tz news from Galicia, Queensland and (of course) Indiana

[Paul Eggert]

The Galician nationalist party BNG voted on December 4 to move Galicia
into the same time zone as Portugal and the UK.  The other parties
disagree, though.  See
<http://www.santiago-today.com/index.php?q=04-dec-2006-galician_nationalist_party_want_galicia_in_a_different_time_zone>
(2006-12-04).

Queensland is considering holding a referendum on daylight saving
early next year.  The idea is that the southeast corner would observe
DST.  However, they haven't decided yet whether Toowoomba and half of
Cooloola shire fall into that southeast corner.  See
<http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Qld-to-study-daylight-saving-early-2007/2006/11/23/1163871535705.html>.

The Democrats have regained control of the Indiana House and are
pushing for a "nonbinding" referendum on daylight saving time for
Indiana.  Republicans seem firmly in the pro-daylight-saving camp.
See Dan Shaw's story in the Journal and Courier
<http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061109/ELECTION01/611090327>.

Tom Wyatt of the Post-Tribune reports that the citizens of Pulaski
county, Indiana have mostly voted with their feet for eastern time,
and it's likely this will become official soon.  Because the federal
government threatened to cut off funds if the county did not observe
central time while central time is official, government offices all
observe central time.  However, they've moved their hours to be
consistent with eastern time.  For example, the post office is now
open 07:30/15:30 central time, whereas it used to be open 08:30/16:30.
The school district observes eastern time but calls it "Commerce Time"
so that they won't run afoul of the feds.  Many businesses (e.g., the
1st Source Bank) use eastern time, but some (e.g., Ed's Barbershop)
use central time.  The Budd Insurance Agency has a special clock with
one minute hand but two hour hands, one for each time zone: David Budd
says that the clock shows "Pulaski Time".  See
<http://www.post-trib.com/news/150389,winamac.article> (2006-11-27).