>> Who, or what standards body, would have the (international)

>> authority to be taken seriously? I'm not sure about that, but since

>> the whole time-keeping mess was started out by astronomers I figure

>> this list is a good place to ask :-)

> The existence of the "double leap second" in POSIX, ANSI C, and ANSI

> SQL indicates that those committees had not even read the content

> of ITU-R TF.460.  In a situation like that authority is irrelevant.

As I understand it there have been several well informed submissions to 
support UTC and Leap Seconds to those bodies, but the refinements were 
ultimately rejected. Those committees serve their own membership, and 
like all standards bodies, often opt for the most conservative options 
to support the current installed base. Of course there are also 
entrenched interests who choose the path of least resistance. C and 
POSIX are so fundamental to computer behavior everyone is reluctant to 
touch it. Unfortunate, but understandable. The time might yet come where 
the obvious improvements are adopted.


>

> The past decade of non-consensual non-decision discussion documents

> from various bodies who have considered leap seconds and the failed

> draft revisions for TF.460 leave me unconvinced that that there is

> anyone with enough zeal to become such an authority.


Yes, well, I'm on this list because I think losing Leap Seconds is 
stupid. I hope they can be dissuaded.

In 2011 you posted to the list a link to the 2011 ITU-R CACE issued 
Circular 539

http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/leapsecs/2011-June/003058.html

Whats the current status of that? Still on hold?

I see the American Astronomical Society published Requirements for UTC 
and Civil Timekeeping on Earth Colloquium and this may have been 
presented to ITU, is that right? Does AAS have an official position on 
the topic?

 >> leave me unconvinced that that there is anyone with enough zeal to 
become such an authority

What about AAS?

-Brooks



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