There are some other interesting facts about Daylight Saving time.  For example, did you know that not all US States and territories observe daylight saving time?  The Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Hawaii, and even Arizona!  Well, in reality, Navajo Nation does still observe.  Alaska has passed a bill as well to stop following it.

So how long will this period last?  After you set your clocks back on November 1^st or last thing October 31^st, the clocks won’t need an adjustment until March 14^th, 2010, when Daylight Saving time begins again on the second Sunday in March.

It’s also a great idea to use this time to also check your smoke detectors.  You should always check your detectors at least twice a year, and how convenient, you need to adjust your clocks twice a year!  Did you know that working, properly placed smoke detectors DOUBLE a family’s chance of survival?

Modern daylight savings time was first proposed by a New Zealand entomologist named George Vernon Hudson in 1895.  There are many controversial aspects of daylight savings time, which was originally designed to add daylight time to the afternoon and less to the mornings.  The practice typically benefits retail outlets, sports or other activities that need daylight after normal working hours.  However it doesn’t benefit evening entertainment venues or other evening activities that depend on the sun.

Daylight savings has some complex effects on the health of populations subject to daylight savings time.   Since the primary physical affect revolves around sun exposure, the benefit of additional exposure would be increased vitamin D synthesis, while the drawback would be increased likelihood of skin cancer.  Some people also argue that levels of depression are decreased during periods of daylight savings time as a result of people rising earlier.  On the reverse, some argue that sufferes of night blindness are hurt by the effects of daylight savings time.

Love it or hate it, chances are it’s here to stay.  So be ready on November 1^st, 2009 to get your extra hour of sleep!