With the U.S. national debt ticking higher and the government deep in
deficits, a huge electronic clock that showed the numbers whirring by will
soon make a comeback. A New York City landmark since 1989, the massive
digital clock about a block from Times Square was put to rest nearly two
years ago when Washington faced with budget surpluses. "It never was
intended to show the budget strengthening, so that's why we shut it off,"
said Douglas Durst, president of the Durst Organization which owns the
building where the 11-by-26-foot (3-by-8-meter) sign is perched. "With the
deficit growing again, we're going to put it back on." File photo from
October 29, 1995 of the national debt clock on New York's Sixth Avenue.
REUTERS/Jeff Christensen-Files

HB/ 

USA's Michael Johnson celebrates as he runs by the stadium clock with
his new world record of 19.32 posted after he broke his old record in
the men's 200 meter final at Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, August 1,
1996. REUTERS BOOKS The Art of Sport REUTERS/Mike Blake

JM/rm 

Louisville Metropolitian Sewer workers work to assemble one of the last flood gates in the south end of Louisville, Kentucky March 5. City workers have been working around the clock to set up the flood gates as the Ohio River continues to rise. The River is expected to crest at 68 feet above flood stage on March 8.

WEATHER FLOODS 

New York Rangers' players Esa Tikkanen (L) and Wayne Gretzky (R) slump on the bench as a trainer watches the clock very late in the third period of the fifth game of their NHL third round Stanley Cup playoff game with the Philadelphia Flyers in the CoreStates Center in Philadephia, May 25. The Rangers were defeated 4-2 to end their quest for the Stanley Cup.

SPORT NHL 

The Mars Pathfinder mission clock is shown July 3 on a wall at the rover control area at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena,California as it counts down the time,about 22 hours, until the spacecraft lands on Mars, which is scheduled for 10 A.M. Pacific Time July 4. The rover Sojourner will be able to travel around the Pathfinder spacecraft and conduct experiments and will be controlled from this area.

MARS PATHFINDER 

A section of roofing hangs from a bank clock at the corner of Jos Campau and Caniff in downtown Hamtramck on the morning of July 3, after powerful thunderstorms slammed southeast Michigan Wednesday afternoon. The broken tower in the background used to be part of the local cable service. More than 200,000 customers in southeast Michigan were without electric power. jch/Photo by John C.

STORM DAMAGE 

Rob Manning (L), flight systems chief engineer for the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft mission and other team members are shown on a TV monitor as they celebrate at the time that the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft was expected to land on Mars' surface, July 4. A mission clock is shown uper (L) with elapsed launch and landing time. Final confirmation of landing by a signal from the spacecraft is expected later in the day.

MARS PATHFINDER 

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Andre Rison (C) is tackled by Oakland Raiders safety Eric Turner (42) and cornerback Terry McDaniel (36) after Rison caught a 16-yard pass from Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac in the second quarter of their NFL game at the Oakland Coliseum September 8. Rison caught a game-winning touchdown pass from Grbac with two seconds left on the clock, as the Chiefs defeated the Raiders 28-27.

SPORT NFL 

FILE PHOTO 20SEPT97 - Andy Green, Royal Air Force pilot and the driver for the British jet car ThrustSSC that is challenging to break the world land speed record on the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nevada, is shown in September 20, 1997 photo. ThrustSSC clocked the fastest land speed in history on Monday but narrowly failed to set an official world record.

SPEED 

University of Michigan's offensive linemen Jon Jasen (L), Chris Zieman (52), Zach Adami (68), and Steve Hutchinson (R) watch the scoreboard clock run out as they celebrate Michigan's 21-14 victrory over Notre Dame September 27 while Notre Dame cornerback Allen Rossum (15) watches at Michigan Stadium. jch/Photo by John C.

SPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac exhales watching the clock run down during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos January 4 in Kansas City. The Chiefs lost to Denver 14-10.

SPORT NFL 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac exhales watching the clock run down during the fourth quarter against the Denver-Broncos January 4 in Kansas City. The Chiefs lost to Denver 14-10. 

Denver Broncos' running back Terrell Davis (R) runs past Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive back Chad Scott as Davis picks up 19 yards and the first down during Denver's final drive to run out the clock in the AFC Championship game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh January 11. The Broncos won the game 24-21 to advance to Super bowl XXXII in San Diego on January 25.

SPORT NFL 

France's Yannick Dalmas speaks to a crewmember about his Ferrari 333 SP at the Daytona International Speedway January 29. Dalmas set a Daytona International Speedway roadcourse record Thursday when he piloted his Ferrari to the pole position for Saturday's Rolex 24 Hours of Dayton. Dalmas, a three-time LeMans champion, clocked a lap of one minute, 39.135 seconds around the 3.56-mile (5.73km) road course.

SPORT MOTOR RACING DAYTONA 

France's Yannick Dalmas poses after winning pole position in his Ferrari 333 SP at the Daytona International Speedway January 29. Dalmas set a Daytona International Speedway roadcourse record Thursday when he piloted his Ferrari to the pole position for Saturday's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Dalmas, a three-time LeMans champion, clocked a lap of one minute, 39.135 seconds around the 3.56-mile (5.73km) road course.

SPORT MOTOR RACING DAYTONA 

Local police officers and Texas Rangers guard the Walls Unit in Huntsville as the time reads 6:10 pm on the prison clock, minutes before Karla Faye Tucker's execution. Tucker was executed Feburary 3 and pronounced dead at 6:45 pm CST (0045 GMT) in Huntsville for the 1983 pickax murders of Jerry Dean and Deborah Thornton during a Houston burglary. tan/aal/Photo by Adrees A.

EXECUTION TUCKER 

Australia's Michele Timms of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury (L) is embraced by Steve Nash of the NBA's Phoenix Suns after the two competed in the "2 Ball" competition at the NBA All Star Saturday festivities at New York's Madison Square Garden February 7. "2 Ball", which combines the talents of WNBA and NBA players in a shooting against the clock competition, replaced the slam dunk contest at this years All Star Saturday event. The NBA All Star Game is Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

SPORT NBA 

Clyde Drexler of the NBA Houston Rockets (R) and Cynthia Cooper of the WNBA Houston Comets display their trophys for winning the first ever "2 Ball" competition at the NBA All Star Saturday festivities at New York's Madison Square Garden, February 7. "2 Ball", a game of shooting against the clock, combines the talents of both NBA and WNBA stars and replaced the slam dunk contest at this year's NBA All Star Saturday.

SPORT NBA 

North Carolina State center Chasity Melvin watches the final moments of her NCAA Final Four women's semi-final game against Louisiana Tech in Kansas City March 27. Melvin, taken out of the game after tying the NCAA semi-final scoring record, was put back into the game to break the record scoring 37 points. Melvin's scoring efforts were not enough to advance North Carolina State, losing the semi-final game 84-65 against Louisiana Tech.

NCAA WOMEN 

New Jersey Devils players surround rookie Brendan Morrison (hidden) after he scored a first period goal against the Ottawa Senators, as Senators centre Radek Bonk (foreground) eyes the clock in the first period of their NHL game April 3 at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford. The Devils are (L to R) Brad Bombardir, Petr Sykora, Jason Arnott and Scott Niedermayer.

SPORT NHL 

New York Knicks forward Chris Mills continues to protest to NBA officials as the team is escorted by police from the court at the end of the game after an apparent game-winning basket by Allan Houston was disallowed, giving the Miami Heat an 82-81 victory April 12. Television replays indicated that Houston released his shot with 1/10 of a second on the clock.

SPORT NBA 

New York Knicks injured center Patrick Ewing watches the seconds tick off the clock in his team's 93-83 game one loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals May 5. Ewing has missed most of the season recovering from wrist surgery.

BS/RC 

New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing watches time expire on the clock in the fourth quarter as the Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks 99-88 in their eastern Conference semfinal May 13. Ewing, who missed most of the season with a fractured wrist, was held to 10 points in the game.

BS/RC/WS 

Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal watches the clock tick away in the final seconds of the fourth period as the Utah Jazz complete a four game sweep of their team in game four of the NBA Western Conference Finals, May 24 in Inglewood. The Lakers fell to the Jazz 96-92, which sends the Jazz to the NBA Finals for the second straight year.

SSM/HB/WS 

Detroit Red Wings' goalie Chris Osgood celebrates his shutout of the Dallas Stars June 5 as Stars' Pat Verbeek (16) looks at the clock after time expired on Dallas in Game 6 of the NHL Western Conference Finals in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena. Osgood stopped 26 shots as Detroit defeated Dallas 2-0 to take the series 4-2.

jch/SV/SB 

Leonard Reiser, chairman of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and member of the Manhattan Project adjusts the Doomsday Clock ahead from 14 minutes to nine minutes before midnight June 11 in Chicago. The move, symbolizing the planet moving closer to nuclear peril, was prompted by the recent tests in India and Pakistan.

SJO/RC 

Leonard Reiser, chairman of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and member of the Manhattan Project adjusts the Doomsday Clock ahead from 14 minutes to nine minutes before midnight June 11 in Chicago. The move, symbolizing the planet moving closer to nuclear peril, was prompted by the recent tests in India and Pakistan.

SJO/RC 

South Africa's Penny Heyns in action during the breaststroke leg of the 4 x 100 metre medley relay at the Goodwill Games August 1 in Uniondale, Long Island, NY. Double Olympic champion Heyns swam the fastest-ever 50 meters in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Goodwill Games. Heyns, competing for the World Team against China, clocked 30.95 seconds at the halfway point en route to winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:09.46.

CM/AA 

Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants hold alarm clocks and signs as they rally in support of striking Northwest pilots September 4 in front of the Detroit Metro Airport Northwest terminal in Romulus, Michigan. Supporters held rallies today in 14 cities across the country setting off alarm clocks simultaneously at 12 noon central time to send executives a wake-up call.

RC/VM/KM 

Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino eyes the clock as he walks to the bench after throwing a fourth quarter touchdown against the New York Jets October 4 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. For Marino, who has a history of engineering miracle comebacks against the Jets, it was too little, too late, as the Jets held on to win 20-9.

RFS/JDP 

New England Patriots head coach Pete Carroll (L) congratulates quarterback Drew Bledsoe (R) on the field after Bledsoe threw the game winning touchdown to beat the Buffalo Bills in Foxboro, Massachusetts, November 29. The Patriots scored a touchdown from the one-yard line with no time left on the clock to win 24-21.

BS 

New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe (C) is congratulated by teammates Willie Clay (L) and Vernon Crawford (R) after Bledsoe threw the game winning touchdown to beat the Buffalo Bills in Foxboro, November 29. The Patriots scored a touchdown from the one-yard line with no time left on the clock to win 24-21.

BS/HB 

Seattle Seahawk kicker Todd Peterson (R) celebrates with holder Jeff Feagles (L) after Peterson kicked a 48-yard field goal with six seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter to defeat the Tennnesse Oilers 20-18 at the Kingdome in Seattle on November 29.

APB 

New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe completed 28 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winning touchdown with no time on the clock to beat the Buffalo Bills in Foxboro, November 29. The Patriots scored a touchdown from the one-yard line to win 24-21. Bledsoe played with a broken right index finger suffered in the Patriots last minute win over the Miami Dolphins November 23.

BS/HB 

The space shuttle Endeavour sits on launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center with 19 seconds left on the countdown clock after the launch was postponed due to a mechanical problem in the orbiter, early December 3. NASA hopes to make another attempt at launching the shuttle with its space station module in the early morning of December 4.

HB/GB 

The space shuttle Endeavour sits on launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center with 19 seconds left on the countdown clock after the launch was postponed due to a mechanical problem in the orbiter, early December 3. NASA hopes to make another attempt at launching the shuttle with its space station module in the early morning of December 4.

HB/ 

A rainbow soars from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center December 3 as the space shuttle Endeavour awaits another attempt at lift-off following a launch scrub early this morning with 19 seconds left on the countdown clock. The shuttle, which is carrying a crew of six astronauts and the "Unity" module for the international space station, has been rescheduled to launch in the early morning hours of December 4. The launch was postponed after a master alarm sounded in the orbiter in the final minutes of the countdown and NASA technicians were not able to solve the problem before the launch window closed.

HB/SV/ME 

University of Wisconsin's Ron Dayne pumps his helmet as the clock ticks away against UCLA in the 85th Rose Bowl game in Pasadena January 1. Dayne, the game's Most Valuabe Player, led the badgers to a 38-31 victory over the 5th-ranked Bruins.

SSM/ELD/AA 

Members of the press from around the world check out the latest in automobiles as workers work around the clock building the massive displays during press preview day January 6 at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. President Clinton is expected to tour the auto show Friday January 8 prior to addressing two thousand people at the Economic Club of Detroit..

RC 

San Francisco 49ers receiver Jerry Rice watches the clock in the closing moments of his team's game against the Atlanta Falcons January 9 in Atlanta. The Falcons defeated the 49ers 20-18, to earn a berth in the NFC championship game.

JLS/ME 

New York Jets wide reciever Keyshawn Johnson celebrates his interception (he was playing defensive back) of a Jacksonville Jaguars pass with six seconds left on the clock to seal the Jets' 34-24 victory at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford January 10. The Jets go to the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos.

RFS/LJM/JRE 

Syracuse guard Tony Bland and coach Jim Boeheim (L) react after Bland committed a key foul with 43.8 seconds on the clock in the final moments of Rutgers upset 74-71 win over 20th ranked Syracuse January 18 at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway.

RFS/ELD 

St. John's guard Marvis Thornton (L) eyes the clock as he removes his shirt as Duke players celebrate at the end of their game January 24 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Despite 40 points from Thornton, Duke won in overtime 92-88.

RFS/LJM/JRE 

Lasse Kjus of Norway displays his Super-G gold medal at the World Alpine Skiing Championships after clocking a time of 1 minute, 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. Lasse Kjus and Hermann Meier, who clocked the same time, are the first skiers to become joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing World championships.

WR/SV/AA 

Andrew Freshwater of Great Britain gets some air as he jumps towards the Beaver Creek Alpine skiing stadium during the men's Super-G race of the Alpine skiing world championships February 2. The race was won by Hermann Meier of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norway who both clocked at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds to become the first joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing championships. Freshwater clocked the 36th best time in 1 minute 18-57 seocnds.

WR/SV/AA 

Lasse Kjus of Norway gets some air in the men's Super-G race at the Birds of Prey course of the Alpine skiing world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2. [Hermann Meier of Austria] clocked the same time as Lasse Kjus in 1 minute 14.53 seconds, the first time this has occurred in world championship history.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

The joint winners of the men's Super G of the World Alpine Skiing Championships, are, from the left: Hermann Meier of Austria, Lasse Kjus of Norway, pose for a podium picture after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. At right is Austria`s bronze medal winner Hans Knauss who clocked in 1 minute 14.54 seconds.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

The joint winners of the men's Super G of the World Alpine Skiing Championships Hermann Meier (L) of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norway hold their joint medal after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. [Hans Knaus] of Austria clocked the third fastest time just 0.1 seconds behind the joint gold medalists.**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Hermann Meier of Austria displays his Super-G gold medal of the World Alpine Skiing Championships after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds, tying Norway's [Lasse Kjus] in Beaver Creek, February 2. [Kjus] and Meier are the first skiers to become joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing World championships.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Lasse Kjus of Norway displays his Super-G gold medal at the World Alpine Skiing Championships after clocking a time of 1 minute, 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. Lasse Kjus and [Hermann Meier], who clocked the same time, are the first skiers to become joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing World championships.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Lasse Kjus of Norway gets some air in the men's Super-G race at the Birds of Prey course of the Alpine skiing world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2. [Hermann Meier of Austria] clocked the same time as Lasse Kjus in 1 minute 14.53 seconds, the first time this has occurred in world championship history.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

The joint winners of the men's Super G of the World Alpine Skiing Championships, are, from the left: Hermann Meier of Austria, Lasse Kjus of Norway, pose for a podium picture after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. At right is Austria`s bronze medal winner Hans Knauss who clocked in 1 minute 14.54 seconds.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

The joint winners of the men's Super G of the World Alpine Skiing Championships Hermann Meier (L) of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norway hold their joint medal after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. [Hans Knaus] of Austria clocked the third fastest time just 0.1 seconds behind the joint gold medalists.**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Hermann Meier of Austria displays his Super-G gold medal of the World Alpine Skiing Championships after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds, tying Norway's [Lasse Kjus] in Beaver Creek, February 2. [Kjus] and Meier are the first skiers to become joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing World championships.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Lasse Kjus of Norway displays his Super-G gold medal at the World Alpine Skiing Championships after clocking a time of 1 minute, 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. Lasse Kjus and [Hermann Meier], who clocked the same time, are the first skiers to become joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing World championships.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Darin Mc Beath of Canada makes a turn on his way to clock the 21st best time of 1 minute, 16.71 seconds in the men's Super-G race at the Birds of Prey course of the Alpine skiing world championships in Beaver Creek/Colorado, February 2. The race was won at a time of 1 minute 14:53 second by Hermann Maier of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norways, the first shared gold medal in Alpine skiing world championships history.

RTW/SV/AA 

Hermann Maier of Austria displays his Super-G gold medal of the World Alpine Skiing Championships after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds, tying Norway's Lasse Kjus in Beaver Creek, February 2. Kjus and Maier are the first skiers to become joint gold medalists in the history of Alpine skiing World championships.

WR/SV/AA 

Stefan Eberharter (L) of Austria, congratulates fellow teammate Hermann Maier after Maier clocked one of the fastest times at 1 minute 14.53 seconds in the men's Super G of the World Alpine Skiing Championships in Beaver Creek, February 2. Eberharter clocked the 4th best time at 1 minute 14:75 seconds. The gold medal was shared by Hermann Maier of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norways, the first shared gold medal in Alpine skiing world championship history.

WR/AA 

The joint winners of the men's Super G of the World Alpine Skiing Championships Hermann Maier (L) of Austria and Lasse Kjus of Norway hold their joint medal after clocking at a time of 1 minute 14.53 seconds in Beaver Creek, February 2. Hans Knaus of Austria clocked the third fastest time just 0.1 seconds behind the joint gold medalists.

WR 

Lasse Kjus of Norway gets some air on his way to take a tied time in the men's Super-G race at the Birds of Prey course of the Alpine skiing world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2. Hermann Maier of Austria clocked the same time as Lasse Kjus in 1 minute 14.53 seconds, the first time this has occurred in world championship history.

RTW