I think it will be pretty hilarious if, after all the hoopla about Y2K that turned out to be nothing (admittedly, we had a lot of warning), the world comes to an end because Congress decided to extend daylight savings time a month.

I've updated both the desktops (at least on the Windows side) and my Treo/cellphone, but who know what the morrow brings?

I wonder what effect an extra hour of sunlight each day for three weeks will have on Global Warming™.

There will be another glitch day, which I've not seen anyone mention, in a few weeks when the "normal" date will occur. I expect that's the day we'll see all our old VCRs and such which didn't get any updates and which won't make the jump tonight be off again.

Why don't we just shift the timezones all year and get it overwith?

Just wait until all the Unix systems crash in 2038, won't that be fun?

Don't remind me of Y2K. I had to be in a hospital with that going on. Not only did I miss a bunch of paid overtime, I had my bosses freaking since I wasn't available onsite. But I did get my blood pressure down to normal, and took off that 90 pounds of water that I had accumulated. By peeing (with the help of Lasix) (320 pounds going in, 230 pounds leaving the hospital 10 days later.)

I guess Big Bill's updates worked because my PC had the right time this morning.

My wife and I have watches that automatically reset from the atomic clock. This morning for the first time since we've had them they had been reset promptly with the time change.

Our cellphones check their time against the phone company network on a regular basis, and they've also updated more promptly than usual.

Our PCs updated without a hitch.

Maybe Congress should tamper with the time change schedule every year.

Here's pretty much every time/date issue you can imagine...

http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/critdate.htm

Its interesting having to update the time on older systems that use processor based timings. It requires mastery of quantum dynamic manipulation. We have to bend space-time to accelerate the clock within the mainframes universe so that it can catch back up with Earth time. Its tough work being in IT but we've got to keep those gears a churnin'. I'm a professional so i don't expect you all to understand such things. *opens can of Mountain Dew* Or job is to make so all you have to do is hit the power button, ......, profit.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Heftyjo

McGehee and Josh Reiter between them are saying that nowadays nearly all of our necessary timekeeping widgets either update themselves when the daylight-savings thingy happens, or have happy Dew-swilling elves who update them for us.

In that case...why don't we just shift the clocks back by 5 minutes every day on 12 consecutive days sometime in April (or March)? That way...

* No abrupt one-hour shock to the circadian rhythms as you lose an hour's sleep and get all crabby the next morning. They say there are way more accidents on the morning commute the morning after the time shift. This would take care of that -- anyone can get up 5 minutes earlier each day without going fuzzy in the head, except of course for Mr. Anonymous and other alcoholic and/or demented folks.

* If you're going to be late to work or for a date because you forgot to put the clock back, it will be a maximum of 5 minutes, practically not late at all. No more embarassing explanations! (On the other hand, no more convenient explanations, either.)

* If you're going to miss the start of your favorite tube show or radio broadcast, or a movie, because you forgot about the time shift, you only miss a maximum of 5 minutes. You'd barely miss the opening theme music.

If this idea doesn't seem brilliant, just wait until Monday morning, after the half-dozen cups of strong coffee it will have taken to pry you from your bed 60 precious minutes earlier.

I think the country should junk daylight savings.

Actually, my point was that the elves seemed to be quicker about working their quantum-shift magic this time because it was a change in schedule.

Carl's idea would work too, though again after a few years the damn lazy elves might need to be shook up with a whole new schedule. Like maybe instead of five minutes a day over twelve days, twelve minutes a day over five.

Just for the novelty of it. And to help sell more TiVos.