What will you do with your extra second of time?

You will get an extra second of time back this January 1. Why? As you may know, scientifically and practically speaking, time is calculated based on where the sun is at 12:00 in your designated time-zone. This means that our calculation of time is based on the rotation of the Earth relative to the sun, and other astronomical bodies. What you may not know is that the Earth's rotation is slowing ever so slightly. So much that our clocks need to be adjusted periodically, so that when the clock shows 12:00PM, the sun is directly overhead in the timezone. If we never calibrated our clocks to compensate for the slowing of the Earth's rotation, over decades, the effect would become noticeable as the sun rose in the afternoon, and set in the mornings.

This year in January is a "leap-second" year. Scientists will add an extra second to the world's master clocks located in Greenwich, England. The second my seem (eh-hem) minute to you and I, but astronomers and other scientists, telecommunications systems, satellites, guidance systems, and other infrastructure depend on atomic-accurate time synchronization.

Here's an interesting article from the BBC about a contingent of US scientist and their efforts to break the tie of time to solar position. The scientific community is up in arms about the proposal:

Among those upset by the idea is Daniel Gambis who works for the intriguingly named Earth Rotation Service. His job is to decide when to add a leap second. He points out that over time, the Earth would gradually get out of synch with the Sun.

"For me, it would be a problem if the Sun were to rise at 4pm or at a different time like noon or midnight.

"I don't support the idea of the American delegation because I think all our human activities are linked to the rotation of the Earth first.

Leap second proposal sparks row

Bedazzled!: The Fifth Dimension "Paper Cup"

I love cheesy pop music from the 60's and 70's. Here's a great early video from a TV appearance by the Fifth Dimension. Check out the dance moves. And who was the genius that thought standing with your backs to the TV camera for 30 seconds was a good idea?

Bedazzled!: The Fifth Dimension "Paper Cup"

QuestionWar Ribbon

I came across this site while browsing various blogs today. What a great idea - I'm going to order one today!

QuestionWar Ribbon

Joey Buttafuoco Sells Ice Cream

Joey Buttafuoco, who's 17-year-old lover Amy Fisher shot his wife, making national headlines, has set up a business selling ice cream and protein shakes to stars on the sets of various TV shows.

My Way News: "Joey Buttafuoco"

Secret CIA Prisons

Various news source are reporting today on the discovery of dozens of secret CIA-run prisons around the globe. The world was shocked by the prisoner abuse scandals in Iraq and Afghanistan. With these secret prisons flying under the RADAR screens, the international community and human rights advocates are concerned of further systemic abuse and human rights violations at these facilities. The US Government will neither confirm nor deny the existence of these prisons.

The CIA has been hiding and interrogating al Qaeda captives at a secret facility in Eastern Europe, part of a covert global prison system that has included sites in eight countries and was set up after the September 11, 2001, attacks, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

The secret network included "several democracies in Eastern Europe" as well as Thailand and Afghanistan, the newspaper reported, but it did not publish the names of the European countries at the request of senior U.S. officials.

U.S. government officials declined comment on the report, which was likely to stir up fresh criticism of the Bush administration's treatment of prisoners in its declared war on terrorism since the September 11 attacks.
Russia and Bulgaria immediately denied any facility was there. Thailand also denied it was host to such a facility.

U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley would not comment directly, but said President George W. Bush had made clear the United States fought terrorism while respecting the law, and investigated allegations of misconduct.

"While we have to do what is necessary to defend the country against terrorists and to win the war on terror, the president has been very clear that we're going to do that in a way that is consistent with our values and that is why he has been very clear that the United States will not torture," Hadley said.

*Sigh* - If only I believed them anymore.

Reuters: Secret CIA Prisons