Hi Douglas, In the spirit of accuracy, I have to point out (very gently so as to not cause offence) that noon actually occurs when the sun is due NORTH. It is only the benighted people who are forced to live in the northern hemisphere who persist with the belief of a southerly sun.
Cheers, John John Pickard john.pick...@bigpond.com Sydney, Australia 33o 39.5’S 151o 06.4’E From: Douglas Bateman Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2016 5:31 AM To: Barbara and Augustine McCaffrey Cc: Sundial list Subject: Re: Permanent DST Dear Barbara and Augustine, I am flattered that you are following this dialogue, and I’m sure Frank is too. Frank wishes to wind up the discussion, and this can be my final, and personal, contribution. First of all, it is obvious that Frank is both happy to be a very early riser and is prepared to challenge any topic and any assumptions. For example the ‘effective day centred on 3pm’. If I rise very early in the summer, I may be enthralled by a sunrise or quiet dawn (and wonder if this is the best part of the day). However, I like to have 8 hours of sleep, AND enjoy long summer evenings, glass in hand. It follows that for most days, I am prepared to sacrifice the early hours, and therefore my day may run from 7am to 10 or 11pm. 3pm is therefore a nominal middle of the waking day. Society in the UK as a whole seems happy with this, and is the basic reason for daylight saving time. When winter approaches, the clocks are put back with many grumbles about the darker evenings. Without delving into accident statistics, it is obvious that the risks to school children walking or cycling home in the dark are increased. It is equally obvious that motorists driving home in the dark after a tiring day, and impatient to be home, increase the risks as well, both to themselves and others. I’m sure that these opinions, and similar, may have have caused some countries to adopt DST on a permanent basis. Ultimately we can define time to be whatever we want it to be, and even ignore the historical convention of noon when the sun is due south, even if this offends some of the sundial enthusiasts. Glad to know you have enjoyed the fun, even if there is a serious element. Best wishes, Doug
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