Do you know the time?
January 1, 2009 (Thursday) A NEW YEAR!
If 2008 seemed like a long year to you, you are right. It was one second longer, and that second was added to the last minute of the year last night. The last time that happened was in 2005, only three years ago. With atomic clocks at work these days, we know exactly what the time is. “What time is it?”
All sorts of thoughts come into my mind as I think about this adjustment, like the question, “Hey, kids! What time is it?” and the answer, “It’s Howdy Doody time!” That television program appeared during the infant days of TV, when the screen was active only at certain times of day. The programing signed on and off every day, and people gathered at their neighbors’ homes to see the modern miracle of a seven-inch screen attached to a huge, heavy box. And only the people with a little money in reserve could think about buying one.
Another famous use of “What time is it?” are the cheers led by the cheerleaders at games. The people in the stands reply, “It’s hog-killing time,” if it’s Baylor fans, or “It’s bear-killing time” if it’s Arkansas fans. Of course, no one wanted to kill anyone on the other team. At least, I don’t think so. Well, I know I didn’t want to kill anybody on the other teams, just make them wish they were dead. Ah, fanaticism, thy name is sports.
A similar question on TV was, “It’s 11:00 o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” The point of that public service announcement was to encourage parents to be more responsible in supervising their kids. Someone did a survey, calling homes at random, to see if the parents knew the whereabouts of their children, and most of the calls were answered by the kids themselves, who had no idea where their parents were! Ah, beginning to see the problem?
If this were a blog that invited comments, I would ask for your input on when and how you have heard this question about time, but if you will think about it, it might make New Years Day a little more interesting in your mind. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Make it a good one.