When you counted down on New Year’s Eve to mark the beginning of the next year did you start at 10 or 11? Most revellers would have counted down from ten but they would have been premature this year as there was an extra second added to last year – the leap second.

Leap seconds are normally inserted once or twice a year (normally on New Year’s Eve and in June) to ensure the global timescale UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) coincides with the astronomical day.

Leap seconds have been used since UTC was first implemented and they are a direct result of our accuracy in timekeeping. The problem is that modern atomic clocks are far more accurate timekeeping devices than the earth itself. It was noticed when Atomic Clocks were first developed that the length of a day, once thought to be exactly 24 hours, varied.

The variations are caused by the Earth’s rotation which is affected by the moons gravity and tidal forces of the Earth, all of which minutely slow down the earth’s rotation.

This rotational slowing, while only miniscule, if it is not checked then the UTC day would soon drift into the astronomical night (albeit in several thousands of years).

The decision on whether a Leap Second is needed is the remit of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS), however, Leap Seconds are not popular with everybody and they can cause potential problems when they are introduced.

UTC is used by NTP time servers (Network Time Protocol) as a time reference to synchronise computer networks and other technology and the disruption Leap seconds can cause is seen as not worth the hassle.

However, others, such as astronomers, say that failing to keep UTC in line with the astronomical day would make studying of the heavens nearly impossible.

The last leap second inserted before this one was in 2005 but there have been a total of 23 seconds added to UTC since 1972.

Related posts:

1. Hang on a Second History of the Leap Second
2. NTP Synchronization FAQ
3. How the Moon Affects Time on Earth

Cute Boyfriend Gift Ideas for this Valentine – Boyfriend Gift Ideas for this Christmas
You can feel it in the air, Christmas season is coming our way so before it can find you doing anything else, get ready to jot down your Christmas gifts list, because it is never too late or to early to write down gifts that you know will be loved this holiday season.Visit Here now http://giftcardsweddinggifts.blogspot.com

Perhaps weird, or just odd, but every year we receive the same advice for plan ahead for our shopping time. In fact, more than often, we have in mind a series of Christmas gift ideas, but somehow we are caught before we could to anything to implement at least one.

Lack of time seems to be the “illness” of present times, but if everything turns around a boyfriend Christmas gift ideas, things change drastically. Your boyfriend is your “other half” so it will never hurt if you dedicate some of your spare time to finding meaningful Christmas gifts for him.

When it comes to Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends, only you can determine what to give. There are present that have no age or time, such as collectible action figures, but there are others more suitable for the businessman, like an executive handheld set that would be unsuitable if your boyfriend is a teenager, just like you.

Alternatively, who knows, there are young men who have well defined professional careers since their early high school days and may feel amazingly surprised with such a classy gift. On the other hand, a businessman will never be too old to receive caramels or toys decorated following the instructions of patterns with Christmas gift ideas or crafts for this very special season of the year.

If this year is the right one for getting ready your Christmas gifts list, add a special section devoted to boyfriend Christmas gift ideas, and add as many items as you think he will enjoy, whether alone or by your side sharing a kiss under your mistletoe central decor.

Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends may include some of these presents: a bottle of wine, a flashlight, or Swiss knife. If he enjoys games, try arcade games, or a wrist exerciser for guys who like to stay in shape. Other ideas include remote control vehicles, a digital camera, spy toys, a pocket calculator, a radio with clock, multi flavored chocolates, sport gear, and many others that your imagination dictates.

When is not time but lack of inspiration, ask your boyfriend about the things he likes. In fact, where have you been? This is something that you should know even before he actually turned into your boyfriend.

However never is too late to investigate, or nurture your inspiration with other sources. There are excellent Christmas gift ideas and Christmas gift ideas for boyfriends can be found by just surfing the Internet or taking a walk browsing the Christmas gifts shops near to your home, so good luck and happy shopping. Visit Here now http://giftcardsweddinggifts.blogspot.com

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3. Good Gift Idea Digital photo frames