Chicagoist: Leaping For Joy

shameshameboy

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:56:14 -0600

@ pencil Regarding my last comment, I actually can't see how the state wouldn't renew a Leaper's license on 02/28 since that's the expiration date. After the first cycle, everybody receives the same treatment. Sorry if I was clear about agreeing on that point.

QuietRebelWriter

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:25:34 -0600

Long time reader, first time commenter :) So who knew Feb. 29th was also the one day every four years the ladies could bring the heat and propose to the fellas? I always had Sadie Hawkins at school, but never knew the meaning. A related post at www.quietrebelwriter.com.

shameshameboy

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:45:42 -0600

@ Prescott I get paid an annual salary. It's not adjusted for Leap Year.

shameshameboy

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:44:50 -0600

@ pencil Yes, for the sake of simplicity, let's stick with the basic scenario of getting you license on your birthday. If your birthday and issue date is 02/29, your renewal date is 02/28 (according to the story.) If your birthday is any other day, your issue date and renewal date are the same, so you always get the benefit of at least one extra day. Now, I'm sure that they would issue a Leaper's new license on 02/28, effectively giving the extra day that everybody else gets.

pencil

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:21:09 -0600

@ shame hmmm, I'm still not convinced the leapers get shorted (but I'm open to being corrected). I think we are only rewarded with a bonus day once -in the first cycle, if you get the license before your birthday. After that first cycle, doesn't everyone get the same number of days? A leaper's cycle could be 3/1/2007 - 2/28/2011 or 3/1/2008 - 2/29/2012, but both cases only count one leap day and are each 1461 days long. (note I am changing my above idea, that leapers might be advantaged, to the idea that it's the same for everyone)

Prescott Carlson

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:43:55 -0600

Unlike, of course, salaried employees: they're working for free today. Only if they are paid monthly, no? Those receiving biweekly checks, their pay cycle carries on as normal. This whole comment thread is making my head hurt.

shameshameboy

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:14:34 -0600

@ pencil The actual formula for a four-year cycle would be 365 * 4 + 2 = 1462 because the license expires on one's birthday instead of the day before. Leapers (not lepers) get the benefit of the leap day like everybody else but they don't get the benefit of the on-birthday expiration. Their formula is 365 * 4 + 1. So in actuality, the leapers aren't being cheated. In a rare instance of government munificence, the rest of us are rewarded with a bonus day. Unlike, of course, salaried employees: they're working for free today.

plumbum82

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:57:47 -0600

@Peacebaby: You mean from Chicagoist? They're too busy with google chat functions and branded posts no one pays attention to. Sorry :-(

peacebaby

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:54:19 -0600

As someone who works at The Field Museum, can I just say we've been celebrating in anticipation of Leap Day by being free all month. Where's the Chicago love?

pencil

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:39:13 -0600

Counting days kind of makes my head explode, but I was wondering....does it really cheat them out of a day of validity? Licenses are valid for four years, so everyone gets the benefit of one leap day (so, 365*4+1). But, if a 2/29'er gets their license issued in a leap year, then don't they get the benefit of two leap days (365*4+2)? I might be wrong. This is going to drive me nuts all day. If someone could tell me the answer I'd be much obliged.

Spav1

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:50:53 -0600

@ Bekki: Thank you!

Bekki

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:07:45 -0600

Yeah, I don't like the big purpley ad-disguised-as-posts they have each day.

Spav1

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:31:13 -0600

I am celebrating my remembering old Chicagoist and how great it was before shitty advertising in the middle of the page, and an excess of crap Flickr photos.

JuliaPorter

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:27:17 -0600

oh my god, I am SO behind Pizza Party USA. That is the greatest idea ever.

plumbum82

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:10:51 -0600

Liberace's Ghost called. He thought that video was a "little gay"...