Clocks

[Handley_Page]

You've probably heard the 'pips' on the radio which do a lot of synchronising time.
Tonight, there's gonna be one more pip, because a "leap second" is being run, to put
the world timeback in line with astronomical time.
The last time was a decade or so ago, I think.

Do not adjust your set.
We now return you to our scheduled programme.

 

[sr71plt]

The clocks in my house don't care. They are all showing different times.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

The leap second has been disruptive of some computer programs in the past, and may temporarily affect some things you might be doing. Google is dealing with it by adding the second in fractions spread out over the day.

If you watch your synchronized digital clocks (such as on your computer) at midnight, you may catch it reading that very rare time of 23:59:60.

 

[R. Richard]

A real bother. It means that I have to go around my house and reset all of my atomic clocks.

 

[mynameisben]

An extra second of sleep. Sweet!

 

[glynndah]

I am hoping not to squander that extra second. I have big plans.

 

[Handley_Page]

A real bother. It means that I have to go around my house and reset all of my atomic clocks.

I doubt it.
Get then connected to the 'Net - at NPL London.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Now I know why I look older than I should. Damn those leap seconds.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

You've probably heard the 'pips' on the radio which do a lot of synchronising time.
Tonight, there's gonna be one more pip, because a "leap second" is being run, to put
the world timeback in line with astronomical time.
The last time was a decade or so ago, I think.

Do not adjust your set.
We now return you to our scheduled programme.

It's just because the authorities felt you were a bit behind the times HP.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

The clocks in my house don't care. They are all showing different times.

But your computer isn't.

 

[Hypoxia]

Time is a necessary evil. Without it, everything would happen at once, and then where would we be? Utter fucking chaos. [/me shudders] No, I appreciate every second, every leap second, every interpolated second. Every additional second means another opportunity at miracles. Of course, a miracle is a one-in-a-million occurrence, and a million seconds comprise 11.57 days, so we get a couple miracles every three weeks whether we want them or not. Those extra seconds just give the process an extra nudge. !Milagro!

 

[TxRad]

Time is a necessary evil. Without it, everything would happen at once, and then where would we be? Utter fucking chaos. [/me shudders] No, I appreciate every second, every leap second, every interpolated second. Every additional second means another opportunity at miracles. Of course, a miracle is a one-in-a-million occurrence, and a million seconds comprise 11.57 days, so we get a couple miracles every three weeks whether we want them or not. Those extra seconds just give the process an extra nudge. !Milagro!

Some peoples miracles are other peoples "oh fuck, not again," moments.

 

[Handley_Page]

Some peoples miracles are other peoples "oh fuck, not again," moments.

Others are realised all-too-often "late in the day".

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Time is a necessary evil. Without it, everything would happen at once, and then where would we be? Utter fucking chaos. [/me shudders] No, I appreciate every second, every leap second, every interpolated second. Every additional second means another opportunity at miracles. Of course, a miracle is a one-in-a-million occurrence, and a million seconds comprise 11.57 days, so we get a couple miracles every three weeks whether we want them or not. Those extra seconds just give the process an extra nudge. !Milagro!

There's a Doctor Who episode about this...everything happening at once.

 

[lovecraft68]

The clocks in my house don't care. They are all showing different times.

You too? I can think I'm running early or late depending on which room I'm in

 

[Handley_Page]

You too? I can think I'm running early or late depending on which room I'm in

I know that feeling, but it does not require a clock.

 

[mynameisben]

Some peoples miracles are other peoples "oh fuck, not again," moments.

Just buy yourself a box of condoms and stop complaining.

 

[SamScribble]

Just buy yourself a box of condoms and stop complaining.

A whole boxful!? I take it that you are feeling lucky, Ben.

 

[Handley_Page]

A whole boxful!? I take it that you are feeling lucky, Ben.

Oh; a life-time supply, then ?

 

[oggbashan]

My clockwork clocks aren't that accurate.

Recently I sold one of them at auction. It was a chiming clock that struck every hour and at 26 minutes past. I don't know why but it was made like that.

I rarely wound the chiming mechanism because there was no way to turn it off until that spring ran out - and it was LOUD! Especially in the early hours of the morning.

I sold another that had the full Westminster chime - a quarter of the tune at a quarter past, half the tune at half past, three quarters of the tune at a quarter to, and the whole lot followed by strokes for the hour. It was irritating.

 

[Handley_Page]

My clockwork clocks aren't that accurate.

Recently I sold one of them at auction. It was a chiming clock that struck every hour and at 26 minutes past. I don't know why but it was made like that.

I rarely wound the chiming mechanism because there was no way to turn it off until that spring ran out - and it was LOUD! Especially in the early hours of the morning.

I sold another that had the full Westminster chime - a quarter of the tune at a quarter past, half the tune at half past, three quarters of the tune at a quarter to, and the whole lot followed by strokes for the hour. It was irritating.

Terry Pratchett mentions the clock in the Patrician's Office, which did NOT tick in exact seconds. The gaps between ticks seemed to vary, sometimes markedly.

 

[oggbashan]

Terry Pratchett mentions the clock in the Patrician's Office, which did NOT tick in exact seconds. The gaps between ticks seemed to vary, sometimes markedly.

Many years ago I bought, mail order, a pocket watch from a now long-defunct company called Headquarter and General Supplies who used to advertise in the also defunct weekly Exchange and Mart paper.

It cost half a crown (12.5p) plus one shilling postage and had a massive 30 day guarantee.

Two months later that watch became erratic in its timekeeping. I took it to a local jeweller who opened the back and started laughing. The gears inside were cut from Heinz Baked Bean cans.

 

[Handley_Page]

Many years ago I bought, mail order, a pocket watch from a now long-defunct company called Headquarter and General Supplies who used to advertise in the also defunct weekly Exchange and Mart paper.

It cost half a crown (12.5p) plus one shilling postage and had a massive 30 day guarantee.

Two months later that watch became erratic in its timekeeping. I took it to a local jeweller who opened the back and started laughing. The gears inside were cut from Heinz Baked Bean cans.

I remember that firm; they had a curious disregard for proper descriptions in English. My Dad bought me a pair of "Ex WD motorcycle gauntlets" for use with my first 'bike.
They were terrible.

BTW; did you keep the clock as a historical bit of hysterics ?

 

[oggbashan]

I remember that firm; they had a curious disregard for proper descriptions in English. My Dad bought me a pair of "Ex WD motorcycle gauntlets" for use with my first 'bike.
They were terrible.

BTW; did you keep the clock as a historical bit of hysterics ?

No. I sold the clock to an amateur collector of clocks. He liked the oddity of the chime.

My best purchase from Headquarters and General Supplies was two pairs of unused ex-Army boots at seven shillings and sixpence (plus postage) for the two pairs. Why so cheap? They were UK size 14 (US = 15) just right for my feet when wearing thick socks.

They lasted me for more than thirty years and thousands of miles over rough country. I retired them in the late 1990s, not because they were worn out, but because I was.