Spring ahead...

[matrixman]

Well, I do love Autumn (as us heathens down under call it ) too. But, of course, it precedes winter, the days get shorter etc. Late autumn brings with it a sense of foreboding.

Spring isn't as settled as Autumn, but it precedes summer, and everything is budding and growing. And where I'm from, it means long daylight hours. We don't get snow, so no dirt and melted snow issues

Thinking more about this (er, because this is a complex issue!) I ultimately would be happier in spring than in autumn. Like you said, spring is about rebirth, the promise of renewal, and the long days of summer. I still love the fall season, but really just for the colors - and being able to enjoy that entirely depends on the weather being cooperative. Here, sometimes autumn is so wet and windy that a) there's little foliage left to see, and b) it's so crappy outside that you're more likely to be too miserable to be taking in the scenery.

[StevieG]

Thinking more about this (er, because this is a complex issue!)

I'm glad you take it seriously!

It's official, we are now one hour more advanced - daylight savings is here (for 4 of 6 Aus states - excludes West Aus, who don't want it, and Queensland, whose cows can't cope apparently ), and I'm one hour more sleep deprived!

[Menolly]

It's official, we are now one hour more advanced - daylight savings is here (for 4 of 6 Aus states - excludes West Aus, who don't want it, and Queensland, whose cows can't cope apparently ), and I'm one hour more sleep deprived!

ah! I thought you were on the Watch a bit earlier than usual.
So, when we go back to Standard time next month, our time gap will go from 15 hours difference to 16 hours difference?

[StevieG]

So, when we go back to Standard time next month, our time gap will go from 15 hours difference to 16 hours difference?

Correct!

[Fist and Faith]

Wow! I had no idea it was last night. Woke up and looked at my cell. 7:00. Went downstairs, and the clocks said 6:00.

[aliantha]

At least your cell kept you on track, Fist. Not like the old days, when no clocks changed automatically and if you forgot to change your clocks yourself, you were essentially screwed.

I've been in time zone wonderland for the past couple of weeks. Spent a week in Hawaii, which is 5 hours behind Eastern time. Came home -- and forward those 5 hours -- for about a day and a half. Then hit the road for Colorado, passing through two time zones and thereby losing two hours. Got here last night -- and then the time change happened overnight. My body has no freakin' idea what time it is!

I set the clock in the car yesterday morning to Central time but didn't bother moving it to Mountain time, as I knew I'd just have to set the bloody thing forward an hour again today....

[Fire Daughter]

I think it's stupid

[matrixman]

Yeah, it's daylight savings for us too. We now synchronize with the U.S. But it still feels too early in the year to me. Give me a couple of decades to get used to it.

Heh, I personally agree with Fire Daughter. The whole thing just messes up people and systems, like the computer program at our old office building that controlled when the front door unlocked in the morning.

Our neighbouring province Saskatchewan has it easy - it's the only place in the country that keeps standard time throughout the year.

[Damelon]

Our neighbouring province Saskatchewan has it easy - it's the only place in the country that keeps standard time throughout the year.

Here, Arizona still does, I believe. Part of Indiana did until the last year or so.

Kind of a pain, though it only takes a couple of days to get used to. Only the ovens now don't automatically switch at my house.

[Fist and Faith]

Yeah, the whole thing seems pretty stupid to me, too. I've always heard it was because of the farmers? Well, maybe it was needed back in the day. But we have electricity and stuff now, so just turned the damn lights on early in the morning.

[Menolly]

My understanding is that now daylight savings time is done, and was extended for the months of the year we follow it, because it is less expensive energy wise when we do, as daylight hours last longer in to the evening. Apparently not as much electricity is used in the morning hours while it is still dark, compared to the evening hours when it gets dark.

That being the case, why isn't daylight savings time then implemented year round?

[Fist and Faith]

Sure. Whichever. Pick one and be done with it.

[stonemaybe]

I think they should just decide to make it 2.30pm on a Saturday and keep it there.

[aliantha]

I think they should just decide to make it 2.30pm on a Saturday and keep it there.

An excellent suggestion! I would vote for that!

[matrixman]

I just don't like waking up in the dark all of a sudden, after having gotten used to brighter mornings for the last couple of months. It throws me off. Was groggy going to work yesterday morning. This is what happens when our lives are ruled by the clock.

[Avatar]

No daylight savings in SA.

--A

[Damelon]

That being the case, why isn't daylight savings time then implemented year round?

Because in the fall the kids would have to go to school in the dark.

[StevieG]

I like Daylight Savings. It works well for my area - sure, there is a period where it's darker in the mornings, but longer days, maximising the daylight hours all makes sense to me.

[Avatar]

Well, in Jo'burg, we average 12 hours of sunlight a day. The daylight difference between seasons is pretty minimal...maybe an hour, hour and a half max. So it doesn't make much difference.

--A

[StevieG]

I think we have similar temps Av, but quite a different climate. Yours seems more sub-tropical, ours is drier (in my area anyway - there are vast areas of Oz that fit the Jo'burg climate), longer days in summer, shorter in winter. The differences are marked in summer and daylight saving happens for the 6 months of long daylight hours.