Re: [LEAPSECS] the tail wags the dog

From: Rob Seaman <seaman_at_noao.edu>
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 16:35:12 -0700

Poul-Henning Kamp takes exception:

>> The question on the table is whether mankind is better served by
>> gracefully accommodating the charming quirks of Earth and Moon -
>> or whether we should attempt to impose a metric standard,
>> inappropriate to the purpose.
>
> I really appreciate the care with which you express yourself in
> order to be fair to all parties.

Obviously I have a point of view. Unlike the U.S. media, I feel no
need to subvert that point of view by trying to present both sides of
an argument that I believe has only one viable side.

Not quite sure how that is deemed unfair on a mailing list. You're
welcome to muster the best arguments you can, and to thus crush me
where I stand.

> Such a mastery of neutral and unloaded wording is wonder to behold.

Ok - so do you disagree that the Earth and Moon are quirky? Or
rather that the quirks are charming? Or perhaps that we should
accommodate them in some fashion? Or that doing so should be graceful?

It certainly can't be that the blunt force application of the SI
second is inappropriate to the purpose of gracefully accommodating
charming Earth/Moon quirks. This has been stipulated to by both
parties.

> If the IERS would announce leapseconds 10 years in advance, most of
> us would not have an issue with them.

Sounds like a reasonable position to take regarding making the
accommodation more graceful. This position is very far short of the
matter as presented to ITU WP7A.

Rob Seaman
NOAO
Received on Tue Jan 24 2006 - 15:36:01 PST