What a Good Thing we Said No to Berlin Time

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/

What a Good Thing we Said No to Berlin Time

As I pedalled through the pre-dawn gloom to the station this morning, in pelting rain and rather later than usual, I rejoiced that at least the plan for Berlin Time had been defeated.

This scheme would have tied our clocks to Central European Time, based on a meridian a few dozen miles east of Berlin, undeclared Capital of the EU. This would mean that the stygian mornings of this time of year would extend until well after nine o’ clock. This is obviously unnatural and also particularly dangerous to early-morning travellers on foot or by bike.

The corollary, of course, would have been blazing daylight until after 10.00 p.m. in the high summer weeks, equally unnatural and unwelcome to those whose work depends on early rising.

Looking back, it is amazing that the plan was beaten, thanks to a small but dogged group of intelligent and courageous MPs - and I can’t help wondering how long it will be before this proposal rises again from its grave. It plainly has its origin somewhere in the great Blob of Euro-enthusiasm ,for there is no other explanation for the way it is brought back, again and again, to Parliament. Alas, far too few people see through this. Ridiculous claims that the clock change will in some mysterious way benefit tourism and business are made and accepted without any attempt to verify them.

The very name of the last campaign ‘Lighter Later’ was fundamentally dishonest, because it implied that there was some sort of available pool of spare light, which could be tapped by this measure . Of course this isn’t so. If it was lighter later at one time of day, it would be darker later at another.

Just a nice piece by Hitchens here and a good reminder of how sensible and rational arguments won the day in relation to the effort last summer to try and have us move onto Central European Time. I remember the furious debates on this forum concerning this issue and thought it'd be nice to see what people thought now that the issue had been 'put to bed' at last. Glad to say that those of us who didn't back this silly change won the day.

Thoughts?

[alexxxxx]

Since when is someone's opinion 'current affairs.'

My thoughts:
This article is awful and is just an opinion.

I especially loved this part:

And here may be a point. I think this bossy scheme is most beloved by metropolitan late risers, media types and politicos, who seldom see the sunrise at any time of year, and who view going to bed as sort of defeat, rather than a welcome end to the packed day of the early riser.

pahahaha, what kind of a ramble is that?

I also enjoy how this has something to do with the EU. Berlin isn't the capital of the EU by any stretch of the imagination... he knows that as almost all of the EU's activities are carried out in Strasbourg and Brussels (and a bit of luxembourg too). And the most populous city, the main financial centre of europe is London. It's all trying to make a tenuous link between the EU and Nazi Germany. Yawn...........................................

[-:Undertaker:-]

Since when is someone's opinion 'current affairs.'

Since the motion is well and truly dead, and that now with the clock hours it's good to reflect on it. I mean, it's like with the Euro - reflecting on how I and others were right a few years ago and yourself and many others were proved entirely wrong. But hey, we all make mistakes I guess.

My thoughts:
This article is awful and is just an opinion.

I especially loved this part:

pahahaha, what kind of a ramble is that?

Thats his style aha, making a serious point powerfully but in that way. It reminded me of this actually,

I also enjoy how this has something to do with the EU. Berlin isn't the capital of the EU by any stretch of the imagination... he knows that as almost all of the EU's activities are carried out in Strasbourg and Brussels (and a bit of luxembourg too). And the most populous city, the main financial centre of europe is London. It's all trying to make a tenuous link between the EU and Nazi Germany. Yawn...........................................

When he says Berlin is the capital of the EU he means the political decisions in relation to the Euro are made in Berlin (which they are, in terms of German fears of inflation and control of the ECB). But hey I think your taking this wayyyy out of context, it's just a bit of fun and saying how those of us who wanted to keep the times as they are were right and those who wanted to change were wrong. Although Hitchens is often gloom and doom, thats why I like his writings - he manages to make serious points but by using often over the top language and it gives me a good laugh. The phrases he comes out with, like calling Cameron 'Mr Slippery' or Blair 'that Blair creature' are both true and hilarious.

Just a bit of fun, I found it a funny read and thought I ought to share to see if opinions had changed in anyway.

[Inseriousity.]

A small group really? Wasn't this proposal dead in the water before it ever reached the surface anyway?

[Chippiewill]

I don't think any British Politician would ever entertain the notion of supporting such an absurd proposal.

[Kardan]

Wasn't BST adopted all year round for about 3 years in the 60's and then changed back because it wasn't really worth it? I don't think we should change timezones, there's just no need really.