All You Ever Wanted to Know About Daylight Saving Time

On the second Sunday of March each year — which this year will be tomorrow — shortly before the spring equinox, clocks are set forward one hour at 2 a.m. This kicks off daylight saving time, which aims to give people an opportunity to make better use of daylight while they're awake. By contrast, clocks go back an hour on the first Sunday of November every year. These rules have led to the popular and easy-to-remember saying “spring forward, fall back.” One important note: It’s daylight saving time, not — as is commonly but mistakenly said — daylight savings time. Now you know! So, why does daylight time start at 2 a.m.? The 2 a.m. time change isn’t random. Back when it was first introduced during World War I, 2 a.m. was one of the few times when trains weren’t running. There was a major concern about potential collisions of trains if one train adjusted for the time change and a crossing train didn't, so Sunday at 2 a.m. was the quietest hour of the week, making it the safest choice. Now you’re probably wondering why March. That’s because in March the sun sits higher in the sky and days begin to grow significantly longer. Now you know all you need to know about the time change.

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Burger King Just Changed the Whopper in a Big Way

There’s a general rule of thumb when it comes to fast-food burgers: You’re either a Whopper person or a Big Mac person. Still, even the most committed burger fan has opinions on how things could be better. In fact, Burger King diehards have been sounding the alarm on a few problems with their beloved burger for a full decade. Now, the powers-that-be have finally listened. Burger King recently announced that some pretty big upgrades are in the works — the first changes to the Whopper in a whopping 10 years. In fact, the changes just might be enough to make Big Mac aficionados rethink their favorite burger. So, what’s changing? First, you can say goodbye to soggy, limp buns. The sesame-seed bun will not only taste better, it will be more durable. Next, the mayo will be smoother and more flavorful. The toppings — from onions and tomatoes to lettuce and pickles — will be stacked more thoughtfully, so the burger will look and feel fresher when it lands in your hands. Finally, instead of the old paper wrap, the Whopper will now come in a box. That means there’s less chance that it will be squished or fall apart. As with any change, people have opinions. Those who have tried it say you can definitely tell a difference, mainly pointing out the bun. Still others say that other than the box, the Whopper seems exactly the same. Despite all the changes, Burger King says the price is not going up. The burger will remain around $5 to $6, depending on the location. The change went into effect at most locations on Feb. 26, but it may take a few weeks for all of the 7,700 locations to stock the revised Whopper.

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Meet the "Rolling Scones” — The Cooking Club That Gets Seniors Back in the Kitchen

They may not have moves like Mick Jagger anymore, but this cooking crew still gets their “Satisfaction” in the kitchen every week. Sunrise of Crystal Lake is a retirement community in Chicago that has a cooking club called the “Rolling Scones.” There, seniors in plaid aprons, chef’s toques, and safety gloves chop, crush, peel and puree every Saturday afternoon. They’re cooking for themselves again, because these are home cooks with literal lifetimes of experience. For most Sunrise residents, meals are often ready-made and catered to their unique dietary restrictions. While many residents love that convenience, it’s also very common to miss what being in the kitchen preparing food means. The “Rolling Scones" supplements them with the spice of life. These days, they make comfort food like stews, pizza and pasta with a twist. Carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes, zucchini and squash are chopped into vegetable confetti for no-meat soup or to top a festive frittata. Everything the group makes is both scrumptious and nutritious. Best of all, it restores some of the normalcy to their lives and gives them purpose.

 

 

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The German City That Defied McDonald’s and Dumped "To-Go" Waste

Since January 2022, the German city of Tübingen has been charging 60¢ for nearly every piece of disposable “to-go” packaging — every coffee cup, every pizza box, every burger wrapper — and 25¢ for throwaway cutlery and straws. The city's goal was simple: Make single-use packaging just inconvenient enough that people would start thinking twice. The aim of the packaging tax is to avoid waste altogether. That’s why it applies to all disposable packaging, regardless of the material. Compostable cups get no discount because from the city’s perspective, single-use is single-use. Known for its picturesque old town with cobblestone streets, Tübingen attracts up to 2 million visitors every year. Home to around 90,000 residents, it manages to be “hip” while preserving its traditions. However, by the late 2010s, the postcard image was increasingly marred by disposable coffee cups stuffed into trash cans, pizza boxes wedged beside them, and plastic lids and forks scattered on church steps. So, after consulting with local businesses, city officials tried something different: A local packaging tax. Businesses selling food or drinks for immediate consumption pay tax to the city. Whether they pass the cost on to customers is their choice. Four years after the rollout, Tübingen’s experience shows that a packaging tax works. The use of reusable containers in the city has quadrupled, and 75% of eateries have reduced their single-use packaging. The city offers almost $600 for businesses introducing reusable packaging systems and up to double that toward commercial dishwashers. They have even introduced a reusable pizza box with a $6 deposit. As for the city, the extra revenue they have saved funds street cleaning, waste management and environmental programs. The system has proven to be a win-win for everyone involved.

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