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Leap Second To Be Added Dec 31, 2008

Posted by timothy on from the pregnant-pause dept.

ammorris writes "Don't be the laughingstock of your friends when you shout 'Happy New Years' a second too early ... The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service has announced that a leap second will be added on December 31, 2008 at 23h 59m 60s, meaning that this year will be exactly one second longer. The last leap second occurred Dec 31, 2005; they are added due to fluctuations in the rotational speed of the earth. You can read all about leap seconds on Wikipedia."

23 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. Second! by tirerim · · Score: 5, Funny

    I tried to resist, but I still leapt at the chance...

  2. Gee, thanks for the notice by holophrastic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Uhh, wouldn't it be nice if we were given a little bit more of a warning? Say, something like, oh a week?

    1. Re:Gee, thanks for the notice by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

      know about what?

      I dont even read the Summary, so what the heck are we even talking about?

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    2. Re:Gee, thanks for the notice by darkpixel2k · · Score: 2, Funny

      Uhh, wouldn't it be nice if we were given a little bit more of a warning? Say, something like, oh a week?

      Yeah! This totally f*cks my schedule. One second totally ruins New Years for me.

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    3. Re:Gee, thanks for the notice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      (Score:5, leaks company procedures and shortcomings)

    4. Re:Gee, thanks for the notice by TempeTerra · · Score: 2, Funny

      One second totally ruins New Years for me.

      Which one is it for you? For me it's usually the one just before I get slapped in the face.

      What?

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  3. 2008?!! by gooman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gah! I can't take another second of this!

    --
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    1. Re:2008?!! by aaron+alderman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sounds like a Bush plan to keep him in the Whitehouse as long as possible. Damn Republicans messing with our science.

  4. Re:legally speaking, it's the first leap for the U by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    If you don't mod this down you are not a patriot.

  5. You have a chance! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you messed up in 2008 you still have an extra second to make good.

    DON'T WASTE THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!

  6. I'll have to mention this to HR... by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 5, Funny

    I work a graveyard shift. You can bet I'll bring this up to the boss. I don't work for free!

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    1. Re:I'll have to mention this to HR... by sleeponthemic · · Score: 5, Funny

      No... you work for braaaiiinnnss

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  7. Wha ...? by resistant · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wait just a second, now! I ... oh.

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  8. Damn Bush by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bush will do anything to remain president just a little longer.

  9. Excellent news for my sex life by unassimilatible · · Score: 4, Funny

    I will be able to give my GF an extra round of pleasure, with time to spare.

    OK, just kidding - I am a /.'er and obviously don't have a GF. But if I did, I am confident in my abilities that I could, in fact, perform my duties in the allotted one second.

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    1. Re:Excellent news for my sex life by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      I will be able to give my GF an extra round of pleasure, with time to spare.

      You'll have to hope for a leap-inch or two before that happens
                     

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  10. Will windows automatically adjust my clock for me? by extagboy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Or, is that only in the vista ultimate edition?

  11. oh really by mestar · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is just plain stupid. If in 30 years sun rises like, 10 seconds too late, oh my, we'll just have to adjust. Geez.

  12. Nah by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    No big d.......eal.
       

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    Table-ized A.I.
  13. Re:Longer, or shorter? by johanatan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe he's assuming that the general population would get this one right and we uninformed nerds would not? :-)

  14. The last second of the day by Subm · · Score: 2, Funny

    To be subtle, they added the leap second to the one time in the entire year when everyone (at least in that time zone) is watching the clock and counting along with it.

  15. The Countdown by bondjamesbond · · Score: 1, Funny

    5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 1...
    Happy New Year!

  16. 3... 2... 1... by dorianh49 · · Score: 3, Funny

    3 2 1 jokes in 3... 2... 1... 1...

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