It must be tough being OUR planet. For millennia you wander along a predetermined path gradually becoming the sort of place life would like to live on. And, slowly life happens, reproduces, evolves and you have given it a pleasant environment. Suddenly a new species “happens”; it is quite different from that which went before and it has “intelligence” (OK, maybe).
As a result and after almost 14 billion years of happy existence you, the planet, are turned upside down almost overnight, for in the short space of time (by your own standards) of 500,000 years this bipedal hominid has really screwed you up. He digs you up, studies you in very intimate detail and begins to decide what is best for you. He invents “things” which are of no value or use to you. For example, time. You don’t give a **** for it but this “intelligence” needs it and is almost desperate to count it in increasingly small amounts.
Many countries have what is called an atomic clock which measures (as its name implies) time by the vibrations in atoms to count seconds. As you can imagine it is incredibly accurate. However, there’s a catch. You, the planet during your aeons-long travels, have developed a “wobble” in your orbit (well, shit happens!) which means that this hominid creation of ‘time’ is out of synchronisation with your planetary drift. No big deal you might think; but this hominid has been busy inventing stuff like bombs, “π” and the Global Navigation Satellite System and therefore this wobble of yours gives him great grief. However, the hominid is clever, so he invents something called a “leap second”. (This is absolutely true, I promise). Every few years and before the time difference is more than 0.9 of a second, this “leap second” is added to “time” to bring it back into synchronisation.
It is now being debated whether this “leap second” should be scrapped. And there’s a big fight over it. Many countries want to abandon it; many others don’t; even more are undecided. The reason? Well, over several decades the time difference might amount to about one minute and over 100 years by about an hour.
All this is just too much rubbish for my poor little grey cell. I think I’ll come back in 100 years to see if the scientists have made any progress; meanwhile I’ll just continue on my merry way….
Until next time (and no wobble),
Peripatetic Scribe
Fine stuff again, P.S. You would think that with the world going to hell scientists would be more thinking of other things in life rather than something like this. I suppose a "leap second" has importance for navigational purposes, but to call a meeting to discuss whether or not to throw it away is beyond belief. How much is paid to do this sort of thing? I reckon I could live comfortably on a fraction of the cost. Never mind, this kids will enjoy this and that's what matters. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anonymous. I also find it mind-blowing stuff but there is a valid reason behind the concept. As for costs - well, I COULD afford to get out there!!!! P.S.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant again!
ReplyDeleteThere might be a brilliant reason behind the concept, but I think we have much more serious issues to address currently.
People have forgotten what really matters, amidst constant exposure to so much information. Moral values have been long forgotten....
In my opinion the current global crisis might be there for a reason. It might wake us all up or else....
Lucana
Lucana - you make some valid comments. The current global crisis IS I believe a "wake-up" call; if we (collectively) do nothing I have a horrible suspicion that we will be inundated. Humankind has been "clever" at "creating prosperity" but this is based mostly on large and ever-inflating "bubbles". P.S.
ReplyDelete