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--> --> April 11: At the (square) root of daylight time By Larry Berteau Daylight saving time was thought up by the British as an economy measure during World War I. My opinion on English economic matters is well-documented. (See "Write On" for Mar. 28 in The Tidings' archives under the "Columnists" button - about 1,000 words on the subject with homage to Pepsi thrown in for prosaic lubrication.) In theory, it's more economical to be saving daylight time because you have to turn on your lights later. This is a dreadful theory as it pays no heed to getting up in the dark and turning on lights earlier because it isn't light, even though it should be, except for the fact that we're saving mercurial stuff created out of vapor and vapid thinking. It's sort of like the Pythagorean Theorem. That hypotenuse and all those sides - the squares thereof - existed before it, during it, and since it, and the theorem essentially changed nothing except drive eighth graders (and journalists) out of their math-impaired minds. Of course, these are only theories. Ax of Congress Not to be outdone - because back in the early part of the 20th Century we were still chasing the British tail in many weighty ways - the United States adopted daylight saving time in 1918. However, Congress stepped in a year later and repealed the law, as Congress was in the habit of creating and repealing all kinds of things during that time. Come WWII, the U.S. brought the saving of daylight (in the evening) back, figuring that it worked during the London blitz and there's nothing wrong with being careful, especially if it doesn't cost anything - other than confusion which is an immeasurable matter. Congress rose from a 50-year slumber and in 1967 made it law. But like all law, it had exceptions, like a state could remain on standard time if its legislature deemed it so, and states that were so unfortunate as to have more than one time zone within its sprawl could have the daylight time in one, and not the other, or vice-versa, presumably. The dates for the beginning and end of daylight saving within each year was changed several times over the years, corresponding not accidentally with shifts in Democratic and Republican leadership, and in 1986 Congress courageously took its final stand on the issue: changing the kickoff from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in April. One more hour, `Ork-ork' That's why we turned our clocks up one hour last Sunday. A major side benefit of daylight saving time, as it was argued through its formative years post-WWII, was it allowed farmers an extra hour to till their fields. It was never argued that these same farmers also lost one hour of daylight in the morning. Like trained seals applauding with their flippers for a slice of cod, the farmers rattled their pitchforks in glee over the attention they were getting. It certainly beat the bad press surrounding farm subsidies. Call me ... As for me, daylight saving time has a considerable impact on my life. (Besides the aforementioned problems I have with the theory itself.) One of the effects of having hung around the planet for a while - other than ear hairs and occasionally being called "Sir" - is that there are certain times to do certain things and the mind and body expect it. Even demand it. I don't use an alarm clock. However, I get up early. It is important that I get up early to get my work done. (Yes, that includes writing this column, and I suppose we could create an argument that it's not all that big a deal that I get up early. But I wouldn't listen to you because I've hung around this planet too long.) But 5:30 a.m. is now 6:30 a.m., by an act of Congress. So I find myself without a cup of tea in the morning, sometimes unshaved, always hurried, consequently cranky. The real world - that part of life that rises and falls with the sun rather than wretched acts of Congress or silly tilling times for toilers - is unchanged, unyielding, and going along its merry way. So, I must content myself with knowing that the Brits are behind it all, and the (square) root of my crankiness. Larry Berteau is editor of the Tidings. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing