Monday, March 15, 2010

Springing Forward, Falling Back!

That's quite a vintage print: "Get Your Hoe Ready!" But, now that I've got your attention: A little trivia about Daylight Saving Time (which started up yesterday)!

I'm don't get riled up easily so I'm not well versed in the controversy over Daylight Savings. But, I know people who think the whole practice is a bad idea!

Personally, I'm more fascinated about how in the world daylight savings took hold in the first place. Think about that. The initial proposals must have seemed pretty out there!

Apparently, George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist (yes, that would be a guy who studies insects) came up with the brainchild in 1895. But even before Hudson's presented his plan, Benjamin Franklin, in 1784, wrote an essay about the idea of saving daylight.

Adding that extra hour of daylight benefits retailers and sports activities and some studies show a reduction in traffic fatalities.

Opponents say daylight savings causes more problems than it's worth. Farming issues are one negative cited. And disruption to our natural circadian clocks. According to poultry producer, Marty Notenbomer, it sounds like farm animals have the same trouble we do. Notenbomer said: "The chickens don't adapt to the changing clock until several weeks later."

So, if the human trickery has left you feeling cranky or in need of a nap, you can take heart that it's brutal for the chickens too! And, I never complain when we get to add that extra hour in the fall! So, "light"en up (pun intended)! Trade-offs, trade-offs!