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Thursday, March 05, 2009

Daylight time starts Sunday, earlier than ever

Daylight Saving Time will begin in the wee hours of Sunday morning, earlier than ever, under the energy bill Congress passed in 2006. The early start is especially notable as many areas are still facing snow and cold from a particularly brutal winter.

McClatchy Newspapers offer a useful time-line outlining the history of DST, noting that it was first promoted by Benjamin Franklin, and first used nationwide in the U.S. during the World War I. The article also includes trivia, such as this gem: "In 1999, a terrorist attack on Israel's West Bank was thwarted when the terrorists failed to take into account the switch back to standard time. The bomb went off an hour early, killing only the terrorists." (Read more)

But while DST lends itself to amusing anecdotes and complaints about shorter nights, it is also important to note the effects DST may have on safety, especially as children wait for school buses by rural roads.

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