Why do we have leap years?

What BBN said about it

1. BQ

   Barry QuillLeap years exist because February asked for one, buddy, and about a thousand years ago somebody just said yes.

2. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA viewer wants to know why we have leap years, and we went to an expert.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBarry Quill is Chief Explainer at the Quill Center for Things Your Dad Says, and he has explained things at four hundred barbecues.

4. BQ

   Barry QuillFour hundred and twelve, Hank, but who's counting. Here's how it works. February is the shortest month, so it gets jealous.

5. BQ

   Barry QuillKnew a guy named Gary who had the shortest driveway on his street, same deal.

6. BQ

   Barry QuillEvery four years February gets its day, and everybody calms down.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat is wrong.

8. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPer Wikipedia, a year around the Sun is a little longer than a plain three hundred sixty-five days, by almost six hours. The extra day keeps the calendar in step with the seasons, and February has never been consulted.

9. BQ

   Barry QuillSure, sure, that's what the Sun wants you to think. But I did the math on a napkin.

10. BQ

    Barry QuillAbout a thousand hours a year go missing, and the Sun hides them in the gutters. Leap day is when we shake them out.

11. BQ

    Barry QuillIt's just science, buddy.

12. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA thousand hours.

13. BQ

    Barry QuillAbout a thousand. Gary lost six of them on a pontoon boat once. Never found them.

14. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWikipedia says the gap is almost six hours a year, so four years add up to one extra day. Gary may have been closer than he realized.

15. BQ

    Barry QuillHuh. Six hours, not a thousand. Well, I'll be.

16. BQ

    Barry QuillOkay, I concede, and I should tell you, the Quill Center is a folding table, and the whole staff is me and a cooler.

17. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA table and a cooler. That's still more staff than my bunker has.

18. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThank you, Barry, and please tell February it can stop waiting by the phone.