5 4 3 2 1 … and another one
Francis Sedgemore, Wednesday 31 December 2008
Today will be one second longer than yesterday. And a second longer than tomorrow.
Believe me, this sort of thing can be a real pain when it comes to doing observational astronomy. But at least it’s not as bad as adding 10 whole days, as Pope Gregory XIII did in 1582, when the existing Julian calendar was seriously out of sync with the the heavens. And pity the poor buggers born on 29 February, who only get to celebrate their birthdays once every four years! A humble leap second is but a blip by comparison.
Feed the writer! 
Wednesday 31 December 2008 at 18:12 GMT
Ha ha, good one.
Wednesday 31 December 2008 at 23:23 GMT
At Cambridge University, the week apparently starts on Thursday. Is a reluctance to adapt to Greg’s shenanigans the explanation?
Happy New Year.
Wednesday 31 December 2008 at 23:25 GMT
In medialand the week starts on Thursday. It takes us that long after the weekend to get over our hangovers.
Wednesday 31 December 2008 at 23:25 GMT
And a happy new year to you too, Alec.
Wednesday 31 December 2008 at 23:27 GMT
Thank Christ I ain’t the only one on t’Internet at 2330 hrs on Hogmanay!
Thursday 1 January 2009 at 00:44 GMT
It was lucky you caught me. After that I went over the Heath to Greenwich, and from across the Thames watched Boris’s piss-poor excuse for a firework display at the London Eye. Some of those assembled at the Point in Greenwich let off paper hot-air balloons, which were very beautiful indeed as they soared into the cold night sky.
Now I’m back at the ranch in Blackheath, and about to get well and truly rat-arsed. A happy new year to one and all!