WHILE WINTER IS MAKING ITS LAST GASP THIS WEEK, SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER – ONE SURE SIGN IS OUR CLOCKS!
DID YOU REMEMBER TO SPRING FORWARD THIS WEEKEND? IF NOT, YOU WERE PROBABLY LATE FOR SCHOOL ON MONDAY!
IT’S CALLED DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME – AND IT DOES JUST THAT! WE SET OUR CLOCKS FORWARD IN THE SPRING SO WE CAN ENJOY MORE EVENING SUNLIGHT IN THE COMING MONTHS.
ENGLISH BUILDER WILLIAM WILLETT WAS THE FIRST TO SUGGEST THE SWITCH IN 1905. HE WAS RIDING HIS HORSE THROUGH LONDON IN THE MORNING WHEN HE FIGURED THAT PEOPLE COULD USE MORE OF THE DAYLIGHT IF THEY WOKE UP EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.
ALTHOUGH THE U-S OFFICALLY GOT ONBOARD WITH DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME WAY BACK IN 1966, SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THAT IT IS BAD FOR US. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE NUMBER OF HEART ATTACKS PEOPLE HAVE INCREASE WITH DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME. AND I KNOW I’M MISSING THAT EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP! BUT ONE GROUP THAT LOVES IT: RETAILERS! THE EXTRA EVENING SUNLIGHT BRINGS IN MORE SHOPPERS!
Instructional Links
Daylight Savings Time
Website Article: History of Daylight Saving Time - DST
Interactive Website: Unit-Conversion.info, Daylight Saving Time Calculator