Sunday, November 4, 2007

Daylight Savings Ends Today


Image credit: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

For reasons that surpass understanding, this week is the end of Daylight Savings Time in the United States. I know it's because of an act of Congress, but it still surpasses understanding. Up until last year, it used to be the last weekend in October when we "fell backward".

All the clocks in your house will be an hour ahead this morning until you set them back. Unless, of course, your clocks know when Daylight Savings Time ends, which means your clocks are probably on a computer that's had that information updated recently. You are up to date on your patches, right?

It used to be that people recommended you check the batteries in your smoke alarms at this time. Of course, that's when it was in October. Use your best judgement.

If you don't understand any of this, and there's no reason you should, there's still hope. The U.S. Naval Observatory knows what time it is. Just click on the link and pick a city in your time zone.

The picture, by the way, is of a Chinese water clock. I explained about that back in February. They didn't have Daylight Savings back then. Life was good, at least if you weren't a peasant, an outcast, or a leper.

Enjoy that extra hour.


No comments: