There are probably lots of ideas that are more stupid than changing our clocks twice a year to go on and/or off Daylight Saving Time.  Electric spoons, for example.

But as long as we can be tricked into believing we’re getting an extra hour of daylight for the summer, we’ll all cheerfully go along with Daylight Saving Time.

It’s a great idea for a few months a year … until we think it’s a stupid idea to change all our clocks AGAIN for no apparent reason except to play nasty tricks on farmers and children at bus stops.

As of 2 AM, Sunday, November 4, 2012, we return to Standard Time — also known throughout the civilized world as “If that #*@()@ clock on the DVD player blinks again, I’m going to beat it to death with Bubba’s lunchbox” time.

My guess is sometime between this Monday and Sunday, March 10, 2013, we’ll all joyfully figure out how to change the time on our digital watches, wall clocks, car dashboards, alarm clocks, stoves, coffee makers, motorcycles, computers, TV sets and a bazillion other electronic gizmos before we “spring ahead” and do it all over again.

To keep our minds off plotting the demise of the fools who came up with this absurd plan, authorities try to divert our attention to other matters, such as changing the batteries in our fire detectors.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when adjusting the clocks.  The CPSC also suggests carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every five years while smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

According to CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord, “Millions of Americans are without adequate protection from fire and CO because the alarm’s battery is dead or the alarm is too old.  Alarms don’t last forever, and old ones need to be replaced.”

Those simple and affordable steps could save a life!  Yours, your family’s and the lives of those who force us to change our clocks twice a year.