Nov. 7th, 2006
killing time (well, sort of)
Nov. 7th, 2006 02:45 pmI've been trying to figure out why it bothers me so much that Eastern Daylight Time begins three weeks earlier next year and for the foreseeable future. I think it's partly a knee-jerk reaction to the government messing with time; isn't there ANYTHING they'll just leave alone?
Then I started wondering what the big deal is. Time is subjective; the only reason my natural inclination is to go to bed late and get up late is because we all pretty much agree on what "late" is in that context. ("Late" in terms of showing up somewhere is a whole other subject.) So why do I care if the government says it's going to be an hour earlier starting in March instead of in April?
I think it has to do with spring. Spring doesn't show up until late April, which is just after you set the clocks ahead again. So when you set the clocks ahead in March, that means it should be spring, but it isn't. It's March. It comes in like a lion, roars for 31 straight days, and scares all the lambs off until late April. So don't tell me it's spring in March, because I'll laugh at you. Including the government version of "you", which is telling me to set the clocks ahead before April.
So there.
Then I started wondering what the big deal is. Time is subjective; the only reason my natural inclination is to go to bed late and get up late is because we all pretty much agree on what "late" is in that context. ("Late" in terms of showing up somewhere is a whole other subject.) So why do I care if the government says it's going to be an hour earlier starting in March instead of in April?
I think it has to do with spring. Spring doesn't show up until late April, which is just after you set the clocks ahead again. So when you set the clocks ahead in March, that means it should be spring, but it isn't. It's March. It comes in like a lion, roars for 31 straight days, and scares all the lambs off until late April. So don't tell me it's spring in March, because I'll laugh at you. Including the government version of "you", which is telling me to set the clocks ahead before April.
So there.