Okay, so it is a cheesy play on the fact that today is February 29th, but I've got to give it credit, as this post really is about something rare.
As I was driving home from work today, I was listening to some public programming when the host made a quick announcement, "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test."
What came over the airways next was not the trying brone (that's a buzzing drone) that we've become familiar with, but instead, a long, silent pause. The pause was long enough for me to shift in my seat, then, adjust my seat belt, next, look down at the glowing clock, and finally, start to feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Apparently, it is not working," the surprised and concerned host said with an underlying sense of humor as he broke the silence. He continued by semi-confusedly reporting the news. You could tell he'd never been faced with the situation before.
And I'm glad that he'd never been faced with the situation before, but now I understand why they do test these things out every once and a while. Ya know, maybe there was a glitch in their computer program, and it didn't work because it was February 29th. Maybe something like this does only happen every 4 years!
3 comments:
that is crazah... which seems to be a better word than crazy in this case. but you should only say it in a CSJ sort of voice.
very interesting Ash! I learned this year why they add a day on every four years. Somehow I always assumed that it had been like that forever. Do you know why they add a day every four years?
(christine-who has been waiting to see a new blog entry on your site because they are always so good!!)
as an ex-disc jockey i have experienced this very thing. dead air is a nightmare so when the Emergency Broadcast System fails you feel doubly uncomfortable. plus, once you get the regular programming up and running you think, wait... what if it wasn't just a test? what if there was an emergency? what then? i guess i could make a brone sound. but would it be convincing enough?
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