The farmers can go WHAT themselves? Reporter: (Voice over) Every spring and fall, most of the United States observes daylight savings time, an adjustment of the clocks to compensate for the shorted days during the winter months. Inevitably as we "spring" forward or "fall" back, some folks forget to switch their clocks--but they soon get back on track. However, some states, like Arizona and parts of Indiana, don't observe daylight savings time, choosing instead to keep their clocks constant. These "con-states" are the exception, however, and not the rule in this crazy time-shifting world. Taking a cue from those rebellious states, Bob Jerginson has refused to observe daylight savings time. "How?" you might ask. "Did he move to Arizona or Indiana?" "Does he live in some kind of bubble that levitates several feet off the ground and is, therefore, immune to the laws that govern us all?" The answer, surprisingly, is no. No, Mr. Jerginson is just a simple Jefferson, Mississippi man who finds fault with the basic principles of daylight savings. Bob: Most people don't realize that daylight savings was originally started to provide the farmers, who once made up a majority of this country's population, with a little extra daylight to work by. Since I'm not a farmer, I see no need to change my clocks. Reporter: Sounds reasonable. What does your boss say? Bob: I'm currently unemployed. Reporter: I see. You quit? Bob: No. You see, recently, when the rest of the country "sprang" forward, I did not. So, I kept coming into work at eight o'clock, but they claimed it was really nine o'clock, and that I was an hour late. Reporter: They observed daylight savings? Bob: Correct. Reporter: Did you work on a farm? Bob: No. Reporter: How long did this go on? Bob: About three weeks. Reporter: And then what? Bob: My boss walked into my office one day and asked why I'd been late every day for the last three weeks. When I told him, he fired me! Reporter: He fired you? Bob: Yes. Reporter: Just for being late every day for three weeks straight? Bob: Yes. Reporter: (voice over) But his job is not all that daylight savings has cost Bob. Reporter: How else has this affected your life? Bob: My favorite T.V. show is on an hour earlier than it used to be. Reporter: What show? Bob: E.R. Reporter: That's a great show. Too bad Dr. Ross had to leave. Bob: Yeah. He was one of my favorite characters. Reporter: He did things his own way. Just like you. Bob: Yep. Reporter: Except he was right. Bob: What? Reporter: Nothing. Now, how have you dealt with the earlier time of E.R? Bob: I tape it and watch it at its regular time. Reporter: You tape it? Bob: Um-hum. Reporter: And what do you do while it records? Bob: I watch the tape of Friends and Will and Grace. Reporter: Oh. Wouldn't it make sense just to watch the shows as they air live? Bob: Wouldn't it make sense for the country to just keep its clocks at a steady time? Reporter: Touché. So how do you set your VCR to record your shows at the proper time? Bob: Oh, I set the clock on the VCR ahead an hour. Reporter: I...see. Reporter: (voice over) Bob's situation begs one question. Reporter: Wouldn't it be easier to just go along with the time change? Bob: Oh sure. It would be easier, but it's the principle of the matter. Reporter: What principle is that? Bob: I'm not a farmer. Reporter: (voice over) "I'm not a farmer." Words to live by...unless, of course, you happen to be a farmer. In that case, Bob has some advice. Bob: Start living in the twentieth century. The world should keep their clocks the same, year round, and the farmers can go fuck themselves. Reporter: (voice over) Does this modern day Doug Ross have a point? Should the farmers go fuck themselves? Maybe so. But until the world comes to its senses, Bob will just have to set his VCR clock ahead and try to find a job where he can come and go as he pleases. Reporting from Jefferson, Mississippi, I'm Mark Lemcke, signing off. Found on the web: http://www.sweetfancymoses.com/lemcke_spring.htm (GP May 2002)