Did anyone notice the extra second added to the end of 2008?

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) added a leap second to 2008.  That is the first added since 2005, and the 24th added since the service began in 1972.  That means that last Wednesday, the final day of the year, was 23 hours, 59 minutes and 61 seconds long.

This additional second was added due to the pulling of the moon and other planets on the earth.  They can either accelerate or decelerate the earth’s rotational speed.  Since these changes occur unevenly, the changes necessitate the adding of a second or even two once every two or three years.

Get ready?  That means sometime soon we will hear from some of our tree-hugging, earth-warming political know-it-alls explaining how Americans must begin driving slower, walking slower or living slower so the earth’s rotation will slow down.  It is our fault, don’t you know?  The gravitational pull of other planets is due in large part to the fast-paced life we live.  And, we will be advised if we do not do this soon, by 2030 or 2040, we will run out of time!

Seriously, how did you spend your leap-second?

I spent part of mine sleeping, and the other part catching up with my to-do list.  I would be curious to hear from any of you what you did with your extra second last night.  I spent mine sleeping.