Ramblings of an old Doc
Published on March 13, 2016 By DrJBHL In Everything Else

 

Daylight Savings Time. What a hoax. When did all this nonsense start?

Ben Franklin invented it…as a half joke, and a dig at the French:

“Money would be saved, Franklin argued, if people rose with the sun and turned in earlier at night, replacing hours of expensive candle use with free morning daylight.” – National Geographic

But no one took it seriously…well, maybe some French folks, but apparently they didn’t lose any sleep over it.

So…jump to 1918 and people (the government) who actually took Franklin seriously. They figured people are more active during the evening (huh?) so, more daylight hours would mean less electricity needed. Maybe, if you have a rooflight. Weren’t there cities in 1918? So, after the war, farmers had the law repealed (thanks, guys). Oddly enough, it’s easier to do farm work when the world is on the sun’s schedule.

Another war came along, and so in 1942 it was re-enacted – only this time, year round. Well, adoption varied. The country was probably more like a clock quilt. So, in 1966 the Federal Government (lacking anything more useful to do) reintroduced DST. Adoption was voluntary. Only Hawaii and Arizona resisted (…beginning to wonder if DST is a tool to measure conformity and obedience…). In 2007, “W” passed a law expanding DST by more than a month and it now runs March – November.

Those who favor it quote a 1970s study which showed a 1% savings of energy. They clearly weren’t measuring the energy it takes to get out of bed. Well that was zen, and this is now: Studies have shown that more energy is lost with DST and in the southern Indiana study, electricity demand went up by $9 Million dollars.

So, you thought I was kidding about the energy it takes to get up? Read this from the CDC. DST makes existing sleep problem worse. It has consequences:

“Sleep is increasingly recognized as important to public health, with sleep insufficiency linked to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and other occupational errors.” – CDC

“About 60 percent of Americans feel the effects of lost sleep the Monday after they spring forward,according to the Better Sleep Council, the "consumer education" arm of sleep products manufacturers. Almost three-quarters of workers over 30 say the lost sleep affects their work — often by slowing productivity, the survey found. Several major disasters have also been chalked up to sleep deprivation, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.” – The Verge

Car accidents go up 6% in the days following the clock change. Workplace injuries go up too. Didn’t know about Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez and Challenger , but Three Mile Island, American Airlines 1420 as well.

Sleep deprivation is also a “tool” used during “interrogation” to disorient the person.

So, what made me go on this rant? A friend's problem made me think about, and research this problem more and the clock thing made it all come together.

If you have a sleep problem folks, PLEASE get with your Doctor about it…before it kills you and/or others. And yeah, that was today’s main, “hidden” message.

Now some humor (the best medicine). My cat takes care of my DST worries. You guys can have DST or whatever: I live on Cat Feeding Time.

Well, you folks have a good day…I’m going to catch a snooze.

If Zane lets me.

“When told the reason for Daylight Savings Time the old Native American person said, “Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”

I can neither find nor verify the source for that.

 

Sources:

http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/12/11186842/daylight-saving-time-car-crashes-work-accidents-fatigue

http://www.cdc.gov/features/dssleep/index.html#References

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/sleep-deprivation-accidents-disasters_n_4380349.html


Comments (Page 1)
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on Mar 13, 2016

Thanks for the reminder and info. 

on Mar 13, 2016

Queensland doesn't have Daylight saving....

It's claimed it fades the curtains.

The rest of Oz knows the real answer though....silly banana benders [who can't spell beer - XXXX] don't know how to read/change a clock...

on Mar 13, 2016

Didn't know all of that...very interesting... would be perfect if the damn thing was totally eliminated! 

on Mar 13, 2016

Fall back? Spring ahead? Rubbish.

Just another opinion that is rubbish. The first posted link. That lady that writes also writes for what you would call Internet bull shit and writes about what others write about like TMZ for example. She is one of millions that have found a way to make money from the Internet with writing bullshit. Just read her Twitter page to see what crap she is. Look at what else she reports by putting in her name “ Elizabeth Lopatto” and do a Google search.  Yeap, she is sure someone that knows everything so by all means, make sure you believe everything she says. This is what we now call journalism. I'm not pointing her out because she is a Women. Just so happens she is the one we are supposed to believe in the link posted. 

https://twitter.com/mslopatto?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

 The second posted link is stated as a fact but how can it be? Last study was in 2009. News flash this is 2016 and pretty certain many more BS studies have been made. CDC or not still BS. Another news flash. People need to keep their easy jobs so will come up with anything they thing people will believe and they are correct. Sure doesn’t make it fact. Did anyone actually notice that this CDC study was only done in 12 States? Well that is a high percentage. Yea right. No one may believe but I actually knew someone for years that did these kind of reviews and she actually told me they have to come up with a certain percentage, so would throw many responses out that didn’t go with what they wanted.

 The third link. “Sleep Deprivation” What the hell does that have to do with Day light savings time? Nothing. It doesn’t even mention it. I will never say if one works to many hours straight or only gets a few hours’ sleep in a day isn’t sleep deprivation.  But come on here.  Talking about something that happened in 2006, 1979, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1999. They talk about people working 13+ hours shifts. 22 hour shifts. In the 1999 post it only say “fatigue” was involved. Wow, that sure is a common general statement.

So here are some facts. How many millions people stay up 1, 2 or more hours for 16 weeks watching football games that end way past their bedtime. -- How many people stay up an hour or more watching a movie but its past their normal bet time? -- How many millions of people go out on Friday and Saturday nights and stay up for hours past their regular bet time? You never see this information included with what is said about Day light saving time as causing a big problem. That's because it can't be controlled and no one would want to hear that. 

The actual problem is with people. They want to bitch about anything that comes along and love to go with the flow that goes against real World events. Did the older generation of people have to go to bed at a certain time with TV off if you had one in your room and not phones, tablets, etc.  Sure did, as their were rules. So talk about getting less sleep than required just look at the children of today. Day light saving time has nothing to do with anything here. I was reading my own post about Day light savings time. Wow. People are complaining about everything. Even about having to take the time to change a clock because it wasn’t electronic and did it itself. 

It appears that if something is drilled into people minds enough they will believe it. Even when they don't know a damn thing about it or actually has no effect on their way of living. 

on Mar 13, 2016

I have to lean more to the side of what Dave wrote. In the words of Andrew Lang statistics are often used like a drunk man uses a lamp post, for support but not much illumination. The world does not fall apart because people lose 1 hour of sleep every year and I am very sceptical of statistics that say otherwise. There is a fine line between a statistic that someone created as a result of shotty research and something that is factual. It is not really difficult to put it to the test by asking yourself the question how many people do you know personally or even heard of that has been negatively affected (in a significant way) by daylight savings time. I can say that it has never been a problem for me and I do not know of anyone who it has been a problem and I am from a Province where farming is the mainstay. 

Daylight savings time, I can take it or leave it. By the way, sleep deprivation is real and many people do suffer from it but it is not caused by a one hour change in time every year. It is a result of being overworked, a medical condition or the deliberate choice to not have proper sleep habits.  

 

on Mar 13, 2016

If anyone bothered to read what I wrote, i.e. the title, he'd see that I don't think DST is at all necessary. 

One can dicker about statistics, and that's a pretty easy thing to do. The post is not and was not meant to be a definitive piece on DST nor on sleep deprivation.

Elizabeth Lopatto's article about DST was quoted. Not her twitter account, nor anything else she may or may not have written. To bring them into my post is a strawman, and naught more. Just relate to that article. In fact, she like you and I, also thinks DST is nonsense, BUT goes on to add facts (not divine revelations) about the history of it and some consequences which other sources bear out.

Statistics are also not divine revelations. They're numbers, and nothing more. If they are collected correctly, without biases and relate to correct numbers needed to prove or disprove a hypothesis, then they're valid for that time and place. The statistics quoted do not purport to reveal the origin of the universe, whether or not there's global warming/climate change, or a divinity.

To attack the CDC as a bunch of people just warming chairs and their work as bs is not acceptable on any level. They work hard with a very small budget to keep us healthy. Their work is honorable.Their studies are limited by manpower and budget. Their conclusions are correct. Whether or not all 50 states conform to the statistics of the 12 states or not is a separate question. The fact that 12 states were researched does not mean the other 38 were ignored nor are necessarily the same or any different.

DaveBax

 The third link. “Sleep Deprivation” What the hell does that have to do with Day light savings time?

I didn't say it had anything to do with it. It clearly has to do with sleep deprivation related disasters. The only thing I quoted about accidents being related to DST was the 6% spike in traffic accidents on the Mondays following DST changes. Nowhere did I state that DST CAUSED that spike. 

So, what made me go on this rant? A friend's problem made me think about, and research this problem more and the clock thing made it all come together.

That was a transition sentence...to the fact that sleep deprivation (for whatever reason) causes impairment, and the thought process it triggered. It was NOT meant to tie those statistics to any one person. That is a mistake many people make regarding statistics: They relate to statistical numbers of people, not to one person. On the individual level, there are many different factors to consider, but it might portend ill for the individual. It was meant as a "word to the wise".


If you have a sleep problem folks, PLEASE get with your Doctor about it…before it kills you and/or others. And yeah, that was today’s main, “hidden” message.

Sorry I bothered to care. Do whatever you wish. You will, anyway.

Talk about missing the forest for the trees...

on Mar 13, 2016

Most of Arizona does not change time at all.

on Mar 13, 2016

S J N

Most of Arizona does not change time at all.


Only Hawaii and Arizona resisted

on Mar 13, 2016

S J N

Most of Arizona does not change time at all.

Yes you are correct. I have been there a few times. They don't need it as it stays light pretty late in the evening without it. Besides in the summer the sooner it would get that sun off you the better. 

on Mar 13, 2016

Doc no one is bothered by your caring, we all appreciate that you care however anyone with a brain would interpret what you wrote as daylight savings time being a major contributor to sleep deprivation and a whole lot of other problems. For example "DST makes existing sleep problem worse. It has consequences:" You spent the first half of your thread talking about DST and then went on to talk about sleep deprivation in the last half. Sorry if you are bothered because someone disagrees with you but I for one do not buy the opinion that DST is the evil you are making it out to be. At most it is an inconvenience but nothing more. I am sure that if I wanted to find statistics to back up my thinking I could but rather draw so much attention to DST and missing the forest we should keep this about sleep deprivation. My greatest issue with what you wrote is that it should have been 2 separate threads, one talking about daylight savings time and the other about sleep deprivation. 

I am not sure why you got  your knickers all in knots. People are going to disagree with you from time to time and they have the right to express it.

on Mar 13, 2016

I'm not bothered that anyone disagrees. HOW they disagree matters, and based on what. Yours can be boiled down to "It seems to me".

When you quote me, quote the whole thing. Clearly the "DST makes existing problem worse" relates to the CDC and the Verge and an addition of common sense.


 Read this from the CDC. DST makes existing sleep problems worse. It has consequences:

“Sleep is increasingly recognized as important to public health, with sleep insufficiency linked to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and other occupational errors.” – CDC

“About 60 percent of Americans feel the effects of lost sleep the Monday after they spring forward,according to the Better Sleep Council, the "consumer education" arm of sleep products manufacturers. Almost three-quarters of workers over 30 say the lost sleep affects their work — often by slowing productivity, the survey found. Several major disasters have also been chalked up to sleep deprivation, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.” – The Verge
[/quote]

DST would indeed make existing sleep problems worse by virtue of losing yet another hour of sleep. What's hard to understand or agree with there???

About the "two parts" of the post? Again, you missed the the transition sentence:


So, what made me go on this rant? A friend's problem made me think about, and research this problem more and the clock thing made it all come together.

Nowhere did I say they are CAUSALLY related. One thing made me start thinking about a friend's problem, I wrote that. NOT what you're saying:

[quote who="JuniorCrooks" reply="10" id="3625483"]
however anyone with a brain would interpret what you wrote as daylight savings time being a major contributor to sleep deprivation and a whole lot of other problems.

You're not reading what I wrote...and you're putting words in my mouth.

Clearly from what I wrote DST is rubbish. It's in the title...that does NOT mean that for people in general and people with sleep problems DST doesn't have consequences.

What I decide to put in one thread or two isn't your say. 

Why do I bother?

 

* Nesting quote problem resurfaces.

 

 

on Mar 13, 2016

DrJBHL

Sorry I bothered to care. Do whatever you wish. You will, anyway.

Talk about missing the forest for the trees...

Well it if doesn't go your way you are telling me I will do what I want anyway. Very not true and this has nothing to do about something going my way. So if you want to personally attack me fire away but I didn't attract you on a personal way for writing this. I attacked the bull links. not all actually as a couple of them had some truth but not the 3 I mentioned. I am sorry about your friend as I actually have two that have to sleep with a mask on. I know what it's called but wouldn't even attempt to try and spell it. Not fun for sure I would think and there are other not nice sleep disorders people have. Just was saying it has nothing to do with someone losing one hour sleep once a year. 

Last, maybe it's all the news I have in my area. They play this thing up like it's the end of the world. It's all you hear and have heard for two weeks on TV and in the papers. The news interviewed a couple last night at 11 PM live on the news which I was watching. They were asked if they would be leaving early because of the time change tonight. Not quoting the entire response but basically the man said no we will be here till it closes at 2 AM but don't like the fact we are going to lose an additional hour of sleep because we are forced to and the women agreed.- So that really makes a lot of sense as it's really going to matter.

Maybe if the title was something different the information may have been thought of different.

You do many post in a year and I thank you them. I don't agree with the day light savings time thing and i'm all wrong. Also you are sorry you bothered to care? Most people here know you care so why would that have anything to do with this and why would you even think that way because someone saw something different. So reply or not reply to what I just said. However I'm done and will not get into a pissing contest or told I missed the whole point. So I'm asking you to get over it and remember I'm in my 70's and many things that are going on now I have a hard time getting a hold of. 

on Mar 13, 2016

I give up. doh

doh

on Mar 13, 2016

DaveBax

Maybe if the title was something different the information may have been thought of different.

The title means exactly what it says. The only exceptions are the folks with sleep apnea, etc. Their problems are worsened by the DST nonsense.

Last time: DST is a ridiculous solution for a non existent "problem" which makes people with problems suffer more.

For everyone who is unclear about what I wrote or the reason, why not just ask? Don't tell me what I wrote: Try saying, "Doc, did I understand you correctly?" It's not all that hard to stop and think, "Did I get that right?".

Don't assume you necessarily understood. If you have a problem asking in public, pm me.

*edit:

Perhaps a small anecdote might help:

When I was in basic training, the Regimental Sergeant Major gave me a list of tasks. I added up the time requirements, and the sum was 25 or so hours.

I noted that to him (with great respect), to which he answered, "What's the problem? Get up an hour earlier."

 

As I finished the post:

“When told the reason for Daylight Savings Time the old Native American person said, “Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”

 

 

 

on Mar 13, 2016

 


   The title is perfect... sometimes people do not read well, thoroughly, or already answering in their mind, so they do not understand what is really written.  Yes, I am hollering. Perhaps this is the only way what I say is visible in a post, so be it.  Now, everyone stop...it all sounds like the political crap.  If you are having a bad hair day, I forgive you.  

tbc

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