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Extra Leap Second To Be Added To Clocks On June 30

hcs_$reboot writes: On June 30 this year, the day will last a tad longer — one second longer, to be precise — as a leap second is to be added to clocks worldwide. The time UTC will go from 23:59:59 to 23:59:60 in order to cope with Earth's rotation slowing down a bit. So, what do you intend to do during that extra second added to that day? Well, you may want to fix your systems. The last time a leap second was added, in 2012, a number of websites, Java and even Linux experienced some troubles. Leap seconds can be disruptive to precision systems used for navigation and communication. Is there a better way of dealing with the need for leap seconds?

5 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. Leap hour by yet+another+SanTiago · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is a better way. Just wait several thousand years and then add one leap hour.

  2. Better way? by msauve · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Is there a better way of dealing with the need for leap seconds?"

    Sure, use/write software which correctly handles time. Leap seconds with their current, well defined behavior, have been around for over 40 years.

    If you have software which assumes a minute is always 60 seconds, an hour is always 60, 60 second minutes, etc., you're doing it wrong.

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  3. This is what's wrong with "renewable" energy by ScentCone · · Score: 5, Funny

    First, you've got all those new solar panels absorbing photons from the sun, but only in one direction, and then you've got all of those wind farms and tidal hydro plants adding friction to things. Of course the earth is being slowed down. Every time some do-gooder plants a tree, what do you think happens? More friction. Friction slows down the planet and causes heat. Check it for yourself - try walking briskly to the fridge and back, and then try shuffling your feet on the carpet as you do the same. Heat! Slowing down! Exactly like what happens when the atmosphere has to slide over something that's in the way, like a rainforest. No matter how many coal-bearing mountains we smooth out to help with this problem, the infestation of "tiny houses" clustered around hipster-friendly towns just slows the air back down again.

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  4. Re:Do the impossible by bigwheel · · Score: 5, Funny

    All we need to do is have everyone in the world face west and run.

  5. Re:Better way by TheCarp · · Score: 5, Informative

    > AM and PM mean "anti-meridian" and "post-meridian",

    Total nitpick, its ante not anti.

    ante- prefix meaning before
    anti - prefix meaning against

    You see it in words like "antediluvian" (before the flood).

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    "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"