Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!sdcsvax!ucbvax!rsre.mod.UK!LAWS
From: LAWS@rsre.mod.UK (John Laws, on UK.MOD.RSRE)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re:  Leaping clocks
Message-ID: <01.JAN.1988.20:20:49.LAWS@RSRE>
Date: 2 Jan 88 04:20:00 GMT
References: <8712311716.aa28742@Huey.UDEL.EDU>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 15

Dave,
 
One hour after sending my 'Empire time' msg (Stars Wars is showing on
the TV at this moment) I heard on the 'news' that Paris and not London
pushed the leap button. I'll console myself with the knowledge that we
are both part of the ECC. Years ago I worked at the National Physical
Laboratory Teddington and I thought the atomic clock there had some
national role.
 
Missing has been the education of why we have leap seconds. I assume
they are always positive and are because of either or both - the Earth
does not rotate at a smooth constant rate year by year, the rotation is
slowing down (and the Moon moving further away). 
 
John