Finally, I can start counting down the days. One of my favorite days of the year is approaching. Not fast enough, but the autumnal equinox has come and gone, and I look forward to the end of Daylight Savings Time. It's on November 3rd, this year.
The sooner the sun sets, the sooner my feet can come up off of the floor. It gives me permission to stop and end the day. Don't ask me why I allow a clock to dictate how my day is run. Sometimes I just tend to be a follower.
I recently learned that this time change, falling back, is different in many places in the world. For instance in Brazil, it is on Sunday, October 20th. In Libya, it is on Friday, October 25th. Greenland is on October 26th, and Lebanon is on the 27th. There are different days for many of the European countries. I never knew that. Yes, it does appear that ours, on November 3rd, is the latest of them all. Wonder who we can thank for that.
Who thought DST was a good idea anyway? Apparently, Ben Franklin first suggested it in 1784, but it wasn't first adopted or used by any country until the early 1900's. The idea is that it could increase tourism, and it cuts down on electricity use (lights, maybe -- but seems to me air conditioning would counteract that). We could safely assume there was no modern air conditioning in 1916, during World War I. But, as is usually the case, no one asked me. But it could quite possibly be the "most wonderful time of the year." Too bad they shortened it again in 2007. Frankly, I would be happy with them leaving it alone. Let it be one way or the other. We can deal.
©iStockphoto.com/karen roach
I recently learned that this time change, falling back, is different in many places in the world. For instance in Brazil, it is on Sunday, October 20th. In Libya, it is on Friday, October 25th. Greenland is on October 26th, and Lebanon is on the 27th. There are different days for many of the European countries. I never knew that. Yes, it does appear that ours, on November 3rd, is the latest of them all. Wonder who we can thank for that.
Who thought DST was a good idea anyway? Apparently, Ben Franklin first suggested it in 1784, but it wasn't first adopted or used by any country until the early 1900's. The idea is that it could increase tourism, and it cuts down on electricity use (lights, maybe -- but seems to me air conditioning would counteract that). We could safely assume there was no modern air conditioning in 1916, during World War I. But, as is usually the case, no one asked me. But it could quite possibly be the "most wonderful time of the year." Too bad they shortened it again in 2007. Frankly, I would be happy with them leaving it alone. Let it be one way or the other. We can deal.
