LEO的圓球看熱鬧

　美國將於3月8日02：00（台北時間3月9日15：00）啟動本年度的「夏令時間」（Daylight Saving Time；也稱「夏時制」、「日光節約時間」）。

　1776年，富蘭克林（Benjamin Franklin）代表美國出使法國。由於出身農家，習慣早睡早起，這位美國開國元勳對浪漫的法國人秉燭夜遊，然後一覺睡到日上三竿的生活習慣深不以為然；於是於1784年4月26日，以78歲高齡弄了個「節約計畫」（An Economical Project；請詳文末附件），寄給《法國雜誌》（Journal of Paris）的編輯；提出日光節約時間的原始構想。

　1907年，英國建築師維略特（William Willett）正式向英國國會提案，希望能藉夏令時間制節約能源並增加練兵時間（可憐的紅衫軍啊）；但未獲通過。

　夏令時間制正式上路，要拜第一次世界大戰所賜。德國於1916年率先推行；奧地利、荷蘭、丹麥、英國、法國先後接踵如法炮製。據說電力與煤氣消耗均因此省下約15％；但一般百姓未蒙其利、先受其害──不甘虧損的電、煤公司，將價格提高15％。1917年，俄國跟進。

　1918年美國也實施夏令時間制，但該年第一次世界大戰結束後立即取消；直至第二次世界大戰期間──1942年2月9日再度實施；1966年通過「統一時間法」（Uniform Time Act），再經1972、1986二度修訂……原則就是每年由4月的第一個星期日02：00，施行至10月最後一個星期日02：00。

　2005年，麻薩諸塞州民主黨議員馬克伊（Edward Markey）與密西根州共和黨議員厄普頓（Fred Upton）延長夏令時間兩個月的提案，經妥協後獲得通過──從2007年開始，美國夏令時間實施時間：3月第2個星期日02：00～11月第1個星期日02：00。

　厄普頓當時表示：「美國小朋友多爽啊──萬聖節多玩一個小時！」是就好囉！比方說，長年飽受時區、時制之害的印地安那州，雖於2006年經議會通過與美東各州同奉行夏令時間制，熟悉該地風土民情的朋友就知道──有多麻煩？令人不寒而慄！

　目前這規定還不及於馬里亞納、夏威夷、波多黎克、關島、維京群島等美國海外屬地；本土呢，像亞歷桑那州，除少地印地安原住民保留區外，也不鳥這玩意兒。

　這和NBA有什麼關係呢？有啊！如果你習慣了之前觀看比賽的時間，怕一時之間，錯過了整整半場精彩的比賽啊！總之，夏令時間啟動，意思就是時鐘往後撥一小時──所以美東時間與台北時間，恰恰好差12個小時。

　那加拿大呢！照例與美國同步！除了大半的喀斯特徹溫省（Saskatchewan）等經線邊緣地區外，於2007年3月起都修法奉行美國規矩。而時鐘校正時刻，雖不由中央強制規定，但除了紐西蘭與拉布拉多省（Newfoundland and Labrador）之外，也都統一在02：00。

　如果你仔細想想，其實是亂到一個不行──州邦制的大國尤然！節約能源啦什麼的，其實很難講。台灣電力公司於民國70幾年（我忘了確定那時候）提過，使用夏日節約時間，將可在7～9月省下7,200萬度。但其實，這都還不算是確然可信的科學；最好是有確然可信的研究數據；別因為地球暖化議題就亂來。

　而……時區、時制的紊亂，在軟體、命相學、旅遊、農業……造成的困擾實在很多。電腦計術工業協會（CTIA）發言人溫帝（Mike Wendy）那時說：「如果人們沒使用自動更新的系統，就要自己發現這問題並調整──當然會做些宣導，確定人們會這麼做……」

　請別告訴我再溫習國中地理常識；什麼巴西的8日是我的9日……甚至我想：就一個地球，奉行同樣的時間不行嗎？那就別來什麼換日線了。就同一個計時單位，我在工作、隔海的那端在休憩，不成嗎？

　中華民國，於民國8年時於天津、上海等地試行過該制。民國34年光復後，復於台灣舉辦。民國51～62年間，因學者批擊造成紀事混亂而停辦；民國63～67年雖又因能源危機而啟用，自69年起，因反應實在不佳，停辦迄今……善哉！當然我年幼，一點印象也沒有；但年紀大一點的朋友，應該都有些想法才是。那麼，由於我覺得很沒意義，對世界各國使用這玩意兒的概況，請上網去查──哪兒查哪兒有啊！至於索引名稱──民國34～40年、46～50年，台灣都稱為「夏令時間」；此外，都叫「日光節約時間」。

【附件】

MESSIEURS,

You often entertain us with accounts of new discoveries. Permit me to communicate to the public, through your paper, one that has lately been made by myself, and which I conceive may be of great utility.

I was the other evening in a grand company, where the new lamp of Messrs. Quinquet and Lange was introduced, and much admired for its splendour; but a general inquiry was made, whether the oil it consumed was not in proportion to the light it afforded, in which case there would be no saving in the use of it. No one present could satisfy us in that point, which all agreed ought to be known, it being a very desirable thing to lessen, if possible, the expense of lighting our apartments, when every other article of family expense was so much augmented.

I was pleased to see this general concern for economy, for I love economy exceedingly.

I went home, and to bed, three or four hours after midnight, with my head full of the subject. An accidental sudden noise waked me about six in the morning, when I was surprised to find my room filled with light; and I imagined at first, that a number of those lamps had been brought into it; but, rubbing my eyes, I perceived the light came in at the windows. I got up and looked out to see what might be the occasion of it, when I saw the sun just rising above the horizon, from whence he poured his rays plentifully into my chamber, my domestic having negligently omitted, the preceding evening, to close the shutters.

I looked at my watch, which goes very well, and found that it was but six o'clock; and still thinking it something extraordinary that the sun should rise so early, I looked into the almanac, where I found it to be the hour given for his rising on that day. I looked forward, too, and found he was to rise still earlier every day till towards the end of June; and that at no time in the year he retarded his rising so long as till eight o'clock. Your readers, who with me have never seen any signs of sunshine before noon, and seldom regard the astronomical part of the almanac, will be as much astonished as I was, when they hear of his rising so early; and especially when I assure them, that he gives light as soon as he rises. I am convinced of this. I am certain of my fact. One cannot be more certain of any fact. I saw it with my own eyes. And, having repeated this observation the three following mornings, I found always precisely the same result.

Yet it so happens, that when I speak of this discovery to others, I can easily perceive by their countenances, though they forbear expressing it in words, that they do not quite believe me. One, indeed, who is a learned natural philosopher, has assured me that I must certainly be mistaken as to the circumstance of the light coming into my room; for it being well known, as he says, that there could be no light abroad at that hour, it follows that none could enter from without; and that of consequence, my windows being accidentally left open, instead of letting in the light, had only served to let out the darkness; and he used many ingenious arguments to show me how I might, by that means, have been deceived. I owned that he puzzled me a little, but he did not satisfy me; and the subsequent observations I made, as above mentioned, confirmed me in my first opinion.

This event has given rise in my mind to several serious and important reflections. I considered that, if I had not been awakened so early in the morning, I should have slept six hours longer by the light of the sun, and in exchange have lived six hours the following night by candle-light; and, the latter being a much more expensive light than the former, my love of economy induced me to muster up what little arithmetic I was master of, and to make some calculations, which I shall give you, after observing that utility is, in my opinion the test of value in matters of invention, and that a discovery which can be applied to no use, or is not good for something, is good for nothing.

I took for the basis of my calculation the supposition that there are one hundred thousand families in Paris, and that these families consume in the night half a pound of bougies, or candles, per hour. I think this is a moderate allowance, taking one family with another; for though I believe some consume less, I know that many consume a great deal more. Then estimating seven hours per day as the medium quantity between the time of the sun's rising and ours, he rising during the six following months from six to eight hours before noon, and there being seven hours of course per night in which we burn candles, the account will stand thus;--

In the six months between the 20th of March and the 20th of September, there are

An immense sum! that the city of Paris might save every year, by the economy of using sunshine instead of candles. If it should be said, that people are apt to be obstinately attached to old customs, and that it will be difficult to induce them to rise before noon, consequently my discovery can be of little use; I answer, Nil desperandum. I believe all who have common sense, as soon as they have learnt from this paper that it is daylight when the sun rises, will contrive to rise with him; and, to compel the rest, I would propose the following regulations; First. Let a tax be laid of a louis per window, on every window that is provided with shutters to keep out the light of the sun.

Second. Let the same salutary operation of police be made use of, to prevent our burning candles, that inclined us last winter to be more economical in burning wood; that is, let guards be placed in the shops of the wax and tallow chandlers, and no family be permitted to be supplied with more than one pound of candles per week.

Third. Let guards also be posted to stop all the coaches, &c. that would pass the streets after sunset, except those of physicians, surgeons, and midwives.

Fourth. Every morning, as soon as the sun rises, let all the bells in every church be set ringing; and if that is not sufficient?, let cannon be fired in every street, to wake the sluggards effectually, and make them open their eyes to see their true interest.

All the difficulty will be in the first two or three days; after which the reformation will be as natural and easy as the present irregularity; for, ce n'est que le premier pas qui coûte. Oblige a man to rise at four in the morning, and it is more than probable he will go willingly to bed at eight in the evening; and, having had eight hours sleep, he will rise more willingly at four in the morning following. But this sum of ninety-six millions and seventy-five thousand livres is not the whole of what may be saved by my economical project. You may observe, that I have calculated upon only one half of the year, and much may be saved in the other, though the days are shorter. Besides, the immense stock of wax and tallow left unconsumed during the summer, will probably make candles much cheaper for the ensuing winter, and continue them cheaper as long as the proposed reformation shall be supported.

For the great benefit of this discovery, thus freely communicated and bestowed by me on the public, I demand neither place, pension, exclusive privilege, nor any other reward whatever. I expect only to have the honour of it. And yet I know there are little, envious minds, who will, as usual, deny me this and say, that my invention was known to the ancients, and perhaps they may bring passages out of the old books in proof of it. I will not dispute with these people, that the ancients knew not the sun would rise at certain hours; they possibly had, as we have, almanacs that predicted it; but it does not follow thence, that they knew he gave light as soon as he rose. This is what I claim as my discovery. If the ancients knew it, it might have been long since forgotten; for it certainly was unknown to the moderns, at least to the Parisians, which to prove, I need use but one plain simple argument. They are as well instructed judicious, and prudent a people as exist anywhere in the world all professing, like myself, to be lovers of economy; and,from the many heavy taxes required from them by the necessitities of the state, have surely an abundant reason to be economical. I say it is impossible that so sensible a people, under such circumstances, should have lived so long by the smoky, unwholesome, and enormously expensive light of candles, if they had really known, that they might have had as much pure light of the sun for nothing. I am, &c.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A SUBSCRIBER

By LEO 2009.03.09