So here's today's recycled review, brought to you by bitter resentment:
[This post originally ran under the title "Falling Back" on October 30, 2005. The book that is mentioned (and linked to) is Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time by Michael Downing.]
So, I've been waiting all month to "fall back." Geek that I am, I love the opportunity to live an hour twice, but I'm WAY less enthusiastic about springing forward and I am the kind of person that's always wondered WHY we do this insane and pointless thing twice a year especially since hardly anyone has a coherent explanation for why we do it and no one I personally know feels there's even one demonstrable benefit to doing it (I mean, "they" tell us it's about saving fuel or whatever, but has anyone, ever, scientifically illustrated the "truth" of that statement?). Earlier this month at the library (where, yes, I spend entirely too much time, thanks for asking), I stumbled upon this book, which has everything I've ever wanted to know about Daylight Saving (starting with the fact that it's NOT "Daylight Savings," which is what I, and everyone I've ever known, have always called it) and a whole lot more than that, too.
I must confess up front that I was unable to finish the book, though I did make it two-thirds of the way through it and the conclusion I came away with was that NO ONE really knows why we do it, except that a bunch of politicians got their hearts set on it, for, I might add, no coherent or logical reason, which kind of made me wonder what sorts of illogical scams are currently being perpetrated on the nation by politicians with their hearts in the wrong place.
Speaking of scams, when I brought the book to work, Cranky Boss Lady said, "You know, I usually think the books you read are offbeat in an interesting and informative way, but this one just looks insanely boring. Frankly, I'm kind of annoyed that someone got paid for writing it."
Masked Mom's One-Word Review*: Pointless.
*This review applies to Daylight Saving itself, not to Michael Downing's book about it. Although I did not finish the book, I place the blame for that squarely on myself. And, as is probably clear from the word "Madness" in the title, Downing's not really much of a fan of Daylight Saving so he gets points on that basis alone.
Obviously it was good enough to recycle, and I loved it. Thanks, bitter resentment, for letting us have this again (or for the first time, for those of us happily new to here).
ReplyDeleteWelcome and thanks for the kind words. I'm not always this cranky. Just close. :)
DeleteNow that I am retired and am not tied to the clock, it really doesn't matter to me.
ReplyDeleteBut if I had to choose one over the other, I would pick DST because it "feels" like we get more time and isn't that we all wish we had more of?
I found an article written about this subject by "Mother Nature Network". The article
was interesting, but the comments were even more so. People have such strong opinions about the subject.
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/do-we-still-need-daylight-saving-time?page=5
I will have to check out that link when I get a chance. I know it's useless to get so irritated over it, but the change really kicks my butt every spring.
DeleteYou nailed it - I don't get the point of DST. Really? How stupid do you think we are? There is no time being saved. ANd, okay, so it's lighter longer in the evening but HELLO???? I t's darker in the morning. For those of us who enjoy using the morning light, it is no savings. But, I am happy for more light at the end of the day too - I would be all for s**tcanning the whole thing and being on one time all year. Again, how stupid do they think we are? Don't answer that.
ReplyDeleteThat's all the same stuff that goes through my mind about it. Hence the bitterness. It takes me WEEKS to get over it every spring.
DeleteI'm with you on this - I can't stand DST! After months of never quite feeling fully rested, "fall back" are two of my favourite words.
ReplyDeleteAnd Cranky Boss Lady sounds cranky.
Fortunately, Cranky Boss Lady has since become Cranky Ex-Boss Lady. :)
DeleteI am so with you on daylight savings time! I just don't get the whole thing - - we should all rebel and be like Arizona and not do it.
ReplyDeleteMy Pap (of "Kiss My Dupa" fame) never turned the clock on their stove as a sort of mini-rebellion. :)
DeleteSo. I was thinking about researching into this DST thing a little more because...I know it's pointless, but why in heavens name did it begin? Was it at one time point..err..pointful?
ReplyDeleteThe only point I see, is in making waking up for that dreaded SAT on Sunday morning that much more horrible. That point is sharp. And hurts.
When I read in your post that your SAT was on THAT Sunday, I really felt for you. If you find anything concrete out about the WHYS of it, I hope you'll share.
DeleteOk, what is it called if not "Daylight Savings"? The fact that there's no real reason for it, and that someone managed to turn that into an entire book baffles me.
ReplyDeleteSaving vs saving. And yeah, I kind of couldn't believe he got a contract for the book either.
DeleteWe have church at 9am and this week our bishop got up and said, 'Welcome, all 26 of you.' It was especially hard getting up this week. Also, it screws up my kids body clocks. grr.
ReplyDeleteI love my sleep as much as the next gal, and I will have to read this book because it sounds fascinating. (Sorry Cranky Boss Lady!) I kind of like DST these days (don't stone me) because it means that my monkeys who are naturally EARLY risers actually sleep a little "later" even though it's not really later according to their little bodies and just an arbitrary name for the time of day. But that's a nice side effect of the whole deal.
ReplyDeleteI love Cranky Ex-Boss Lady's "Frankly, I'm kind of annoyed someone got paid for writing it."
ReplyDeleteI have tried reading a few books I could say the same thing about. I'm fascinated occasionally by what publishers will publish.