Did you know? What we experience as Coordinated Universal Time (or UTC) is an atomic time scale based on the performance of atomic clocks and more stable than astronomical time (or UT1), which is based on the Earth's irregular rotational rate. Whenever the difference between UTC and UT1 approaches 0.9 seconds, a “leap” second is added to correct for it. Learn more from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Every four years, we get an extra day on the calendar — February 29th — to account for the extra time it takes the Earth to make a circuit around the Sun. We decided to take advantage of this Leap Day by getting things done around the house.
Kevin loves to cook, and he’s super organized. So I’m going to give him a special gift and spend Leap Day clearing out and cleaning up our pantry. And I’ll bring a touch of style with fresh shelf covers and colorful container sets.
Pearl loves to garden, and it’s nearly springtime planting season. So I’m going to build her some long wood planters from scratch that she can use in our backyard. And I’ll geek it out with a water-saving programmable irrigation system.
We have a new listing coming soon in Mountain View. It’s a work-in-progress as we spruce up the home and create a more welcoming vibe. And we want to take this opportunity to show appreciation for the people who are making this happen behind the scenes, like painters, who also get their hands dirty with cleaning, sanding, and other prep work.
In 2016, NASA launched an $800 million spacecraft called the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security Regolith Explorer (or “OSIRIS-Rex” if you’re into the whole brevity thing). In September 2023, OSIRIS-Rex completed a 4-billion-mile journey to the ancient asteroid Bennu and back and dropped off 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of samples from 63,000 miles above the Earth. And if you think that’s cool, Mashable has more.
In honor of Presidents Day, we ask the age-old question: If you could ask any U.S. President to assist with your home renovation, who would it be?
For me, it’s an easy decision. I would go with John F. Kennedy, but not for him, for his wife. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was an icon of style and my favorite First Lady of all time. She made the White House into her own by leaning into color and pattern, breathing new life into an old, stodgy building. I would love to have her help when I redesign my dream home!
There’s only one answer here, and it’s Teddy Roosevelt. T.R. liked to speak softly and carry a big stick, and that’s exactly the kind of person you need in charge of any major home project. With costs soaring and workflows in flux, it’s absolutely critical to have someone at the helm looking out for your bottom line and making sure things get done on time!
