Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, March 12, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, March 12, 2022 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 


DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME: 
A Pointless relic from the past 

[Christopher Nyerges is the author of How to Survive Anywhere, Extreme Simplicity, 
Foraging California and other books. He can also be reached via School of Self-Reliance, 
Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.] 

Yes, believe it or not, it’s that time of year again! Our lawmakers, in their 

infinite wisdom, continue to tinker with time. Manipulate the clocks and 

we can trick the people into supposedly saving energy. And twice a year, 

we’re all subject to the changes and inconveniences that occur as a result 

of the springing forward or falling back. We have to quickly adjust. It is part of our annual 

ritual, our relic from the past, where we go back to standard time from daylight savings 

time. 

But why? Are there real and tangible benefits from doing this? Must we continue to do 
so? 

Daylight savings time is a manipulation of the basic solar time within each time zone’s 
standard. It was said to be an idea of Benjamin Franklin, and was begun in the United 
States during world wars one and two, and eventually became “official” in all but two 
states. That right! At least two states have said “No, thanks, we’ll stick to standard time.” 
And now a few states are saying, “We’re sick of changing our clocks twice a year – we want 
to keep daylight savings time all year.” 

Daylight savings time is like a quaint tradition of a bygone era that refuses to die. It is a 
pointless habit with little recognizable merit. Michael Downing, author of “Spring Forward: 
The Annual Madness of Daylight Savings Time,” demonstrates that the clock-change 
saves energy in theory only, but not in practice. 

David Letterman once asked the question to his audience during his monologue: “Why do 
we practice daylight savings time? It’s so the farmers have more light,” he laughed, answering 
his own question. “But how does that give the plants more light?” That’s a Letterman 
joke for you, but there is a truth hidden under his humor. Most people queried on the 
street don’t know why we have daylight savings time, and fewer still experience any tangible 
benefits from it, except perhaps the pleasantness of a later sunset time in the summer. 

There are two often-cited reasons for the use of daylight savings time. One is so that the 
children can have more light going to school in the morning. But consider: the children 
have an hour more of morning light in late October, when the clock is set back (“fall back”) 
to standard time. That is, it is the very use of daylight savings time which creates a darker 
morning as the days get shorter and shorter. The “falling back” an hour merely puts us 
back in sync with the local time zone. It is the use of daylight savings time that created 
the problem of less light in the morning, and only in that sense can you say that the “falling 
back” to regular time gives children that extra hour of light. In other words, this is 
a problem caused by daylight savings time. This is not a bonafide benefit from daylight 
savings time. 

My grandfather, and all my uncles on my mother’s side were farmers. I have some knowledge 
of the schedule of farmers. There is not one that I know who does not arise at the 
crack of dawn, if not sooner. There is no other way to function as a farmer. You then 
proceed to work as long as needed, and as long as you are able, daylight savings time or 
standard time. The manipulation of clocks in no way affected how much work they got 
done, or not done. 

I have talked to many people about daylight savings time. Some like it, some do not. Some 
are annoyed by it, some find the long afternoons of summer very enjoyable. Everyone has 
arrived late (or early) on the first Sunday (even Monday in some cases) after the changing 
of the clocks. Daylight savings time thus gives millions of people a quasi-valid excuse for 
lateness at least once a year. 

Let’s end daylight savings time entirely and adopt a year-round standard time. If I were 
asked to choose between daylight savings time all year, or standard time all year, I would 
definitely choose standard time. Why? Simple! Standard time is the closest approximately 
of actual solar time. It more closely represents the real world than does the manipulation 
of daylight savings time. 

Those who wish to start school or go to work earlier can do so! Such voluntary time alterations 
are fine if those individuals and schools and businesses choose to do so. It may even 
make the freeways less crowded at rush hours. But keep the standard time year-round. 

Yes, this is a small thing in the context of a world seemingly always at war, with hate and 
suspicion in all political camps, with pandemics, and endless economic hardships all over 
the world. In that big-picture sense, this is just a little issue. But this is still an issue that 
should be resolved, and dealt with. I love the sun. Let the sun dictate our abstraction of 
time, not politicians. 

Since daylight savings time is a state-by-state decision, we can begin with California. Write 
to our Governor and ask to implement year-round standard time. You can write to Office 
of the Governor, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814, or phone at 916) 445-2841, or 
on-line at www.govmail.ca.gov. (if you live in another state, write to your governor if you 
agree). 

Take a poll of your friends and acquaintances before you write to the Governor. See if you 
can find anyone who derives tangible benefits from daylight savings time. Secondly, there 
is always the initiative process where a Proposition can be put on the ballot to be voted 
on by the people. This is a process that would take an organized effort and cost at least a 
million dollars, and probably more. 


MAKE IT THEIR LUCKY DAY! 

Kittens THOR & 
BANNER, age only 7 
months, are “wearin’ 
the green” in hopes 
of catching your eye. 
They are so sweet and 
loving, and play-ful 
that you’ll fall in love 
with them quickly! 
They are bonded 
brothers and will be adopted together. Won’t someone 
make it their lucky day? They’re totally ready to make 
your home their pot of gold. Don't forget to mention 
our March Madness discount of $25 off the adoption 
fee plus receive one of our popular fresh catnip socks. 
Find the adoption application on our website where 

you'll also find more adorable pix of them. www.lifelineforpets.org. 

Pet of the Week

 Two-year-old Raggedy Ann is super friendly andloves people! She’s pretty chatty, and will probablyuse her meow to get your attention. Raggedy Annenjoys being held sometimes, and might even jumpinto your arms for a cuddle. This sweet girl is lookingfor a home where she can get lots of love and snuggles.

 The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat adoptionsinclude spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriatevaccines. 

New adopters will receive a complimentary healthand-
wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, aswell as a goody bag filled with information about howto care for your pet.

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are availableevery Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phonecalls or email. 


FREE EVENT! STAGED READING 
OF OUTSIDE MULLINGAR AT 
SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE ON 
MARCH 21 
WHAT: 
OUTSIDE MULLINGAR. STAGED READING 
OF A PLAY. 
WHO: Written by John Patrick Shanley. Produced and directed by 
Christina Harris. Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse. 
WHERE: Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. 
There is free parking available in lots behind the Playhouse and 
across the street, as well as street parking. 
There are several dining establishments just yards from thePlayhouse. 
WHEN: Monday, March 21, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 

ADMISSION: FREE. (Donations gratefully accepted.) Reservations are not 
necessary. 

INFORMATION: 626) 355-4318. 

WEBSITE: http://sierramadreplayhouse.org

All current county COVID-19 safety protocols in place at the time of the event will be followed 
(including the wearing of face masks indoors and the checking of COVID-19 vaccination 
status). 

Sierra Madre Playhouse continues its Off the Page series of free, in-person staged play 
readings with Outside Mullingar. 

IN OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, Anthony and Rosemary are two introverted misfits straddling 
40. Anthony has spent his entire life on a cattle farm in rural Ireland, a state of affairs 
that due to his painful shyness suits him well. Rosemary lives right next door, determined 
to have him, watching the years slip away. With Anthony's father threatening to disinherit 
him and a land feud simmering between their families, Rosemary has every reason to fear 
romantic catastrophe. But then, in this very Irish story with a surprising depth of poetic passion, 
these yearning, eccentric souls fight their way towards solid ground and some kind of 
happiness. Their journey is heartbreaking, funny as hell, and ultimately deeply moving.

 John Patrick Shanley is the playwright. He is the author of 41 produced plays, two of which 
(Outside Mullingar and Doubt) were produced on Broadway. His most-produced plays include 
Beggars in the House of Plenty, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, The Dreamer Ex-amines 
His Pillow, Italian American Reconciliation, Psychpathia Sexualis, and Savage in Lim-bo. He 
won an Oscar® for his screenplay for Moonstruck. His other screenplays in-clude Joe Versus 
the Volcano, Five Corners, Congo, The January Man and Wild Mountain Thyme (adapted 
from Outside Mullingar). He is also a director.

 Christina Harris produces and directs. Christina is thrilled to be back at the Sierra Madre 
Playhouse, where she was able to bring holiday cheer by directing It's A Wonderful Life, as 
well as her own adaptation of A Christmas Carol for several years. It was also at SMP that 
she co-founded Acting Up! Acting Workshops for Kids and Teens, which she has successfully 
run as its sole director for 10 years. A multi-hyphenate creative individual, she has performed 
as an actor, dancer, and choreographer throughout the country. She has taught at the 
acclaimed CSArts-SGV in Duarte, brought Shakespeare to life at The Gooden School here 
in Sierra Madre, and for over 15 years she has inspired kids with learning differences as the 
Drama Director at the renowned Frostig School in Pasadena. 

 Her cast for Outside Mullingar includes Scott Harris and Mary O’Malley.

 Stage manager: Jeanne Marie Valleroy.

 “Mr. Shanley’s lyrical writing gives such consistent pleasure that even though we know the 
equations that define romcoms will add up to the familiar sums, we are happy to watch as 
they do.” 

---The New York Times

 For more information about shows in the coming months at Sierra Madre Play-house, 
go to http://sierramadreplayhouse.org 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com