On December 31 at precisely 23h59'59" UTC, a positive leap second has been introduced in Coordinated Universal Time, a decision that was taken by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in order to coordinate universal time to solar system rotation.
For the pessimists, we are one second older: time passes by, there is not one second to lose. Optimists are glad to kiss each other, one second earlier on New Year's Eve; New Year's Eve where sparkling wine has taken the place of champagne, and sausage with cabbage (welcome in Brittany), the place of lobster.
Necessity requires it, it’s a recession!
I’ve had a bad dream after a pretty boozy meal, a synthetic voice on my cell phone was telling me: "You are 500 € overdrawn. Please add credit to your account as soon as possible, to avoid any inconvenience, and quickly get in touch with your manager". Banker, I love you either!
In 1984, Serge Gainsbourg has caused a scandal by burning a 500 Francs banknote. In 2008, a bank quietly announced that it just burned the trifling sum of five billion euros because of a trader who hoped to reap super profits. At the time, it made us laugh, simply because we thought it was impossible. When one forgets one’s core business, the business loses its way.
With hindsight, let’s remember that "Jour de fête" (The Big Day), Jacques Tati’s masterpiece, is certainly a wonderful ode to joy and hope, but also a bittersweet observation of a world that inevitably disappears, still alive and yet obsolete. And let’s keep in mind that the film virtually ends with an unforgettable diving scene.
However, we won’t deny ourselves our joy, in these days of post-war financial rationing, for example, with Alain Souchon, by taking advantage without complex of his golden parachute, as does our former sound equipment CEO, refugee on a Bahamas sand beach.
DC Audiovisuel offers you and your loved ones its best wishes for 2009, wishing that this new year will turn into an “Annus mirabilis” (miracle year), as in 1666 when the Great Fire of London put an end to the Great Plague epidemic of 1665.
thanks to Alain Souchon for offering this video on YouTube
