[LEAPSECS] leap seconds schedule prior to 1972

Steffen Nurpmeso steffen at sdaoden.eu
Tue Apr 12 14:39:34 EDT 2016


i wrote:
 |Warner Losh <imp at bsdimp.com> wrote:
 ||On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 8:17 AM, John Sauter <[1]John_Sauter at systemey\
 ||escomputerstore.com[/1]> wrote:
 ||I have proposed a schedule of leap seconds prior to 1972 based on the
 ||Earth's rotation rate, which was deduced from ancient observations of
 ||the Sun and Moon.  The complete paper is available on my web site, at 
 |
 ||[2]https://www.systemeyescomputerstore.com/proleptic_UTC.pdf[/2].
 |
 ||I both love and hate this.
 ||I love it because the rules are clear and mechanical. This means
 ||that it can be implemented relatively easily in code. I'd prefer simpler
 ||rules, but it's a lot better than the 'surprise' model we have today. It
 ||also show just how crazy leap seconds are given the crazy number
 ||
 ||  [2] https://www.systemeyescomputerstore.com/proleptic_UTC.pdf
 ||
 ||of leap seconds needed (see years -1000's for example).
 ||I hate it because nobody did it. It's a complete artificial construct
 ||that's different from modern UTC. Modern UTC isn't so neat. There's

 |A world where men and women come together in front of large clocks
 |just to see the two inconspicuous and innocent numbers 6 and 0.
 |Without raising an arm, at least not promptly.
 |And scientists and engineers know how to.
 |Yesterday there was Stonehenge, today we know a bit better.

That is: the aspect of social impact can simply not be
overestimated in my opinion.  Even if that sounds disconcerting.

One example: here in Hesse we have a tradition of drinking apple
cider («Äppelwoi», auch «Stöffche» (from «Stoff», say Junk).  That
became uncool in the last almost two decades; the traditional way
uses glass bottles for delivery, «Bembel»s and special glasses for
drinking («Geripptes»).  Uncool.

So a few years ago young hipsters from the «Odenwald» founded
a new company that did something like «pimp my Äppelwoi», and they
named that company «Bembel-with-care».  They use tins, mostly,
i guess.  It is a huge commercial success.
The social impact of the name «Bembel-with-care» however is that
the entire region is *polluted* with empty tins of that company!
*Polluted*!

--steffen


More information about the LEAPSECS mailing list