Not the farmers’ fault, they farm by their own schedule—some guy in New Zealand started the problem in 1895 because he wanted an extra hour of daylight after work so he could study bugs! Google “What’s wrong with Standard Time” to get the story. There’s a link there to another website that explains more about it and wants us to contact our legislators to repeal the whole frustrating idea.
I’d much rather an extra hour of sunlight when getting home from work for cooking on the grill and for kid’s sports games than at 4am when I’m trying to sleep
DST, Ben Franklin’s idea, he liked it because he only had one clock to change. Now we have many and to change the car clock by, menu, radio, then turn knobs, back to menu and *&%#?{}|! I forgot to save the setting….
I didn’t mind the hour taken out this morning, because I planned ahead and got to bed by the new time last night (unusual for me). But I think it’s all worthwhile because of that glorious extra sleep hour in November (morning of the 2nd this year). Also, if your kids have to wait for a school bus, or walk or bike to school, it’s nice for them not to be in pitch darkness and stand more risk of getting run over.
The farmers lobbied hard AGAINST DST. Farmers get up when the cows need milking or the crops need harvesting. They don’t care what some mechanical time-piece says. Farmers lost an hour of time between morning harvest (sunrise) and the opening of the markets (9 am), so they were incensed.Business lobbied FOR DST. The stock market would be open an hour earlier in relation to the London Stock Exchange, thus gaining an hour in terms of stock price changes on the London Stock Exchange. Retailers (and wholesalers, I guess, too) were for DST because workers leaving the factories would have one extra hour of daylight to shop in (in those days people shopped less once the sun set), so sales would increase.Energy savings had nothing to do with it. That’s the argument we were fed during the Nixon Administration (and the oil embargo), but if you recall, the economy was down, and the real reason was that “full-time DST” would boost the economy.If you look at the advance of DST into “Standard Time”, each time DST has been extended it’s while the economy is in a slump. DST is simply a strategy to prop up a slumping economy.Of course, in these times of artificial lighting, internet/international sales, and computer stock trading, there really is no reasonable basis for continuing DST. My guess is that it no longer affects the economy much, but merely serves to keep the “masses” in a state of literal darkness at the start of the day. (Although I think the continuation has much more to do with inertia and continued belief that the economy is aided by DST than with “keeping the masses tired and confused”.)Personally, as a cyclist and NOT a morning person, I prefer DST for the extra hour of daylight in the evening, but I’d rather we just stuck with it all year ’round. I HATE switching back and forth. It also annoys the Grammar Nazi in my that we spend five-twelfths of the year on “Standard Time”. DST is the new “Standard”.
My biggest pet peeve, the five year bill passed in 1970ish, had it for one year. The first day that the clocks didn’t " fall back", there were statistics showing how many kids got killed waiting for buses in the dark because of DST not ending on Sunday. Funny thing sunrise was only 4 min later than the previous Friday. The 5 year DST experiment was reversed before the next fall. Funny thing is DST ends 6 weeks later now and I think starts earlier. I wonder do we no longer care about the children. Lies. Damned lies, and statistics.
I gave up adjusting to DSL years ago. I just wake a hour later and go to sleep an hour later.
But today, as every year, is the worst of the problem. My reenactment group marches in the town’s St Pat parade and it is always the same day DSL starts. DH and I have to get there early and leave a car at the end to help get people back to the start (at the end) and to drop stuff at our headquarters for the woman who will go in and cook corned beef and cabbage for dinner after the parade. So I have to get up earlier than usual. Between one and the other 3 -4 hours sleep.
SusanSunshine Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Nice metaphor.Yeah, most of us are quite ready to leave that cave.
I know I know….some people hate DST, and YES, I know we’re just trading a morning hour of darkness for an evening hour of light…
but I LIKE it, OK?
doublepaw almost 11 years ago
Only trouble is with that extra hour of sunshine, the grass will grow quicker……….right?
Reppr Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Keep it all year, as far as I am concerned.
rip_marco almost 11 years ago
DST? To quote Homer Simpson, “Stupid farmers!”
g'ma1949 almost 11 years ago
Not the farmers’ fault, they farm by their own schedule—some guy in New Zealand started the problem in 1895 because he wanted an extra hour of daylight after work so he could study bugs! Google “What’s wrong with Standard Time” to get the story. There’s a link there to another website that explains more about it and wants us to contact our legislators to repeal the whole frustrating idea.
joedon2007 almost 11 years ago
I’d much rather an extra hour of sunlight when getting home from work for cooking on the grill and for kid’s sports games than at 4am when I’m trying to sleep
Dani Rice almost 11 years ago
I agree – DST all year round.
sbchamp almost 11 years ago
Cue whiny peeps!
bsqnbay almost 11 years ago
It doesn’t matter. Live well everyday and i promise you won’t notice the time change.
Cminuscomics&stories Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Hey! Uncle Mitch got Indiana kabillions of new jobs with DSL And, they all pay swell too… It also gives cartoonists two jokes a year.
K M almost 11 years ago
Our long national nightmare resumes. DOWN WITH DST!!!
Flatlander, purveyor of fine covfefe almost 11 years ago
Moved to Saskatchewan, first time in forever I didn’t spent the morning changing 5 clocks, the stove & microwave and both vans.
Canuckguy almost 11 years ago
The light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
LittleIggy almost 11 years ago
I hate DST! Quit stealing my sleep!
Comic Minister Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Good job guys!
ARLOS DAD almost 11 years ago
DST, Ben Franklin’s idea, he liked it because he only had one clock to change. Now we have many and to change the car clock by, menu, radio, then turn knobs, back to menu and *&%#?{}|! I forgot to save the setting….
KEA almost 11 years ago
I think next time we should change by half an hour and then live with the compromise thenceforth
locake almost 11 years ago
High school starts at 7 am here, so kids will be going to school in the dark. I wish DST started a little later, end of March or in April.
Gokie5 almost 11 years ago
I didn’t mind the hour taken out this morning, because I planned ahead and got to bed by the new time last night (unusual for me). But I think it’s all worthwhile because of that glorious extra sleep hour in November (morning of the 2nd this year). Also, if your kids have to wait for a school bus, or walk or bike to school, it’s nice for them not to be in pitch darkness and stand more risk of getting run over.
Tandembuzz almost 11 years ago
@ Rip_Marco (and for the education of others):
The farmers lobbied hard AGAINST DST. Farmers get up when the cows need milking or the crops need harvesting. They don’t care what some mechanical time-piece says. Farmers lost an hour of time between morning harvest (sunrise) and the opening of the markets (9 am), so they were incensed.Business lobbied FOR DST. The stock market would be open an hour earlier in relation to the London Stock Exchange, thus gaining an hour in terms of stock price changes on the London Stock Exchange. Retailers (and wholesalers, I guess, too) were for DST because workers leaving the factories would have one extra hour of daylight to shop in (in those days people shopped less once the sun set), so sales would increase.Energy savings had nothing to do with it. That’s the argument we were fed during the Nixon Administration (and the oil embargo), but if you recall, the economy was down, and the real reason was that “full-time DST” would boost the economy.If you look at the advance of DST into “Standard Time”, each time DST has been extended it’s while the economy is in a slump. DST is simply a strategy to prop up a slumping economy.Of course, in these times of artificial lighting, internet/international sales, and computer stock trading, there really is no reasonable basis for continuing DST. My guess is that it no longer affects the economy much, but merely serves to keep the “masses” in a state of literal darkness at the start of the day. (Although I think the continuation has much more to do with inertia and continued belief that the economy is aided by DST than with “keeping the masses tired and confused”.)Personally, as a cyclist and NOT a morning person, I prefer DST for the extra hour of daylight in the evening, but I’d rather we just stuck with it all year ’round. I HATE switching back and forth. It also annoys the Grammar Nazi in my that we spend five-twelfths of the year on “Standard Time”. DST is the new “Standard”.
Mary McNeil Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Unless you get up at 5 AM, in which case it is even darker!
Alec McLure Premium Member almost 11 years ago
@locake high school kids at 7 am? Seems kinda brutal…
sstamilio almost 11 years ago
My biggest pet peeve, the five year bill passed in 1970ish, had it for one year. The first day that the clocks didn’t " fall back", there were statistics showing how many kids got killed waiting for buses in the dark because of DST not ending on Sunday. Funny thing sunrise was only 4 min later than the previous Friday. The 5 year DST experiment was reversed before the next fall. Funny thing is DST ends 6 weeks later now and I think starts earlier. I wonder do we no longer care about the children. Lies. Damned lies, and statistics.
April Anemone almost 11 years ago
Boy, this sure is a “First World problem”.
bob_shaffer almost 11 years ago
In Arizona, we don’t observe DST. Haven’t set a clock forward or back for years now…
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member almost 11 years ago
They did that one year in the 70’s.Kids were getting hit by school buses in the dark.I wouldn’t mind if they just got rid of the whole thing.
Downundergirl almost 11 years ago
sob. DST ends down here at the end of the month. weeps. Long dark days of winter ahead.
at least we don’t get snow here.
mafastore almost 11 years ago
I gave up adjusting to DSL years ago. I just wake a hour later and go to sleep an hour later.
But today, as every year, is the worst of the problem. My reenactment group marches in the town’s St Pat parade and it is always the same day DSL starts. DH and I have to get there early and leave a car at the end to help get people back to the start (at the end) and to drop stuff at our headquarters for the woman who will go in and cook corned beef and cabbage for dinner after the parade. So I have to get up earlier than usual. Between one and the other 3 -4 hours sleep.
The Rolling Cat almost 11 years ago
If we have to be stuck with it, I appreciate that the span between fall back and spring forward is at least shorter than it used to be.