The Arbitrary ChuckJerry

The new energy bill passed by Congress and signed today by President Dubya includes a month more of daylight savings time. We're going to spring forward in the second Sunday in March, three weeks earlier than we used to, and fall back on the first Sunday in November, one week later than we used to.

I think this is a great idea. I personally love daylight time and it can't come soon enough or stay late enough for me. I honestly think we should just permanently switch to daylight time. The first day of standard time is always depressing for me. When it's dark at 4:30pm and just starting to get cold. It takes at least 2 or 3 days to get used to the idea for me. Some people get enormously depressed around that time of year and have to get light therapy just to deal with it. Those people should take the money they're spending on light therapy and buy a house closer to the equator.

Congress didn't do this just because they enjoy the daylight. Ostensibly this will save energy at the beginning and end of the spring/summer season by having an hour more of daylight at the end of the day. As it is most people are asleep when the sun comes up during these times and certainly don't use the light as much in the morning as they do at night. From that standpoint this is a good idea, too, I guess. I'm just happy about the daylight myself.

People are bitching about this because their VCRs are set to automatically change their clocks on the appropriate day. Those people should shut the fuck up quickly. They sound like technophobes. Next they're gonna be sending out unabomber manifestos against daylight savings.

Some people feel that it will be too dark in the morning when this change is made. The sun won't rise until 7:30 or so for these few weeks. They don't want their kids at bus stops and what not when it's dark. Also apparently farmers have trouble changing milking schedules of cows. These aren't issues you don't already deal with, people. You'll just have to deal with it three weeks earlier. Calm your shit down.

Anyone who's against this policy is un-American. If we don't extend daylight savings time, then the terrorists win.