The End of Daylight Saving Time in 2019

On 2 a.m. today, we turned our clocks back one hour, marking the end of daylight saving time (DST) in 2019.

Postcard US-4002383 to Russia shows Hoover Dam with Arizona side on the right and Nevada side on the left, with the state boundary running across the dam.

Since Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone (GMT-7) whereas Nevada is in the Pacific Time Zone (GMT-8), Arizona is one hour ahead. Therefore, if you stand across the state line on the dam right now, your left-side of body and your right-side of body will be in different time zones with one-hour time difference.

However, because Nevada observes DST while Arizona does not, during the summer there is no time difference. Interesting? Confusing? Next time when you visit the dam, pay attention to the clocks on the two intake towers; you will see.

Daylight saving time will return at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Water Level in Lake Mead Drops to Record Low

Extended droughts has resulted in the lowest water level at Lake Mead since the largest reservoir in the U.S. was filled in the 1930s when Hoover Dam was built. Lake Mead declined to 1,074 feet above sea level on May 19, 2016, below a previous record set on June 25, 2015.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) recorded a high water line of 1,229.0 feet but considers the lake as “operationally full” at 1,219.6 feet elevation. The minimum water level to generate power at Hoover Dam is defined at 1,050 feet, below which the lake becomes an “inactive pool.” When water level goes down below 895 feet, the lowest water outlet at Hoover Dam, the lake is a “dead pool” as nothing would flow downstream from the Hoover Dam.

Lake Mead's water level reached a record high of 1225 feet in the summer of 1983, and has been in steady declines since 2000.

Lake Mead supplies water to 20 million people in California, Nevada, and Arizona. With the prospect of water levels dropping further, water managers in the above three states are under pressure to work out a plan to temporarily cut back water withdrawal from the lake.

Postcard US-3482775 to New Jersey shows Lake Mead with 'bathtub rings' on its shores and islands, which indicate the devastating effects of water level declines.

Lake Mead as seen on July 4, 2015

Water and Energy

Water and Energy is the theme of World Water Day in 2014, observed on March 22. On the official website, it states: "Water and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent. Energy generation and transmission requires utilization of water resources, particularly for hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal energy sources. Conversely, about 8% of the global energy generation is used for pumping, treating and transporting water to various consumers."

Postcard US-2367611 to Turkey shows the Black Canyon and the Colorado River downstream from the Hoover Dam. Arizona is on the left side of the canyon and Nevada is on the right side of the postcard. The U-shaped structure at the base of the dam is the power plant that hosts power generators insider. Now ranking in the 50th, it was once the largest hydroelectric power station in the world in 1939.

In Las Vegas, to highlight that millions of people around the world still do not have access to a safe and steady water supply and sustainable solutions can be found if we focus our efforts and our resources, Cirque du Soleil is presenting an one-night-only annual “One Night for One Drop” spectacular for the second year at Mandalay Bay tonight, with performs by guest star entertainers and casts from Cirque du Soleil shows on the Strip. As a result,  all eight Cirque du Soleil shows will be closed as the cast and crew are participanting the philanthropic show this evening.

Daylight Saving Time Ends in 2013

Daylight saving time (DST) ends today in the morning at 2:00 am. Following the expression Spring Forward, Fall Back, we set clocks back one hour, saying good bye to DST and entering Standard Time. DST returns next year on March 9, 2014.

Most areas of the United States currently observe DST. However, most areas of Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation, a Native American Reservation), along with Hawaii and the overseas territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands, do not observe DST. Arizona opted out the DST in 1968 largely in part because of Phoenix and Tucson being among the hottest US metropolitan areas in the summer. Extending daylight hours results in more people being active, thus more power usage from air conditioning units and cooling systems in homes and businesses.

Postcard US-2248458 to Tucson, Arizona showing Hoover Dam with Arizona side in the foreground and Nevada side in the background, as the state boundary runs across the dam. Since Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone (GMT-7) whereas Nevada is in the Pacific Time Zone (GMT-8), Arizona is one hour ahead. However, because Nevada observes DST while Arizona does not, during the summer the clocks on the intake towers will show the same time. During the winter, the clock on the Nevada side will be one hour behind from the one on the Arizona side.

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More Rainbows

Hoover Dam

I need to clarify that when I mentioned in my last post rainbows were rare seen in Las Vegas, I meant those meteorological rainbows. In fact, rainbows are easily to find in and around Las Vegas thanks to many water features and fountains. My traveling postcard sent to Turkey US-2283223 shows a rainbow formed over the mist from the Hoover Dam spillway. I have a video showing a rainbow over the famous Bellagio music fountains taken by a GoPro cam.

I generated a HTML5 WordCloud with my blog feeds. The result was interesting.

Also if you type in any text string that contains "gay" in Google's search box today, the search box will be surrounded by rainbows. It marks two separate rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down portion of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act and cleared the way for same-sex marriages banned under the Proposition 8 to resume in California.