Spring forward
and shoot an eagle
(on camera, of course)
Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour ("spring forward") before you go to bed Saturday night, because Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday.
I've always been a little intrigued by the strange concept of "saving daylight" by moving the clock, so I did a little research on the history and origin of the federal law. Following are excerpts I pulled from webexhibits.org/daylightsaving.
The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but it was first advocated seriously by a London builder, William Willett, in 1907. During an early morning ride Willett was struck by the fact that the blinds of houses were closed, even though the sun was fully risen.
In his pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight" he wrote: "Everyone appreciates the long, light evenings. Everyone laments their shortage as autumn approaches; and everyone has given utterance to regret that the clear, bright light of an early morning during spring and summer months is so seldom seen or used."
Daylight saving has been used in the United States and in many European countries since World War I, when the system was adopted to conserve fuel needed to produce electric power. During World War II, the United States observed year-round Daylight Saving Time (from Feb. 2, 1942, to Sept. 30, 1945).
From 1945 to 1966, there was no federal law about Daylight Saving Time. So, states and localities were free to decide whether to observe or not to observe Daylight Saving Time and could choose when it began and ended. This, however, caused confusion - especially for the broadcasting industry and for railways, airlines, and bus companies.
Many business interests were supportive of standardization, although it became a bitter fight between the indoor and outdoor theater industries. The farmers (who start and stop with the sun), however, were opposed to such uniformity.
By 1966, Congress decided to step in and end the confusion and establish one pattern across the country. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 was signed into law on April 13, 1966, by President Lyndon Johnson. This mandated Daylight Saving Time to begin on the first Sunday of April and to end on the last Sunday of October.
So, there you have it. Replace the batteries in your smoke detector, too, this weekend while you're at it.
On eagles' wings...
For those who haven't already seen one or heard about them, Rock County seems to have been inhabited by bald eagles, something rarely seen in these parts.
It's actually not so uncommon to spot one or two passing through, but we apparently have as many as 30 of the white-headed, broad-winged birds who have decided on an extended stay.
Most of them have been seen in the area of the State Park and along the Rock River. Yes, our home is located between the park and the river, and no, I haven't been able to capture an eagle on camera (despite plenty of opportunities).
They really are striking creatures, but my attempts at photographing them result in distant tree branches with dark nodules protruding from the bark.
I'd love to publish a photograph of a Rock County bald eagle, if any of our readers happens to get a clear shot. They can be e-mailed to editor@star-herald.com, or sent or delivered to our office at 117 West Main Street.
Send Lori an e-mail