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Opinion: When does Daylight Savings Time start? And why?

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Well, hello, neighbor. Or neighbour, if you’re from Canada, the U.K. or some other elegant place that can afford the extra letter.

The answer to the question is: Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March (March 13 in 2011) and lasts until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November (the sixth this year).

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It should really be called Daylight Shifting Time. Spring an hour ahead, fall an hour back. That’s in most civilized places, even for elected officials there.

Like everything except JiffyPop, Daylight Savings Time was invented by Benjamin Franklin. It’s become particularly popular in modern industrialized societies because in nicer summer months it shifts one hour of sleepy-oh-geez-i-have-to-go-to-work-now time from the morning to the hey-let’s-BBQ-tonight evenings.

Daylight time is not so popular among farmers who must get up in the dark or among their dairy cows, who for a rough month or so of biological adjustment must hold that full udder what seems like a very long extra time. However, cows can’t vote yet and there aren’t many farmers left. So, they lose.

Yes, it’s true the Obama administration is suing Arizona. However, the suit is over Arizona enforcing immigration laws that Eric Holder won’t.

The lawsuit is not because the Grand Canyon State tried daylight time back in the 1960s and (Navajo Nation aside) decided, ‘No way!’ (Think about it: How badly would you want another hour of brutal desert summer sunshine?)

So, enjoy the government-imposed loss of an hour of sleep tonight because somehow sometime you’ll get it back probably. (Gee, if government can regulate our clocks, wristwatches and cellphone time displays, what’s next? Light bulbs?)

And whatever the time, remember to check The Ticket regularly. Because we are always here. And never late.

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-- Andrew Malcolm

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