5..4..3..2..1..1? huh?
By craftcatcher
@craftcatcher (3699)
United States
December 27, 2008 10:06am CST
If you want to be completely accurate, this will have to be your New Year's Eve countdown this year!
According to an article I read on space.com, due to the Earth's irregular rotation on it's axis caused by various reasons, including the molten core sloshing around, the gravitational pull of the sun and moon, melting of the polar ice, etc., the international world time keepers will be adding a "leap" second to our clocks at 23:59:60 Greenwich Mean Time on December 31st to keep perfect time with the super accurate international atomic clocks.
Personally I think it will be more fun to do it at our local time countdown with 5..4..3..2..1..1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! PARTY ON!!!
2 people like this
17 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
27 Dec 08
It is very interesting. In many books they were talking about Earth axis irregularity many years ago and possible pole shift...
Now we have prove of changes that we don't really want, but we can not do anything about it..
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
There have been pole shifts in the past, even complete pole reversals. Hasn't happened recently but interesting to think about. Right now we are experiencing a huge hole in the Earth's magnetic field that scientists are having a hard time explaining. They've had to update a few laws of physics dealing with magnetic fields! There's been a lot of great scientific stuff going on lately.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Yes there have been pole shifts all the time in Earth's history...I think the last major one was around 10,000 B.C..Geologists are able to find this out due to the "patterning" in rock formations ....and I always remember that psychic Edgar Cayce said many years ago when he was alive that we were due for one
what ever goes best seems to me I dont count s I am outside trying to see the firse works lol@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
It's always too cold around here to have fireworks, darn it. With the weather you've had this year... better hope it doesn't snow any more! 
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
27 Dec 08
Uh - is this a strange enough look? -- 
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Yep that might get you a few funny looks. Most people think I'm a bit odd anyway But you can tell them that's just my nom de plume! That ought to get you a few more strange looks. 
But you can tell them that's just my nom de plume! That ought to get you a few more strange looks. 1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
31 Dec 08
it sounds like the clock will be studdering. heehee
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
With the atomic clocks they have to be super precise anymore. So many things like navigation satellites and communication stations rely so heavily on them anymore adjustments have to be made to maintain ultra accuracy. We just don't hear about a lot of them because the adjustments are so small. It's interesting to know about though. 
@littleowl (7157)
•
27 Dec 08
Hi craftcatcher..well that is the first I have heard of this, but it doesn't surprise me the way the earth is going..as it seems to be doing weird and wonderful things at this moment in time, it just makes me wonder will our computers keep up with the 'correct' time and hit midnight when it should!! hugs littleowl
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
My computer never keeps time right anyway. One of these days I'm going to download one of those atomic clock programs for my computer like my husband has on his. It is always accurate no matter what. He loves it and I'm always checking my watch with his computer.
One thing I found interesting in the article is that this is the 24th time they've done this since they started keeping ultra accurate time back in 1972. We just rarely get to hear about it. The Earth's rotation has always been a bit wonky!
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
28 Dec 08
Then why not just start the countdown a second later??..Are we suppose to expect the person at Times Square to do this?..lol...if so then this I have to see..
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Na, it'll all be over with by the time the countdown starts in Times Square. The change will happen at midnight Greenwich Mean Time which is 7:00 EST. But I think it will be more fun to do it at the countdown... I like to keep people on their toes.
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
27 Dec 08
This is the first I've heard of this but the way you said it should go sounds good to me let's bring on the party!!
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Hope you have a great time on New Year's Eve and think of that extra 1 when you do your countdown. People will look at you funny but you'll be more accurate than they will.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Oh well! Get you some sparkling grape juice and let the bubbles tickle your nose.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
27 Dec 08
oh man that whole explaination just sounds kind of creepy. makes you worry about how bad things are getting.@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
It's nothing bad bunny, don't worry. This is the 24th time they've done this since 1972 so it's nothing new. We just don't hear about it too often. The Earth's rotation has always been a little unsteady but that's just normal stuff for the Earth. The international timekeepers are just trying to keep things ultra accurate. Happy New Year!
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Hey craftcatcher! That's funny! I can just see them at Times
Square now trying to figure out how they are going to add that
extra 1 second! And all over the US trying to add that extra
1 second to everyones countdown! So when they are dropping
the new New Year's Eve Ball in Times Square at the regular
countdown the very few of us that do know about the extra
1 second we will know that their time is off and will have to
wait that extra second before it is officially 2009! I can
just see myself now trying to explain this to my boyfriend!
I may as well just keep it to myself!lol Thanks for the
update though! I think I will keep it between you and me and
whatever other intelligent people there are out there that
will be able to comprehend that extra second! Happy New Year
to you my dear friend Craftcatcher!
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
28 Dec 08
Hey Opal! That would be trip to see the ball in Times Square hesitate at the last second and everybody standing there looking confused! Good thing I suppose that nobody will notice since it's happening at midnight Greenwich Mean Time which put it at 6:59 pm in New York. By the time the countdown comes around in Times Square it'll be all over with. Oh well, I'm choosing to celebrate it at the countdown. I just want to see the looks on people's faces when I say 1 twice...you know me I like keeping people on their toes! A very Happy New Year to you my friend!!
That would be trip to see the ball in Times Square hesitate at the last second and everybody standing there looking confused! Good thing I suppose that nobody will notice since it's happening at midnight Greenwich Mean Time which put it at 6:59 pm in New York. By the time the countdown comes around in Times Square it'll be all over with. Oh well, I'm choosing to celebrate it at the countdown. I just want to see the looks on people's faces when I say 1 twice...you know me I like keeping people on their toes! A very Happy New Year to you my friend!!
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
28 Dec 08
yeah that sounds more fun LOL add another 1 before 0
I almost forgot this is a leap year
@Little_Stormy (6883)
• United States
28 Dec 08
WEll, isn't that cool?!
I'm usually late wherever I go.. so now I'm gonna feel one second better about it! thanks!
