There are 161 days till 2008. ...showing that an hour had passed. Finally, about 600 years ago, the first mechanical clocks were invented. However, they had just one hand and were so big that the wealthy had to get their servants to carry them. :)) In Europe, large clocks were placed in village squares so that people in the village could rely on the same clock. Some of these clocks still exist throughout Europe today. Luckily, people eventually figured out how to make smaller clocks and smaller parts. Otherwise we’d still be relying on the sun to tell time.[-X Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It's passing, yet I'm the one who's doing all the moving. @};-