{"id":7514,"date":"2023-11-05T08:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T08:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=7514"},"modified":"2024-07-03T19:37:18","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T19:37:18","slug":"daylight-saving-time-return-of-a-modest-proposal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/daylight-saving-time-return-of-a-modest-proposal\/","title":{"rendered":"Daylight Saving Time: Return of a Modest Proposal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Daylight_saving_time\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20171019ff\/20171105-800px-DST_Countries_Map-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Areas enduring Daylight saving time. (2017)\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Daylight saving time, 2017. Details have changed, but we&#8217;re still stuck with it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a condensed\/abbreviated version of something I wrote a few years back:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/daylight-saving-time\/\">Daylight Saving Time: A Modest Proposal<\/a>&#8220;<br>(November 6, 2017)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I discuss my &#8220;modest proposal&#8221; under the <a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/daylight-saving-time-return-of-a-modest-proposal#daylight2\">Daylight Saving Time: How SADIST Could Make it Worse<\/a> heading. What&#8217;s behind the &#8220;SADIST&#8221; acronym is explained in point <strong>3.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And now, a whittled-down version of that 2017 post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-black-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-black-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps I should remember my station, and be respectfully silent before the weekend&#8217;s mighty display of power and glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am, after all, but one of those who live neither in the Northeast megalopolis nor the shining lands of San Francisco and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a name=\"daylight\"><\/a>Daylight Saving Time \u2014 Again \u2014 Still<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/humility-isnt-being-delusional\/#umbleness\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20160719ff\/20160730-UriahHeep-Fred_Barnard07-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fred Barnard's illustration: Uriah Heep. (1870s)\" align=\"right\"><\/a>Enough of that &#8216;umble posturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in America, there&#8217;s a pretty good chance that you remembered to set your clock back an hour during the weekend. We&#8217;ve gone through this routine every year for \u2014 too long, I think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where I usually start talking about when this nonsense started, why we did it, and why it&#8217;s still a twice-yearly ritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Open Heart paper in PubMed&#8217;s online resource may be the most interesting of the lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The odds are pretty good that you didn&#8217;t enjoy the benefits of a DST-induced acute myocardial infarction last spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My guess is that we&#8217;re not absolutely, positively sure that the DST jump causes the increase in acute myocardial infarction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinning down the exact metabolic, neurological, and probably psychological and behavioral causes is another set of tasks. I suspect that there must be an iron-clad case before national leaders will consider changing this hallowed custom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myocardial infarction is geek-speak for heart attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Properly, or weirdly, considered, it&#8217;s an opportunity to skip work. Sometimes permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a name=\"daylight2\"><\/a>Daylight Saving Time: How SADIST Could Make it Worse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/raving-politics\/#outrage\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20170908ff\/20161107-Edison-block-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"John Hambrock's 'The Brilliant Mind Of Edison Lee'. (Nov.7, 2016) used w\/o permission.\" align=\"right\"><\/a>Now, my modest proposal; something I first suggested in spring of 2007. I figure it&#8217;s time to run this up the flagpole again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With any luck, someone will think I&#8217;m serious \u2014 and suggest something that makes more sense. Like dropping DST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, some other countries have their own versions. But I suspect &#8216;everyone&#8217;s doing it&#8217; isn&#8217;t a particularly good excuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enough preamble. Here it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Three more ways that changing the clock (and, while we&#8217;re at it, the calendar) that could CHANGE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Set clocks back 12 hours during August.<\/strong> Keeping people quiet during the day could save enormous amounts of energy that would otherwise be wasted on air conditioning stores and offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Set clocks back ten hours and forty minutes at noon on April 15.<\/strong> This 10:40 time shift would remind those who wait until the last minute to file tax returns by the date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;d also give them more than a full business-day&#8217;s-worth of additional time to get their forms in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ten hours and forty minutes is a large time shift, so clocks should be set forward one hour and twenty minutes at 2:00 a.m. \u2014 For eight days \u2014 April 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason should be obvious: to minimize psychological stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although this stress-relieving measure might not save significant amounts of energy, the psychological effects could make a significant difference in quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Quality of life&#8221; is such a nifty-sounding phrase: you <strong>know<\/strong> it&#8217;s gotta be a good idea<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Finally, replace the evening of December 31 with Substance Abuse and Drug Interaction Study Time.<\/strong> The acronym should be easy to remember: <strong>SADIST.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a name=\"sadist\"><\/a>SADIST: If At First You don&#8217;t Succeed, Threaten<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/temperance-catholic-style\/#getting\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20160505ff\/20160707-The_Drunkards_Progress_-_Color-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" align=\"right\"><\/a>Instead of over-indulging during New Year&#8217;s Eve parties, citizens would be encouraged to learn about substance abuse, dangers of mixing prescription drugs and alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This should reduce deaths in drunk-driving accidents, alleviate the need for expensive security measures in places like New York&#8217;s Times Square, and promote sober, healthy lifestyles among the general public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you don&#8217;t agree, SADIST activists could say that those who oppose them promote drunkenness, debauchery, and delinquency. Or say they&#8217;re drug pushers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a name=\"ive\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/using-vaccines-wisely\/#america\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20170721ff\/20170718-355px-Unholy_three-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Keep America Committee's 'At the Sign of the UNHOLY THREE' flyer (1955)\" align=\"right\"><\/a>I&#8217;ve gotten the impression that logic has very little to do with politics, and even less with real-world analogs to SADIST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can&#8217;t say that I blame folks running the show for using raw emotion and discouraging logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Encouraging the masses to start thinking might \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 actually, I think that&#8217;d be a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It might disrupt &#8216;business as usual.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I think that could be a very good thing indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The status quo isn&#8217;t particularly peachy these days. I think a growing number of Americans are realizing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Experience suggests that hard times aren&#8217;t nearly as bad for folks, in our hearts, as &#8216;good times&#8217; like the late 1940s and 1950s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I like being an American, mostly, but realize that this isn&#8217;t a perfect country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wasn&#8217;t in my youth, either. What we&#8217;ve got now is, in some ways, an improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You see, I <strong>remember<\/strong> the &#8216;good old days.&#8217; And am glad they&#8217;re gone. (<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/taking-god-seriously\/#looking\">August 20, 2017<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting back to SADIST and irrational appeals, be honest: if you follow political news, you&#8217;ve run across something that&#8217;s pretty much as sensible as SADIST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s not just &#8216;those people.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve still got a few politically-inclined folks in my social media feeds, on several sides. Some of them get pretty vehement. To be polite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s nothing new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it&#8217;s no incentive for me to wade into that particular sewage lagoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there&#8217;s the French Revolution&#8217;s calendar, and that&#8217;s another topic, for another day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More, mostly how I see life and death, health, pleasure and moderation, and getting a grip:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/double-jupiters-a-jumbo-puzzle-antimatter-falls-down\/\">Double Jupiters, a JuMBO Puzzle; Antimatter Falls Down<\/a>&#8220;<br>(October 7, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/edited-twins-genetic-engineering-and-bioethics\/\">Edited Twins, Genetic Engineering and Bioethics<\/a>&#8220;<br>(March 11, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/euthanasia-for-the-mentally-ill-not-a-good-idea\/\">Euthanasia for the Mentally Ill: Not a Good Idea?<\/a>&#8220;<br>(January 18, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/health-and-surfside-condo-collapse-siloam-scenarios\/\">Health and Surfside Condo Collapse: Siloam Scenario<\/a>&#8220;<br>(June 26, 2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/temperance-catholic-style\/\">Temperance, Catholic Style<\/a>&#8220;<br>(July 10, 2016)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a condensed\/abbreviated version of something I wrote a few years back: I discuss my &#8220;modest proposal&#8221; under the Daylight Saving Time: How SADIST Could Make it Worse heading. What&#8217;s behind the &#8220;SADIST&#8221; acronym is explained in point 3. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/daylight-saving-time-return-of-a-modest-proposal\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[212,154],"tags":[16,205,82,7,8,34],"class_list":["post-7514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-being-a-citizen","category-discursive-detours","tag-america","tag-dark-humor","tag-death","tag-getting-a-grip","tag-health","tag-politics"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Dwtw-1Xc","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7514"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8228,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7514\/revisions\/8228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}